{{Short description|Canadian gridiron football player (born 1996)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=August 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Brayden Lenius | image = | caption = | current_team = | number = | position = Wide receiver | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|12|19}} | birth_place = Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 230 | high_school = Carson Graham Secondary<br>Chaminade College Preparatory | college = Washington (2014–2017)<br>New Mexico (2018) | undraftedyear=2019 | cfldraftyear = 2019 | cfldraftround = 2 | cfldraftpick = 15 | pastteams = * Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2019|2021}}) * Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2022}})* * Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2022|2023}}) * BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2025}})* | status = Active | cflstatus = Canadian | highlights = | cfl = brayden-lenius/164873/ }} '''Brayden Lenius''' (born December 19, 1996) is a former Canadian professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the New Mexico Lobos and Washington Huskies. He has also been a member of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL.
==High school career== Lenius played for the Carson Graham Eagles in North Vancouver.<ref name=High>{{cite web|url=https://varsityletters.ca/eight-b-c-high-school-football-alums-picked-in-2019-cfl-draft-coaches-agree-player-development-is-on-the-rise/ |title=Eight B.C. high school football alums picked in 2019 CFL Draft! Coaches agree player development is on the rise |publisher=Varsity Letters |last=Tsumura |first=Howard |date=May 3, 2019}}</ref> He then moved to the Los Angeles area to play for the Chaminade College Eagles for his grade 12 year.<ref name=High/>
== College career == Lenius played college football for the Washington Huskies from 2014 to 2017.<ref name=High/><ref name=Huskies>{{cite web|url=https://gohuskies.com/sports/football/roster/brayden-dickey/4909 |title=Brayden Dickey |publisher=Washington Huskies |access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref> He did not play in 2016 and used a redshirt season.<ref name=Huskies/> He graduated from the University of Washington and transferred to the University of New Mexico to play for the Lobos in 2018.<ref name=Lobos>{{cite web|url=https://washington.rivals.com/news/former-washington-wr-brayden-dickey-to-finish-career-at-new-mexico |title=Former Washington WR Brayden Dickey to Finish Career at New Mexico |website=washington.rivals.com |date=April 8, 2021}}</ref>
== Professional career == === Saskatchewan Roughriders === Heading into the 2019 CFL draft, Lenius was ranked by the CFL Central Scouting Bureau as the 11th best player available in the draft.<ref name="Ranking">{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/12/wilkinson-desjarlais-climb-final-cfl-scouting-bureau-rankings/ |title=Wilkinson, Desjarlais climb final CFL Scouting Bureau rankings |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=April 12, 2019}}</ref>
He was selected in the second round, 15th overall, by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and signed with the team on May 15, 2019.<ref name="Signed">{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/05/15/riders-ink-towering-targets-mcinnis-lenius/ |title=Riders ink towering targets McInnis, Lenius |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=May 15, 2019}}.</ref> He played in his first professional game on July 6, 2019, against the Calgary Stampeders. Three weeks later, he recorded his first catch in a game against the BC Lions on July 27, 2021. Overall, he played in 11 regular season games for the Roughriders in 2019 where he had two receptions for four yards.<ref name="Riderville">{{cite web|url=https://www.riderville.com/players/brayden-lenius/164873/ |title=Brayden Lenius |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |access-date=August 14, 2021}}.</ref> He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season.
In his sophomore season, Lenius made the team's opening day roster and scored his first career professional touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Cody Fajardo against the BC Lions on August 6, 2021.<ref name=FirstTD>{{cite web|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/saskatchewan-roughriders-brayden-lenius-records-first-cfl-touchdown |title=Saskatchewan Roughriders' Brayden Lenius records first CFL touchdown |publisher=Regina Leader-Post |last=McCormick |first=Murray |date=August 8, 2021}}</ref> He had celebrated by throwing the ball into the stands, but the family that had caught the ball offered to return the keepsake to him.<ref name=Return>{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8107552/saskatchewan-roughriders-brayden-lenius-milestone-football-fan/ |title=Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Brayden Lenius getting milestone football back from fan |publisher=Global News |last=Shire |first=Taylor |date=August 12, 2021}}</ref> He finished the season having played in all 14 regular season games and recorded 37 receptions for 471 yards and four touchdowns.<ref name=Riderville/> He also played in both post-season games where he had six catches for 43 yards.<ref name=Riderville/> On January 7, 2022, Lenius was released one month prior to his contract expiring in order to pursue National Football League opportunities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riderville.com/2022/01/07/riders-release-lenius-nfl-opportunities/ |title=Riders Release Lenius for NFL opportunities |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |date=January 7, 2022}}</ref>
=== Atlanta Falcons === On January 10, 2022, Lenius signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.<ref>{{cite web|title=Falcons sign 17 to reserve/future contracts|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-sign-17-to-reserve-future-contracts|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=January 10, 2022}}</ref> On July 28, 2022, he was waived.<ref>{{cite web|title=Falcons sign free-agent safety, adding former Packer to secondary mix |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-sign-free-agent-safety-add-former-packer-to-secondary-mix|author=Bair, Scott|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=July 28, 2022}}</ref>
=== Saskatchewan Roughriders === On August 29, 2022, Lenius re-signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.<ref>{{Cite web |author=TSN ca Staff |date=2022-08-29 |title=Roughriders sign WR Lenius - TSN.ca |url=https://www.tsn.ca/saskatchewan-roughriders-sign-brayden-lenius-1.1842140 |access-date=2022-08-29 |website=TSN |language=en}}</ref> He played in seven games where he had 17 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown. He was limited by injuries in 2023 and played in just one regular season game where he recorded two catches for 12 yards. Lenius was part of final training camp cuts in 2024 and was released on June 1, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2024/06/01/quarterback-mason-fine-among-riders-cuts/ |title=Quarterback Mason Fine among Riders' cuts |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=June 1, 2024}}</ref>
=== BC Lions === After going unsigned through the 2024 CFL season due to a foot injury, Lenius signed with the BC Lions on December 19, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2024/12/19/lions-sign-db-perryman-through-2026-add-wr-lenius-to-the-roster/ |title=Lions Sign DB Perryman Through 2026, Add WR Lenius To The Roster |publisher=BC Lions |date=December 19, 2024}}</ref> On May 7, 2025, Lenius announced his retirement from professional football, via his agent, as result of his previously injury failing to heal adequately enough to allow him to continue playing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hodge |first=John |date=2025-05-07 |title=Canadian receiver Brayden Lenius retires prior to first training camp with B.C. Lions |url=https://3downnation.com/2025/05/07/canadian-receiver-brayden-lenius-retires-prior-to-first-training-camp-with-b-c-lions/ |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=3DownNation |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == Lenius was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, to parents Shauna Lenius and Troy Dickey.<ref name=Dedicated>{{cite web|url=http://allsportstucson.com/2018/01/06/dickey-46-dedicated-son-family-man-teammate-touched-lives-of-many/ |title=Dickey, 46, dedicated son, family man, teammate touched lives of many |publisher=All Sports Tucson |date=January 6, 2018}}</ref> He moved with his mother, Shauna, to Vancouver, British Columbia, following the divorce of his parents.<ref name=Dedicated/> Shauna played basketball for the Regina Cougars.<ref name=Home>{{cite web|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/brayden-lenius-feels-right-at-home-with-the-saskatchewan-roughriders |title=Brayden Lenius feels right at home with the Saskatchewan Roughriders |publisher=Regina Leader-Post |last=McCormick |first=Murray |date=July 5, 2019}}</ref> Lenius' father, Troy, played at wide receiver for the Roughriders in 1995.<ref name=Huskies/> Lenius had legally changed his last name to "Dickey" in December 2017.<ref name=Huskies/> His father died on January 6, 2018, following a stroke he had suffered on December 28, 2017, in Glendale, Arizona, where he was staying to watch Lenius play in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl.<ref name=Dedicated/> Lenius' paternal grandfather, Eldridge Dickey, played at wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders for four years, but played quarterback for the Tennessee State Tigers.<ref name=Huskies/> Lenius' maternal grandparents were season-ticket holders for the Roughriders for many years, but his grandfather, Jim Lenius, died five days before Brayden was selected in the 2019 CFL draft.<ref name=Home/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.bclions.com/players/brayden-lenius/164873/ BC Lions profile] *{{Twitter|BraydenLenius|Brayden Lenius}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lenius, Brayden}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:American football wide receivers Category:Atlanta Falcons players Category:BC Lions players Category:Canadian football wide receivers Category:New Mexico Lobos football players Category:Players of Canadian football from Saskatchewan Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players Category:Sportspeople from Regina, Saskatchewan Category:Washington Huskies football players Category:Players of American football from Saskatchewan