GUELPH, Ont. – Canadian Football League (CFL) preseason action returns to the University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium on Friday, May 29 when the Toronto Argonauts host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for a 7pm kickoff. Whether on the field, coaching on the sidelines, or in the front office, both the Argos and Ticats boast several individuals with University of Guelph ties, as a total of six individuals (three on the Argos, three on the Ticats) are currently representing the Gryphon football program at the professional level. See below for more information.
 

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Gryphons on the Toronto Argonauts (3):
** Isaiah Smith (Running Back)
** Tristan Aboud (Quarterback - invited to take part in 'CFL QB Internship' program)
** Afram Jolak (front office - 'Pro Scout Coordinator')
 
Gryphons on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3):
** Kiondre Smith (Receiver)
** Johnny Augustine (Running Back)
** Jarryd Baines (Offensive Coordinator and QB coach)
 

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Toronto Argonauts vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL Preseason)
 
Date:  Friday, May 29, 2026
Time:  7pm kickoff, gates open at 6pm
Location:  Alumni Stadium (University of Guelph)
Tickets: gryphons.ca/tickets
 
TICKET INFO:

• Tickets now on sale to the general public at gryphons.ca/tickets
• Adult ticket (ages 18+) = $25+HST
• Youth ticket (ages 4-to-17) = $20+HST
• Group tickets (minimum 15 tickets) = $15+HST

 

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Isaiah Smith – Toronto Argonauts (Running Back)
 
Isaiah Smith, a 6-foot, 230-pound running back from Burlington, Ontario, has gone from student-athlete at the University of Guelph, to a professional football player, all without having to leave U of G campus. Smith was the first University of Guelph player to be taken in the 2026 CFL Draft with the Toronto Argonauts selecting the 2022 OUA Rookie of the Year in the 2nd round, 11th overall. With the Argos once again making U of G their home base for training camp and practices this season, Isaiah's new professional home was the same as his home as a Gryphon. A human kinetics major at the University of Guelph, Smith burst onto the OUA scene in his rookie season in 2022, earning OUA Rookie of the Year honours. Smith battled through injuries the following two seasons but continued to impress whenever he was on the field, including developing into a reliable receiving option out of the backfield during the 2025 season. Smith rushed for 306 yards and had 295 receiving yards this past season while finding the end zone 4 times.
 

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Tristan Aboud – Toronto Argonauts (Quarterback)  ** CFL QB Internship Program **
 
For a third consecutive year, current Gryphons quarterback, Tristan Aboud, has been invited to take part in the CFL's QB Internship Program. Launched in 2010, the CFL QB Internship Program sees CFL teams from across the league invite U SPORTS quarterbacks to join CFL clubs during rookie and training camps to develop skills through professional coaching, practice participation, and meetings. Tristan Aboud, a 22-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, just recently wrapped up his third season as a Gryphon and is set to return to the Gryphons for the 2026 OUA football season. Aboud joins former Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks quarterback and current Winnipeg Blue Bomber, Taylor Elgersma, as the only other U SPORTS quarterback to have taken in part in the CFL QB Internship Program on three different occasions, with Aboud joining the Argos in 2024, the Ticats in 2025, and the Argos once again in 2026. Aboud is not only a standout on the field, but also in the classroom, with the management economics and finance major earning U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status in each year since arriving at the University of Guelph. Aboud will not take part in the preseason game in Guelph, as the CFL QB Internship Program does not permit U SPORTS quarterbacks to take part in preseason games. Aboud will return to official game action as a Gryphon on Saturday, August 29 when the Gryphons travel to Laurier for their 2026 season opener.
 

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Afram Jolak – Toronto Argonauts (Pro Scout Coordinator)
 
In the Argos front office, former Gryphon football student-athlete, Afram Jolak, joins the double blue as the team's pro scout coordinator. Afram, a defensive lineman from Ottawa, joined the Gryphon football program in 2018-19 while majoring in human kinetics at the University of Guelph. Afram also spent some time competing with the Gryphons track and field team in throws. After his time at U of G came to an end, Afram was hired in the CFL front office, working in the football operations department. Jolak is now in his first year with the Argos as the team's pro scout coordinator.
 
The Argos officially kick off their 2026 regular season schedule on Friday, June 12 in Montreal. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking over BMO Field, the Argos will play their first seven games of the regular season on the road, with three "home games" taking place in Saskatchewan (Week 4),  in Winnipeg (Week 6), and in Hamilton (Week 7). The Argos will return to BMO Field in early August, with their first true home game coming on August 6 when they host the Calgary Stampeders.
 

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Kiondré Smith – Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Receiver)
   
Kiondré Smith, a 26-year-old from Markham, Ontario, enjoyed a highly impactful career as a Gryphon from 2018-2021. During the 2021 season, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound receiver established himself as one of the most dynamic players in the country, being the lone U SPORTS player to earn All-Canadian status on two separate occasions. The criminal justice and public policy major earned himself a spot on the U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian roster as a returner, after amassing 339 punt return yards (2nd in the OUA), and averaging 24.0 yards per return on kick returns. He also earned U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian status for his contributions on offence as a go-to receiver for the Gryphons. As a receiver, Smith finished the 2021 season with 472 yards, averaging 94.4 yards per game (2nd in the OUA) and 13.5 yards per reception, he also found the endzone four times. Smith finished his Gryphon career with 635 receiving yards, 1,080 punt return yards, 681 kick return yards, and 6 total touchdowns. Kiondré now enters his 5th CFL season, and is coming off a strong 2025 season in which he was named a CFL East Division All-Star after setting career-highs in receptions (71), yards (933) and touchdowns (7).
 

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Johnny Augustine – Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Running Back)
   
Johnny Augustine enjoyed five standout years with the Gryphons (2013-2017), finishing his University career ranked 2nd on the Gryphons all-time rushing list with 2,742 yards. Augustine's senior season with the Gryphs in 2017 saw him earn Team Offensive MVP Honours after carrying the ball 122 times while rushing for 690 yards and 9 touchdowns. In his third season (2015), Johnny tied a single-season school record by accounting for 14 touchdowns (12 rushing, 2 receiving) while helping lead the Gryphons to their 4th Yates Cup title in school history (and first since 1996). From 2018-2024, Augustine played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, before joining the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2025 where he ran for 242 yards on 61 carries (4.0 yards per carry average), while adding 12 receptions for 134 receiving yards and one special team's tackle.
 

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Jarryd Baines – Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Offensive Coordinator & Quarterbacks Coach)
 

Jarryd Baines started in four of his five years at the University of Guelph (2008-2012) and was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year in 2012. During his career, the linebacker from Ottawa racked up 129 tackles, 4.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles and four interceptions. Baines has worked in a variety of roles at the CFL level, beginning in 2013 in the league's football operations department. Since joining the Ticats in 2016, Baines has held a number of different coaching roles and was named Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on January 12, 2026.
 

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