Dohnte Meyers has a unique name and took a unique path to his first NFL contract, which included the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
All five Meyers siblings have names starting with ‘D.’ His mom Tracey’s favourite name for a boy was John, so the couple took the ‘D’ from his dad’s name, Dwayne, and spelled Dohnte in a standout way.
His name stood out to assistant general manager Paul Jones at an open tryout the Riders held in Atlanta, which was where Meyers spent most of his childhood and went to Norcross High School, located about 30 minutes from downtown.
“I saw a familiar face, Paul Jones. He was at my pro day. After the workout, they offered me a contract. I knew that was a place where I should be and I wanted to be. It made sense for where my life was at and playing football,” Meyers said.
The five-foot-11, 190-pound receiver signed a futures contract with the Roughriders for the 2024 season. Meyers seemed to have an immediate connection with franchise quarterback Trevor Harris on the field. That relationship was started by former CFL linebacker Manny Rodriguez, who played with Harris in Ottawa.
Rodriguez trained Meyers at his Atlanta-area gym, U48 Performance. When he found out Meyers was going to play for Saskatchewan, he told his old teammate to show him the ropes. Harris became a “big brother” for Meyers, who quickly proved he could be a playmaker within the three-down league.
“Once I got up there, he took me under his wing. I learned from him, not only his approach, but his lifestyle, what it means to be a pro and excel at a very high level. I feel like over time, that’s what got me to the second year where everybody was able to see,” he said.
Meyers posted back-to-back 100-yard games during his first two CFL outings in 2024, matching nine-target, eight-reception performances for 101 yards in Week 10 and 11 that year. He posted 24 receptions for 349 yards with one touchdown in four games as a rookie, then suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Recovering and staying healthy were keys to his 65-catch, 1,000-yard campaign in 2025. Meyers ranked third in the CFL with 11 catches that went for 30 or more yards, tied fourth with eight receiving touchdowns, seventh in receiving yards (1,056), and averaged 16.2 yards per reception.
Why not you? pic.twitter.com/ZQ3ZJdmfzR
— Dohnte Meyers (@dohntemeyers1) December 13, 2025
That production drew attention from NFL teams, but Meyers remained focused on where his feet were. He made a critical leaping grab for 21 yards with less than 30 seconds left in the West Final versus the B.C. Lions. Harris’ trust in his athleticism to throw a high ball between multiple defenders led to Meyers’ favourite play.
“Tommy’s touchdown in the West Final, for a lot of reasons. That was the coldest game I’ve ever played in, so that was an experience. The two-minute drill. My best friend from home was at the game. I knew once he caught the touchdown, we’re about to go to the Grey Cup,” Meyers said.
“I’ve never experienced a championship playing football. Knowing with that catch and that play, it represented more than putting six points on the board. It was a testament to our season, hard work, getting over that hump and ending the drought. Something that we felt like, not only we worked for, but we were fortunate to have.”
The 25-year-old registered four receptions for 76 yards as Harris earned 112th Grey Cup MVP honours and the Riders won the fifth CFL championship in team history. There was no time for Meyers to rest, though. Workouts were lined up with NFL teams, and he zoned in on impressing talent evaluators.
“The day starts early, whether it’s film or workouts or meetings. It’s fairly early, but not obscene. 7 or 8 a.m., but us athletes, we’re already up anyway. You get there, you have breakfast, meet certain personnel, usually warm up, do some testing, workout, whatever that entails, do medicals, and do your physical,” Meyers explained.
“You talk with who you need to talk with, and then lunch. Then you’re about your way. It’s a very seamless process, honestly. I don’t want to use the word extensive, but it’s very thorough. The time is used very efficiently.”
Meyers visited Cincinnati and worked out for the Bengals on Friday, December 19. His feeling at Paycor Stadium was familiar, similar to how he felt comfortable in Regina at Mosaic Stadium.
“I loved Cincinnati. I made a joke. I was like, ‘The NFL version of Sask.’ In Sask, our facility is built into our stadium, our home field is where we practice, our locker room is in our stadium,” Meyers said.
“I was like, ‘This feels like home a little bit. I’m familiar with this.’ I like what coming to work could look like. I like what being in the building means. This is honestly our home field.”
Meyers is among a receiver group that includes two-time, first-team All-Pro Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. There were no Joe Burrow sightings or interactions when he visited the Bengals; however, the Delta State University product has envisioned catching passes from No. 9 in Cincinnati colours.
“That’s crazy and amazing, man. To play with him, everybody knows he’s an amazing player — he’s the guy,” Meyers said. “To catch passes with him, to work with him, to grind with him, to be in the film room, perfect the craft and go win games, that’s something I’m going to be a part of.”
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