C.J. Reavis’ road to the CFL filled with hurdles

C.J. Reavis has had quite a few twists and turns in his professional football career — one that now finds him in Saskatchewan.

“I think its been like a movie to be honest,” the 27-year-old Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker said. “I think I could write a book or something. I grew up wanting to play pro football so I’m here. I can’t ask for nothing else.”

The Chester, Va. product and the Riders’ defence will try to get back in the CFL win column on Saturday in a showdown against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Kickoff for the game at Mosaic Stadium is set for 5 p.m.

Reavis’ love of football started at a young age when his dad had him in a Washington Commanders jersey.

“Ever since I was a little kid and my first Christmas, I’ve had a uniform on,” Reavis said.

When he started playing the sport, he was used at a wide variety of positions including running back, quarterback, and on the defensive line.

Reavis excelled at the sport and was highly sought-after as a college prospect. He would go to Virginia Tech and play with the Hokies in his freshman year. He was set to see more playing time as a sophomore but was dismissed from the school due to a student conduct violation.

“It was tough. That was my dream school growing up – watching (Michael) Vick go there and all those guys go there,” Reavis said.

Reavis would be so devastated by the incident, he spent months just in his room.

“It’s tough. You go from being the most liked to everyone looking at you and asking what happened,” Reavis said.

He credits his family for playing a big role in helping him get out of his mental state.

“I was just a young kid so I was depressed about it. My family stuck with me, my friends stuck with me so all of that helped me get through it for sure.”

Reavis would transfer to junior college at East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) for the 2015 season – the team featured in Netflix’s ‘Last Chance U’ documentary.

“I had no idea that was going to happen. I got kicked out of school and EMCC called me the next day,” Reavis said. “I drove there like two days later – a seven-hour drive.

“God works in mysterious ways. I didn’t want to get out of school obviously but I got to be on Netflix.”

He admitted it was fun to have cameras and crew following them throughout the season.

“I didn’t realize how big it was going to be when they were recording but it turned out being a great thing,” Reavis said.

After a season at EMCC, Reavis would join Marshall Thundering Herd for the 2016-17 seasons. While there, he recorded 132 tackles while playing in 21 games over two seasons. He added one interception and five tackles for loss during that time.

He went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft but signed as a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I ended up playing my rookie year a little bit and my second year was the same thing,” Reavis said. “I feel like its been a blessing.”

He was cut in 2019 and eventually signed with the Atlanta Falcons but was waived in 2020.

Reavis spent a couple of seasons away from football but eventually, an opportunity arrived to come to Canada to play with the Riders in 2022.

“The Riders called my agent,” Reavis said. “I heard about here because Macho Harris played here too and he’s a VT guy.

“I knew a little bit about Saskatchewan, I got the call and did my research. I saw the facilities and saw the fans going crazy, I had to come here.”

After only appearing in two games in 2022, Reavis has earned more and more playing time in 2023, dressing in 14 games while recording 50 tackles, three sacks, one interception, and two forced fumbles.

“Hard work pays off, dedication pays off,” Reavis said. “Just staying ready until my number is called.”

The Riders (6-9) are in third place in the CFL West Division but are mired in a four-game losing streak.

Reavis believes they have the guys in the locker room who can help turn things around.

“We have a team full of dogs — this is what we want,” Reavis said. “We like being underdogs and I think it’s time to prove to ourselves and who we are who we think we are.”