The BC Lions have signed American Receiver Charles Headen III. Headen was named the Indoor Football League’s Special Team’s Player of the Year in 2023 with the Frisco Fighters.
“I feel like I bring an athlete that’s going to give you his all every time he steps on the field. I have the speed to stretch a defense and have the return ability to give the offense great field positioning. I am also a great person off the field. I’m somebody who takes pride in being a great locker room teammate. Being a good teammate is very important to me.” Charles Headen III stated when asked what he believes to be his greatest assets to a football club on and off the field.
Headen was also asked if he believes playing in the IFL uniquely prepares players for the Canadian style of game given the presence of the rouge and the waggle in both leagues.
“I do believe there are some similarities in both leagues. In that case, it does help prepare in some ways.” Headen explained. “The waggle pre-snap is identical in the IFL. So that will be something that I don’t really have to adjust to as much as I did before when I went to Saskatchewan’s rookie camp fresh out of college. You see a lot of guys from the IFL making that leap to the CFL which is great.”
I feel like I bring an athlete that’s going to give you his all every time he steps on the field. I have the speed to stretch a defense and have the return ability to give the offense great field positioning. I am also a great person off the field. I’m somebody who takes pride in being a great locker-room teammate. Being a good teammate is very important to me.
Charles Headen III was recognized as the IFL’s Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023 during which he returned 52 kickoffs for 1,143 yards and 6 touchdowns. He also returned 2 punts for 83 yards and a touchdown. On offense, Headen had 17 receptions for 247 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also had 7 rushes for 22 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Charles Headen III 2023 IFL Rookie Regular Season Highlights ‼️ 46 Returns 1,056 Yards 7TDS 1,342 All Purpose Yards & 12 Total TDS XFL – USFL – CFL Ready 👀🔥‼️ pic.twitter.com/q8M0KxR4BA
— Charles Headen III (@CharlesHeaden_2) July 18, 2023
“Charles is like lightning in a bottle when it comes to the quick pace in our league,” Frisco Fighters head coach, Billy Back said of Charles Headen III at the time of his signing. “He will be a force on the field and in the return game within our organization.”
Headen attended an XFL showcase ahead of the 2023 XFL draft where he ran a 4.44 laser timed 40, or a 4.33 hand-timed 40-yard dash. Charles Headen III signed with the Frisco Fighters in February 2023.
On May 9, 2022, Headen was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders but was released on May 14.
Charles Headen III played his first 3 years of collegiate football for Shippensburg after being named All-Catholic League as a DB and was also a state sprinter in high school. He played in 34 games for Shippensburg in Division II’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. During his time at Shippensburg, he made 80 receptions for 909 yards and 14 touchdowns over his 34 games. He also returned 15 kickoffs averaging 18.2 yards per return.
Headen did not play in 2020 as the season was canceled due to COVID-19. He transferred to SMU for the 2021 season and appeared in 2 games but did not record a reception.
Headen demonstrated smooth running and good vision on his returns and possesses a dangerous level of speed. He is listed at 5’9 and 190 pounds on the Frisco Fighters website.
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Jonathan ClinkReporter
Jonathan Clink joined CFL News Hub in early April of 2023. His primary responsibilities are covering the BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes.
He self awarded himself the CFL Rookie Journalist of the Year in 2023 following the 2023 CFL season. He also proclaims himself to be a "really cool guy". He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and lived a large portion of his childhood in Northwest Ontario. He currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan and misses being being able to have 4 months of skating every winter.
Clink has written over 240 articles for CFL News Hub. He was the publication's boots on the ground at the 2023 Grey Cup in Hamilton.
Clink has always had an obsession for sport and has a background in other sports as well having played hockey all his life and soccer, basketball, and lacrosse in high school. As a young child he used to log his hockey statistics after every game which is either an indication that he was destined for the role or perhaps and indication that he is rather strange.
