Former Alabama and Texas tight end Jahleel Billingsley is getting a shot at professional football. Billingsley is set to sign with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, according to On3’s Matt Zenitz.
Billingsley was one of the top tight end recruits in the country for the class of 2019, signing with Alabama as a four-star recruit.
He spent three seasons playing for the Crimson Tide, before transferring to Texas for his senior season in 2022.
The Chicago native caught three passes for 38 yards, while appearing in four games for the Longhorns last season.
Prior to coming to Texas, he had a productive career for the Crimson Tide. Billingsley appeared in 36 games, while making five starts, during his three seasons at Alabama.
His best years of his college career came as a sophomore in 2020 and as a junior in 2021. During the 2020 season, Billingsley caught 18 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns. He followed that up by hauling in 17 passes for 256 yards and three scores in 2021. However, he was unable to keep up that production once he arrived in Austin.
Jahleel Billingsley is joining a Calgary Stampeders team that is 1-3 on the season. Its next game is scheduled for Saturday, July 15.
More on Jahleel Billingsley, time in college
Billingsley began his career at Alabama, being labeled as a potential breakout star following a strong 2020 season. However, things never quite panned out in Tuscaloosa, with Billingsley eventually entering the NCAA transfer portal following his 37 receptions for 559 yards and one touchdown.
The last contribution in an Alabama jersey from Billingsley came during the College Football Playoff semifinal game against Cincinnati.
Billingsley then decided to reconvene with Jeff Banks and Steve Sarkisian at Texas, hoping to get back to the form he was in during the 2020 season. Billingsley appeared in just four games though, catching three passes for 38 yards and no touchdowns. The Longhorns’ road win against Oklahoma State in October is when most of the product came, having two receptions for 33 yards.
Billingsley played high school football at Chicago (IL) Phillips Academy, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 290 overall recruit in the 2019 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
If Billingsley is able to produce in the CFL and prove that he can play at a high level, perhaps he will get a shot in the NFL down the road.
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