Breadcrumb Trail LinksSportsFootballCFLNewcomer Tyreik McAllister returns to CFL hoping to 'bring some electricity' in runback gamePublished May 15, 2026 • 6 minute readCalgary Stampeders running back Tyreik McAllister runs with the ball during practice at McMahon Stadium on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Gavin Young/Postmedia Gavin Young/PostmediaArticle contentTyreik McAllister is a premier return man on the football landscape.Advertisement 2THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsArticle contentSo, true to form, he’s returned to the Canadian Football League from a sojourn down south, hooking up with the Calgary Stampeders in hopes of once again breaking ankles — and tackles — en route to another successful chapter of electrifying runbacks.Article contentArticle content“Expect a guy that’s gonna give it 110 per cent every time I’m on the field,” said the shifty McAllister.“Every time I touch the ball, I’m going to try and score,” continued the 5-foot-9, 183-lb. McAllister. “So I’m just trying to bring some electricity to the stadium and help the team.”That’s exactly why the Stampeders made him one of their prized off-season acquisitions.In trying to give a boost to their special teams, which endured struggles last year — especially in the 2025 West Division Semi-final — McAllister was brought in to help in the return game …At best to give the Stamps a few more touchdowns, and at worst, to give them better field position for the offence, beginning with Monday’s exhibition tilt against the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders at McMahon Stadium (1 p.m., CHQR 770 AM).Advertisement 3Article content“Whatever the team needs,” said McAllister, who is listed as a rusher. “Whether that’s at running back … you know … whatever. Wherever I fit in the offence, that’ll be my role.”For now, he’s the guy they’ll key on to run back kicks and punts.And why not, given his resumé?McAllister played 16 games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023, when he recorded 41 kickoff returns for 1,037 yards, 56 punt returns for 602 yards, seven missed-field goal returns for 408 yards.His all-purpose yards — he also had 27 receptions for 364 yards and two TDs and 13 carries for 52 yards — and a kickoff-return average led the league that season, and he was the Ticats’ nominee for the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award.“I feel like this is a place to come in and compete,” said McAllister, of Calgary. “I’ve had some experience (running back kicks) in the past, so I feel like I’d be good with it.”The Stamps, however, plan to use him for more than just returns, and that’s shown in his work during the first week of training camp.Your Midday SunYour noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againArticle contentAdvertisement 4Article content“Yeah … we’ve been doing a lot with him, and he’s been picking it up,” said Stamps GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “I definitely feel he catches the ball super smooth and clean in the return game. But he’s made a play and made a touchdown as a receiver (in camp). And then, we’ve also put him in at running back. So the guy I think can do a lot for us.“But don’t overload him, because I find the best returners are those that don’t play a lot of offence or defence — because I feel like it wears them out. So I’d like to at least keep them fresh.”Read More Day 5 of Calgary Stampeders main camp: Offensive line in the spotlight Day 4 of Calgary Stampeders main camp: Wide receivers in the spotlight Day 3 of Calgary Stampeders main camp: Running backs in the spotlight Calgary Stampeders Rene Paredes during practice at McMahon stadium in Calgary on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia Photo by Darren Makowichuk /DARREN MAKOWICHUK/PostmediaWHO ARE THE SPECIAL-TEAMS STARS IN STAMPS CAMP?# Age Ht Wt School70 Dawson Hodge* (kicker) 24 5’11 184 Wilfrid Laurier22 Jude McAtamney* (kicker)* 26 6’1 215 Rutgers30 René Paredes (kicker) 41 5’11 200 Concordia15 Mark Vassett (punter) 29 6’4 210 Colorado43 Jason MacGougan (long-snapper) 23 6’0 228 Wilfrid Laurier* — rookieAdvertisement 5Article contentMcAllister isn’t the only runback artist in Stamps camp.Returning balls, as well, will be returnee Erik Brooks, who dazzled as one of the league’s best and wowed the McMahon crowd with a punt return for a major last year in the Labour Day Classic.“Yeah … he’ll return, too,” confirmed Dickenson, of Brooks. “But Erik’s really playing a lot more right now on offence, with Reggie (Begelton) not taking a lot of snaps.”There’s fellow receiver Kaylon Horton in the runback mix, too. He had 731 combined yards on returns to finish second on the squad behind Brooks and his 1,000 last season.“I think we got pretty good return guys,” Dickenson said. “Deonta McMahon is a very similar body type (to McAllister), with good speed and able to do a lot of the same things.“But we’re hoping that we can get some bigger bodies that move people in front of them on returns,” continued Dickenson. “I think probably our weakness last year is we just didn’t do a good job giving our returners the first five yards, giving them a chance to get started on something. And a lot of that was we felt like we were just a little too small. So we drafted big, and we got a lot of big bodies (in the off-season). So we’re going to hopefully do a better job in our blocking schemes in our return game.”Advertisement 6Article contentElsewhere on special teams, the team’s batteries for the punt and kick teams return intact, highlighted by veteran René Paredes — now 41 — being back for a 15th CFL season.After a spectacular rookie season, all-CFL West punter Mark Vassett, 29, lines up for his second year.As does 23-year-old long-snapper Jason MacGoughan, with veteran Aaron Crawford no longer with the Stampeders.MORE ABOUT McALLISTERThe American’s one-year tour of duty in the CFL ended in early 2024, when he left to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL.He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, scoring two touchdowns in a 2024 pre-season game and later making three regular-season appearances.McAllister, an NCAA Division 2 standout with the Charleston Golden Eagles, was most recently under contract with the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League.“My hope was just to put my best product on the field down there,” McAllister said. “And I felt like I did that for most of the time I was there … you know.Advertisement 7Article content“In Vegas, I ended up making the 53-man roster, and things felt good. But once I hit a little bump in the road and I had a shoulder injury, things kind of didn’t turn out the way I expected. It was kind of tough for me just trying to battle back and fight back, and I just didn’t quite get there.“So I ended up making my way back here.”He says the Stamps weren’t the only CFL team to make him an offer.But he liked the chance he saw to showcase his wares in Calgary, where the only teammate from his Ticats days is linebacker Kyle Wilson.“You know … it’s just a feel thing,” said McAllister, of making the decision to return to the three-down ranks. “You take advantage of the opportunities while they’re there. So that was my thing. The opportunity wasn’t there for the NFL, and it was here for the CFL. So I’m taking my opportunity — and I’m just trying to run with it.”The Stampeders hope he does just that all the way to the endzone on more than a few occasions.“I’m always open to do anything as a team to get better,” added McAllister. “I don’t really try to set no numbers expectation-wise on myself, but I just try to come in and be better than I was before.Advertisement 8Article content“And I just felt like I was comfortable here in the CFL in Hamilton and just with the Canadian game period. I just feel comfortable with it all, so I was all ears when my agent told me I had a chance to come back.“So I was excited about a fresh start.”SHORT YARDAGEThe Stampeders lost DL Justin Sambu to an apparent leg injury suffered during Thursday’s camp session. He was carted off the field after getting tangled up during a play, with Dickenson hinting a day later it looks like a long-term issue for the Canadian lineman … Main camp continues Saturday with a morning session at Hellard Field at Shouldice Athletic Park (9:45 a.m.) … The second and final pre-season contest for the club is slated for Friday, May 29, against the host Edmonton Elks (7 p.m.).tsaelhof@postmedia.comhttp://www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPMArticle contentShare this article in your social networkComments Join the Conversation