The Calgary Dinos enter the 2025 Canada West football season ready to embark on their rebuild, but they are also determined to clear up one thing: they will still fight until the end.
A year ago, the program showed flashes of brilliance but struggled to consistently find its rhythm, often waiting until the second half or final quarter to pick up the momentum and respond to its opponents.
That pattern proved costly in a conference stacked with high-powered offences. Ultimately, the Dinos finished outside of the playoff picture, tied with the Alberta Golden Bears for last in the conference with just a 2-6 record.
With major changes off-season, including the departure of starting quarterback Dom Britton, there are plenty of questions for the Dinos to answer this season.
But there's also of optimism in Calgary. Head coach Ryan Sheahan, now in his second year leading the program, has a clearer identity to work with and a roster that returns some of the top defensive talent in U SPORTS.
If the Dinos can pair that defensive stability with a young and fiery offence ready to take on the reins of this storied program, a Hardy Cup run isn't completely out of reach.
And as we saw with the Regina Rams last year, simply making the playoffs can give you a chance at playing for the national championships.
Seniors at Large
While over 50 new faces join the roster, the Dinos are still blessed with some veteran presence to help ease the transition of the rebuild.
On defence, most of the Dinos' defensive unit remains intact with just two starters graduating and moving on to the CFL earlier this spring.
This gives Calgary a sense of continuity and stability in an area where they were ranked among the best in the country.
Headlined by defensive lineman Liam Reid, the First-Team All-Canadian heads into his fifth and final year of eligibility and seems ready to lead Calgary's defence in full force.
After racking up 30 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery last season, his presence when the team is down in the trenches will make the Dinos one of the toughest teams to run against.
Matthieu Clarke anchors the Dinos' offense as a fourth-year running back. Clarke has been the Dinos' leading rusher for two seasons straight and will once again be the focal point of the offence.
He has both the experience and the opportunity to break out as one of the top backs in the conference.
New faces
With over 50 recruits this offseason, the Dinos are looking like a brand new team compared to years past.
A major hole was left by quarterback, Dom Britton, who was responsible for 129 completions on 246 attempts, 1887 yards and averaged 235.9 yards thrown per game.
Caine Harrison joins the squad from the CJFL's Calgary Colts. Harrison is the only non-first-year quarterback by eligibility on the Dinos roster right now and will likely be the favourite to get most of the starting duties this season.
Harrison played eight games with the Colts during the 2024 season and one during the playoffs. He threw for 74 completions in 140 attempts, throwing for 1044 yards and averaging 130.5 passing yards per game.
However, in the Dinos' preseason match against the Alberta Golden Bears, first years David Jordan and Jet Zakrzewski both made appearances in the 45-13 win. Jordan joins the Dinos after transferring from Florida A&M University and Zakrzewski transferred in from the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.
With these looks during the preseason, there appears to be a battle for the starting quarterback position brewing. The first part of the season will be crucial for figuring out where these new pieces can slot into the lineup. Additionally, how quickly can the new pieces gel before heading into the back end to round off the season strongly?
Season Outlook
The path to the Hardy Cup won't be easy. Regina enters as defending champions, Saskatchewan remains a perennial contender, and Alberta continues to trend upward.
That's to say nothing of UBC and Manitoba, who got an early start to their playoff bids on Thursday night.
But Calgary has the kind of defence that can keep them in every game, and if the offence finds stability, the Dinos could surprise the conference and the nation.
Their schedule also offers opportunities: an early-season rematch with Regina for their home opener will serve as a measuring stick, while matchups with Manitoba and UBC will test their consistency and cohesiveness as a group.
Bottom Line
The Dinos are a team in transition, but not in decline. With a head coach in his sophomore year at the helm, a battle-tested defence, and a proven running game, Calgary has the tools to climb back into playoff contention.
The question is whether the offence can keep pace in a conference that's only getting stronger.
Big Picture Questions
- Can the Dinos shake their slow-start reputation? Last year, they often struggled to get going in the first half of the game. Can Sheahan's group bring urgency from kickoff to the final possession?
- Is this defence good enough to carry them? With Liam Reid headlining a veteran unit that ranked second in points allowed last season, can the Dinos' defence win games outright while the offence finds its rhythm?
- Do the rookies make an immediate impact? With holes to fill all over the roster, how quickly can the new faces adjust to the speed of the U SPORTS game? What can we expect them to contribute this season?
- Who takes command at quarterback? Will the duties fall immediately to Caine Harrison due to his CJFL experience, or can one of the first-years emerge as a legitimate contender?
The 2025 season won’t come without growing pains, but the Dinos are positioned to take meaningful steps forward. If their defence continues to suffocate opponents and the offence can establish an identity early, Calgary will no longer be an easy mark in the Canada West.
For a program proud of its tradition and championships, the mission is clear: rebuild, re-establish, and remind the conference that the Dinos are never far from contention.