Canadian receiver Jevon Cottoy has opted out of his contract with the B.C. Lions to be available for an NFL chance if it comes along.
Cottoy made 38 receptions for 386 yards and one touchdown in 16 games last season during his rookie year with the Lions. However, if he doesn’t find NFL employment, the Leos retain Cottoy’s rights for the 2021 and 2022 CFL seasons. The six-foot-five, 230-pound Cottoy has the size to play in the NFL.
The Calgary native was the Prairie Football Conference’s Rookie of the Year in 2014. His hometown University of Calgary brought him in, but a major knee injury — ACL and MCL tear — suffered in 2016 training camp caused him to be out of football for two years. During that time Cottoy was pursuing a career as a firefighter.
The British Columbia Football Conference’s Langley Rams convinced Cottoy to play again in 2018, he caught 39 balls for 657 yards and eight touchdowns in eight regular season games. During the playoffs, Langley played four sudden death contests on the way to the Canadian Bowl, Cottoy hauled in 25 passes for 645 yards and eight majors.
That led to the Lions signing Cottoy as a territorial junior player in December 2018. The 23-year-old acclimated quickly to the pro level and would be asked to do the same if an NFL team comes calling.