B.C. Lions sign Jerry Rice Award-winning quarterback Gevani McCoy

Photo courtesy: Idaho Athletics

The B.C. Lions have signed American quarterback Gevani McCoy.

The six-foot, 195-pound passer concluded his collegiate career at Temple University in 2025, appearing in eight games without a single start for the Owls. He completed 24-of-33 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 31 yards on 16 attempts.

McCoy spent spring camp at Texas State before moving to Temple. He played for Oregon State in 2024, making nine starts in 10 appearances for the Beavers. He connected on 123-of-202 passes for 1,300 yards that season, with three touchdowns compared to six interceptions. He also ran for 328 yards and five touchdowns on 59 carries.

The native of Baldwin Hills, Cal., began his college career at the University of Idaho, where he appeared in 26 games from 2021 to 2023 and made 23 starts. He completed 448-of-684 pass attempts with the Vandals for 5,843 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions, while adding 301 yards and five touchdowns on 183 carries.

As a redshirt freshman in 2022, McCoy won the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS, while also taking home Big Sky Freshman of the Year. He was a third-team All-Big Sky selection that season before earning first-team honours in 2023.

Notable players who have previously won the Jerry Rice Award include two-time Super Bowl champion receiver Cooper Kupp, as well as NFL quarterbacks Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, and Trey Lance.

McCoy is one of just three quarterbacks currently under contract with the Lions, joining Nathan Rourke and Chase Brice.

The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.