Royce Metchie, Nigerian-born, Toronto Argonauts safety, was on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, named CFL Honour Roll’s Top offensive, defensive player. He was named alongside Shea Patterson.

The 27- years old player received a grade of 92.7 for his play in Toronto’s 27-23 setback to the Calgary Stampeders and tied a career high with nine tackles while adding an interception and forced fumble over 62 total snaps and earned a 91.6 grade on 48 coverage snaps.

The league’s weekly honour roll highlights players in nine positions based on data points registered and compiled by Pro Football Focus, a sports analytics company.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ offensive line earned a top grade of 73.0 for its play in a 33-16 home loss to the Montreal Alouettes. Its top three performers were Brendan Bordner (71.8), Jordan Murray (71.7) and Coulter Woodmansey (69.8).

Edmonton’s Shane Richards had the highest individual grade among offensive linemen at 76.1.

The other top-graded players included Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira (83.2), Calgary receiver Marken Michel (75.6), defensive lineman Willie Jefferson (88.1) and linebacker Adam Bighill (76.2), both of the Blue Bombers

Metchie was born in Lagos Nigeria on September 11, 1996, to a Nigerian father and Taiwanese mother.

His father, Ambassador Dr. John Metchie is the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA) as well as the Prime Minister of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU).

Royce Metchie spent his childhood in in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and later lived in Ghana and Taiwan.

His younger brother, John Metchie III, is a wide receiver who played college football for Alabama and was drafted in the 2022 NFL draft by the Houston Texans.

While in the University, Royce Metchie played U-Sports football for the Guelph Gryphons from 2014 to 2017. His professional football started in 2018 when he was was drafted by the Stampeders in the third round, 25th overall, in the 2018 CFL Draft and signed with the team on May 14, 2018. He began the 2018 season on the practice roster, but was soon elevated to the active roster and played in his first game on June 28, 2018, against the Ottawa Redblacks. He dressed in seven regular season games in his rookie season and recorded five special teams tackles. He was on the practice roster during the playoffs when he shared in the Stampeders’ 106th Grey Cup victory.

Following the off-season departure of two players from his team, Metchie became the Stampeders’ starting safety for the 2019 season and recorded his first career CFL interception during the Labour Day Classic on September 2, 2019, against the Edmonton Eskimos. He played and started in 17 regular season games for the team in 2019 where he had 48 defensive tackles, seven special teams tackles, and three interceptions.

He signed a contract extension with the Stampeders on January 18, 2021 and played in seven games in 2021 where he had 31 defensive tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble.

Metchie was on February 4, 2022, traded to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for Cameron Judge as both players had contracts expiring the following week. He played in 17 regular season games where he had 72 defensive tackles and two interceptions while also playing in both post-season games, including the 109th Grey Cup, where he recorded three defensive tackles as he won his second Grey Cup championship in the victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

On February 3, 2023, it was announced that Metchie had signed a two-year contract extension with the Argonauts.