After being signed by the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Feb. 2, former Ashland University All-American linebacker
Michael Ayers will begin vying for a spot with the team in May.
"I didn't answer the first time, because I didn't recognize the number," said Ayers, who was drafted by the XFL's Houston Roughnecks in June of 2023, but was left unprotected and undrafted in the merger with the United States Football League to form the United Football League. "I saw the voice mail pop up. We got to talking, and I'm ready to play."
The CFL game is similar to the National Football League, but with obvious differences – a wider and longer field, 12 players on each side instead of 11, three downs instead of four, no fair catches, and a rouge (one point) on kickoffs, punts and missed field goals that aren't returned out of the end zone.
"From the film I've watched so far, they throw a lot," Ayers said. "I get to show off more of my skills. You still have to focus on the run. Just focus on being in shape and beating the pass. The three downs, because of how fast-paced it is…that part might be more of an adjustment. That sped-up game could be a big thing."
In 2023, Winnipeg had the CFL's second-best regular-season record at 14-4, winning the West Division before losing the Grey Cup (CFL championship game). The Blue Bombers, whose head coach, Mike O'Shea, is a Canadian Football Hall of Fame linebacker, won the Grey Cup most recently in 2019 and 2021.
One of the Blue Bombers' linebackers is future Canadian Football Hall of Famer Adam Bighill, a 35-year-old three-time CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player and six-time CFL All-Star.
"I'm assuming a Will linebacker," Ayers said of what he would play in Winnipeg. "Looking at the roster, they have a lot of veterans. They're a powerhouse there. That's an honor, because they're probably hand-picking guys, because they have an established roster.
"It sets the bar high for myself."
Ayers ended his senior season at Ashland in 2022 with 81 total tackles (48 solo), 10½ tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, eight pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. His 28½ career tackles for loss are tied for sixth-most in program history.
The long list of Ayers senior-season honors included:
- First-team American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America selection, Ashland's first first-team All-American in five years and Ashland's first first-team All-American linebacker in 31 years.
- First-team linebacker on the 2022 D2Football.com Elite 100 Team.
- First-team All-Super Region 1 from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA).
- Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year.
- First-team All-Great Midwest.
- Finalist for the Cliff Harris Award.
Ayers twice led the Eagles in both total tackles and tackles for loss, and was the 2021 Great Midwest Defensive Player of the Year.
