Returner Kaylon Horton headlines Calgary Stampeders’ final cuts

Photo courtesy: Calgary Stampeders

The Calgary Stampeders have released 21 players ahead of the CFL’s mandatory roster cutdown deadline, with few surprises.

Receiver Kaylon Horton was the only player with prior CFL game experience to be cut by the team. He appeared in eight games as a rookie in 2025, catching one pass for 21 yards. The North Texas product primarily handled return duties, fielding 33 punts for 285 yards and 19 kickoffs for 446 yards.

Also released were American quarterback Jacolby Criswell; American running back Terion Stewart; American receivers Rylan Davison, Nunu Whatley, and Dante Wright; American offensive linemen Deondre Buford, Cameron Dye, Martes Lewis, and Chris Murray; Canadian defensive lineman Steven Kpehe; American defensive linemen Brandon Maina, Khairi Manns, Devonte O’Malley, and Norell Pollard; Canadian linebacker Olivier Ruest; American linebacker Tyreem Powell; American defensive backs Kam Alexander, Corey Coley Jr., and Jordan Polk; and Canadian kicker Dawson Hodge.

Additionally, the team has placed two Canadian draft picks, offensive linemen Mitchel Schechinger and Jack Warrack, on the retired list with the intention of them returning to school.

Criswell was in competition for the Stampeders’ third-string QB job. He completed four of six passes for 36 yards through two preseason games, while adding six carries for 43 yards and one touchdown. The six-foot-one, 230-pound passer split his college career between stops at East Tennessee State, North Carolina, and Arkansas.

Calgary has also assigned 12 players to the practice roster to start the season: American quarterback Ben Wooldridge; American running back Deonta McMahon; Canadian receivers Jesulayomi Ojutalayo and Matt Sibley; American receivers Jeremiah Hunter and Rashod Owens; Canadian offensive lineman Matthew Stokman; American offensive lineman Bakyne Coly; Canadian defensive back Dolani Robinson; American defensive backs Zy Alexander and Ike Larsen; and Global kicker Jude McAtamney.

The Calgary Stampeders will play their first regular-season game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday, June 5. The club finished third in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record, but lost the West Semi-Final to the B.C. Lions.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect the release of Jacolby Criswell, which was erroneously omitted from the Stampeders’ original press release.