Nicholas Dheilly
{{Short description|Canadian football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Nicholas Dheilly
| number = 96
| team =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|10|21}}
| birth_place = Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| import =
| position1 = Defensive end
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 226
| CIS = Regina (2016–2017)
Saskatchewan (2019)
| high_school = Dr. Martin LeBoldus (SK)
| CFLDraftedYear = 2020
| CFLDraftedRound = 5
| CFLDraftedPick = 46
| CFLDraftedTeam = Winnipeg Blue Bombers
| playing_team1 = Winnipeg Blue Bombers
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2020|2021}}
| playing_team2 = Saskatchewan Roughriders
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|2021|2024}}
| career_highlights =
| CFL = nicholas-dheilly/165771/
| NFL =
}}
Nicholas Dheilly (born October 21, 1997) is a Canadian former professional football defensive end who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played U Sports football at Regina and Saskatchewan and was selected in the fifth round (46th overall) of the 2020 CFL Draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Early life
Dheilly was born on October 21, 1997, in Regina, Saskatchewan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/nicholas-dheilly/165771/|publisher=Canadian Football League|title=Nicholas Dheilly|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616172727/https://www.cfl.ca/players/nicholas-dheilly/165771/|url-status=live}} His brother Dominique also played football.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/126511243/|newspaper=Star-Phoenix|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 13, 2019|page=B2|title=Family dynamics at play as Rams battle Huskies|author=Mitchell, Kevin|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703231624/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/126511243/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He attended Dr. Martin LeBoldus High School and helped them win three consecutive Saskatchewan High Schools Athletic Association 4A championships.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/126511470/|newspaper=The Leader-Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 28, 2016|page=10|title=U of R Rams' defensive end debuts by tying school record|author=Hamilton, Ian|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703230631/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/126511470/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He also played for Team Saskatchewan at the Football Canada Cup and was a member of the Canada national junior football team. A highly-recruited prospect, he committed to play U Sports football for the Regina Rams after flipping his commitment from the Saskatchewan Huskies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/126511881/|newspaper=The Leader-Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 14, 2019|page=B2|title=Dheilly takes a few turns on way back to Huskies|author=Mitchell, Kevin|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703231622/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/126511881/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}}
Amateur career
In his debut for the Rams, Dheilly tied the school's single-game sack record with three. He finished the season with 30 tackles, four sacks and an interception, being named the Canada West Universities Athletic Association Rookie of the Year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/126512107/|newspaper=Star-Phoenix|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 1, 2020|page=A10|title=Huskies' Dheilly focused on realizing pro dream|author=McCormick, Murray|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703231626/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/126512107/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} The following season, he earned league all-star honors after posting 26 defensive tackles and 6.5 sacks. Dheilly left the Rams in 2018 for the Okanagan Sun of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), recording eight sacks on his way to being named a conference all-star.
In 2019, Dheilly returned to U Sports football by committing to the Saskatchewan Huskies, for which he had initially decided to play with in 2016 before changing his mind. In one season there, he tallied 24 defensive tackles, a team-leading 9.5 {{abbr|TFLs|tackles-for-loss}} and six sacks, as well as one interception.{{Cite web|url=https://news.usask.ca/articles/huskies/2020/big-night-for-huskies-football-in-cfl-draft.php|publisher=University of Saskatchewan|title=Big night for Huskies football in CFL draft|date=May 1, 2020|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616183638/https://news.usask.ca/articles/huskies/2020/big-night-for-huskies-football-in-cfl-draft.php|url-status=live}} He was named a Canada West All-Star for his performance. Despite having two years of eligibility left, Dheilly opted to declare for the 2020 CFL Draft.
Professional career
Dheilly was selected in the fifth round (46th overall) of the 2020 CFL Draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers; the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2020/05/01/grading-every-pick-in-the-2020-cfl-draft/|website=3DownNation.com|title=Grading every pick in the 2020 CFL draft|date=May 1, 2020|author=Hodge, John|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616183638/https://3downnation.com/2020/05/01/grading-every-pick-in-the-2020-cfl-draft/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29680815/cfl-cancels-2020-season-citing-financial-losses|publisher=ESPN|title=CFL cancels 2020 season, citing financial losses|author=Seifert, Kevin|date=August 17, 2020|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616183638/https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29680815/cfl-cancels-2020-season-citing-financial-losses|url-status=live}} He made the team in 2021 and played in four regular season games, recording one tackle on special teams.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/126513293/|newspaper=The Leader-Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 13, 2022|page=A7|author=McCormick, Murray|title=Former Huskie Dheilly feels at home at Griffiths Stadium|access-date=July 3, 2023|archive-date=July 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703232135/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/126513293/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He was released on November 1.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2021/11/01/blue-bombers-release-six-from-practice-roster-as-they-return-from-bye-week/|website=3DownNation.com|title=Blue Bombers release six from practice roster as they return from bye week|date=November 1, 2021|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616184807/https://3downnation.com/2021/11/01/blue-bombers-release-six-from-practice-roster-as-they-return-from-bye-week/|url-status=live}}
On November 11, Dheilly was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and was placed on the suspended list.{{Cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8368373/regina-saskatchewan-roughriders-dheilly/|newspaper=Global News|title=Regina native Nicholas Dheilly signed by Saskatchewan Roughriders|author=Piller, Thomas|date=November 11, 2021|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616184806/https://globalnews.ca/news/8368373/regina-saskatchewan-roughriders-dheilly/|url-status=live}} He appeared in no games for the Roughriders in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerd/dhei00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|title=Nick Dheilly Stats|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616184812/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerd/dhei00200.html|url-status=live}} He was re-signed after the season on December 14.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2021/12/14/roughriders-sign-seven-players-including-regina-native-nicholas-dheilly/|website=3DownNation.com|title=Roughriders sign seven players, including Regina native Nicholas Dheilly|date=December 14, 2021|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616184806/https://3downnation.com/2021/12/14/roughriders-sign-seven-players-including-regina-native-nicholas-dheilly/|url-status=live}} He made the final roster for 2022.{{Cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8904097/nicholas-dheilly-saskatchewan-roughriders-roster-2022/|newspaper=Global News|title=Regina's Nicholas Dheilly earns spot on hometown Roughriders|date=June 7, 2022|author=Shire, Taylor|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616184806/https://globalnews.ca/news/8904097/nicholas-dheilly-saskatchewan-roughriders-roster-2022/|url-status=live}} Dheilly appeared in seven games during the 2022 season, posting three total tackles before being sidelined by an injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.620ckrm.com/2023/05/18/putting-the-d-into-the-defensive-line-charbel-dabire-and-nicholas-dheilly-feel-like-home/|publisher=CKRM|title=Nicholas Dheilly and Charbel Dabire are "D"-lighted to be members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders|author=Weyland, Blaine|date=May 18, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519172405/https://www.620ckrm.com/2023/05/18/putting-the-d-into-the-defensive-line-charbel-dabire-and-nicholas-dheilly-feel-like-home/|url-status=live}} He returned and made the team for the 2023 season.{{Cite news|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/sports-riders-cuts-2|newspaper=The Leader-Post|title=Roughriders announce final cuts with 54 players making active roster|author=Shire, Taylor|date=June 4, 2023|access-date=June 16, 2023|archive-date=June 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605013637/https://leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/sports-riders-cuts-2|url-status=live}} He announced his retirement on August 1, 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.riderville.com/2024/08/01/theyll-always-be-my-brothers-council-returns-to-roughriders/ | title=“THEY’LL ALWAYS BE MY BROTHERS”: COUNCIL RETURNS TO ROUGHRIDERS | publisher=riderville.com | date=August 1, 2024 | accessdate=15 August 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dheilly, Nicholas}}
Category:Canadian football defensive linemen
Category:Players of Canadian football from Saskatchewan
Category:Canadian football people from Regina, Saskatchewan
Category:Saskatchewan Huskies football players
Category:Canadian Junior Football League players