The British Columbia Lions and Calgary Stampeders kick off the Canadian Football League season on Thursday night, starting the league on its way to the 110th Grey Cup on Nov. 19.

With the USFL and XFL playing spring football now, the CFL will begin its 2023 campaign with 19 players from Alabama high schools and colleges on the rosters of its nine teams.

One of those players, former Alabama A&M standout Anthony Lanier II, is on the preseason list of the league’s top 50 players. The Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive tackle came in 23rd in the voting for the annual selections.

Lanier is starting his third CFL season. The longest-tenured players with Alabama football roots on this season’s rosters are a pair of Auburn alumni – Hamilton Tiger-Cats wide receiver Duke Williams and Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Nick Marshall. Each is entering his fifth season in the league.

The Lions and Stampeders square off at 8 p.m. CDT Thursday at McMahon Stadium in Calgary. CBS Sports Network is televising the game.

The opening week continues with the Tiger-Cats at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Ottawa Redblacks and Montreal Alouettes at 6 p.m. Saturday and Roughriders and Edmonton Elks at noon Sunday.

The players from Alabama high schools and colleges on CFL rosters as the season starts include:

British Columbia Lions

· Practice squad: Wide receiver Josh Pearson (Austin, Jacksonville State)

· One-game injured list: Offensive lineman Chris Schleuger (UAB)

Calgary Stampeders

· Defensive lineman T.J. Rayam (Thompson)

Edmonton Elks

· Linebacker Wesley Appolon (Tuskegee)

· Linebacker Woodly Appolon (Tuskegee)

· Quarterback Jarret Doege (Troy)

· Practice squad: Offensive lineman Ye’Majesty Sanders (Jacksonville State)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

· One-game injured list: Wide receiver Tre Crawford (UAB)

· Practice squad: Defensive back Will Sunderland (Troy)

· Wide receiver Duke Williams (Auburn)

Montreal Alouettes

· Wide receiver Chandler Worthy (Troy)

Ottawa Redblacks

· Wide receiver Quan Bray (Auburn)

Saskatchewan Roughriders

· Practice squad: Offensive line Brandon Council (Auburn)

· Defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II (Alabama A&M)

· Defensive back Nick Marshall (Auburn)

· Defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. (UAB)

· Linebacker Derrick Moncrief (Auburn)

· Practice squad: Wide receiver Kendall Watson (Samford)

Toronto Argonauts

· Defensive back Maurice Carnell IV (North Alabama)

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.