Olympic sprinter Haynes returning to football roots with Tiger-Cats

It’s taken eight years, but Akeem Haynes of Calgary is a football player once again.

The Olympic sprinter traded his track spikes for cleats last month, signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Despite not having played football since graduating from high school in 2010, Haynes said his pursuit of a CFL career isn’t an experiment.

“This is something I’ve dreamed of since high school,” he said. “I’ve played the game before, in high school I was basically on the field every single minute (as a quarterback, running back and kick-returner) and I was recruited by Canadian and American schools so I had to be pretty decent.

“Every time I wasn’t in track I always played football ... so I never forgot how to do the things. Maybe I’m coming in and starting from scratch but then again I’m not. I’m a fast learner and I think I’ll catch up pretty quickly,” he added.

Quick, best describes the Jamaican-born Haynes, who came to Canada and Yellowknife with his family at age 7. The 25-yearold Calgary resident was a track all-American at Alabama and served as the leadoff runner for Canada’s bronze medal-winning 4x100 relay team at the 2016 Rio Games.

He’ll work as a receiver with Hamilton and could also return kicks.

“He has qualities you can’t teach,” said Drew Allemang, Hamilton’s assistant GM and Canadian scouting director. “I think what we’re looking forward to most is seeing him compete in a football environment. He’ll have a lot to learn, but all young players do. It (pro football) is a big jump.”

Haynes reluctantly gave up football for track after high school when he attended Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. He planned to be a two-sport athlete there but the school didn’t have a football program so Haynes concentrated on track and academics.

It paid off as Haynes also earned a general health degree at Alabama.

Haynes said one key to his track success is never being afraid to fail.

“I’ve always been a fighter and brought that attitude to track,” he said. “I’ve fallen but I’ve always gotten right back up.”