 Shay with theWinnipeg Blue Bombers in 2025 | |
| No. 34 – Winnipeg Blue Bombers | |
|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker |
| Roster status | Active |
| CFL status | National |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (2002-02-02)February 2, 2002 (age 24) Georgia, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Listed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Monte Vista(Danville, California) |
| College | Wyoming (2020–2024) |
| CFL draft | 2025: 1st round, 6th overall pick |
| Career history | |
| |
| Stats at CFL.ca | |
Connor Shay (born February 2, 2002) is an American-Canadian professionalfootballlinebacker for theWinnipeg Blue Bombers of theCanadian Football League (CFL). He playedcollege football atWyoming.
Connor Shay was born on February 2, 2002, in the U.S. state ofGeorgia.[1][2] He grew up playingbaseball.[3] In order to meet friends, he started playing football atMonte Vista High School inDanville, California.[3][4] Shay was atight end on the freshman team.[3] He made thevarsity team his sophomore year as a tight end andmiddle linebacker.[3] He was also thepunter his senior year.[3] As a senior, Shay recorded 51 solo tackles, 83 assisted tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, 32 receptions for 419 yards and four touchdowns, and 42 punts for a 36.1 yard average.[4] He earnedSan Francisco Chronicle first-team All-Metro honors at linebacker and was also named the Cal-Hi Sports North Coast Section (NCS) Defensive Player of the Year.[4] He was rated a three-star recruit by247Sports.com.[4] Shay played four seasons of baseball at Monte Vista, with his senior season canceled due toCOVID-19.[5] He also played one season ofbasketball his senior year.[6]
Shay receivedcollege football scholarship offers fromWyoming,Fresno State,Nevada,UNLV, andUtah.[4] He committed to play for the Wyoming Cowboys of theUniversity of Wyoming.[4] Heredshirted during theCOVID-19 shortened 2020 season.[4] In 2021, Shay played in 12 games as a backup linebacker and onspecial teams, posting one solo tackle and two assisted tackles.[4] He appeared in 12 games again during the 2022 season, recording three assisted tackles while garnering Academic All-Mountain West recognition.[4][7] Shay played in 13 games as a redshirt junior in 2023, posting eight solo tackles and seven assisted tackles.[4] He started all 12 games atweakside linebacker his senior year in 2024, totaling 45 solo tackles, 31 assisted tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and three pass breakups.[7][8][9] He majored in communication at Wyoming.[4]
After going undrafted in the2025 NFL draft, Shay was invited to rookieminicamp on a tryout basis with both theGreen Bay Packers andNew York Jets.[10] He was also selected by theWinnipeg Blue Bombers with the sixth overall pick in the2025 CFL draft.[8] Shay qualified for national status in the CFL due to his father being born inCharlottetown, Prince Edward Island.[8][10][11] He officially signed with the Blue Bombers on May 13, 2025.[8]