The B.C. Lions signed American linebacker Jordan Williams on Wednesday, which seemed like a typo at first glance.
Jordan Williams out of Eastern Carolina University was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 CFL draft. Though born in Fayetteville, Williams counts as a national player north of the border because his mother was born in Toronto. While technically not incorrect, referring to him as an American in a press release would be misleading.
Freakishly athletic Canadian linebacker Jordan Williams bounds up CFL draft boards
It turns out that B.C. hadn’t signed their top draft pick from back in May, but a completely different player of the same name who happens to play the exact same position.
Linebacker Jordan Williams out of Baylor University is who inked a deal with the team on Wednesday. The defender made 180 total tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and three knockdowns in 52 games with the Bears.
By sheer coincidence, the two players are almost the exact same size — Eastern Carolina’s Williams is six-foot and 230 pounds, while Baylor’s Williams is six-foot and 223 pounds.
The Lions made a trade with the Calgary Stampeders to secure the No. 1 selection in the 2020 CFL draft and used it to take the consensus top available player in Williams. He, along with every player selected in this year’s draft, remains unsigned.
Though they are (kind of, but not really) of a different nationality, it looks like we will get to see Jordan Williams and Jordan Williams duke it out at linebacker in Lions’ training camp in 2021.
