North Bay's Hunter battling for a roster spot in the NFL

It’s a special time for North Bay’s Ryan Hunter. 

The North Bay native is literally living out his dream as he continues to battle for a roster spot with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.  

Hunter, who played his college football at Bowling Green, was signed by the Chiefs this spring to battle for a starting position on the offensive line for the Chiefs.  

The 23-year-old will be on the field tonight as the Chiefs take on the Atlanta Falcons. Last Thursday, Hunter made his pre-season debut in a 17-10 loss to the Houston Texans. 

Ironically, Hunter is not the lone Canadian offensive linemen as Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is also on the Chiefs roster.   

The Algonquin alum says it has been helpful having another Canadian around.  

"Having Laurent here with me is really nice, we click really well, both being French-Canadian, so he's kind of a big brother I look up to,” Hunter told the CBC last week.   

"We have a good group of veteran offensive linemen that are helping the young guys figure it out, so they've been really great with the playbook and how to prepare for training camp,” Hunter continued. 

Hunter, who was taken in the first round of the CFL draft this past summer by the Toronto Argonauts, knows that he is competing with his fellow Canadian as he battles for a starting spot on the offensive line.   

See related: Hunter goes in first round to Argos in CFL Draft 

Hunter will have to play his best in the final three pre-season games. On September 1 he should find out if he makes the team, is added to the practice roster or is outright released.   

Hunter is not taking anything for granted.  

“This is a tryout and I have to show the coaches and the managers and guys that make the decisions, that I belong on the team,” said Hunter to the CBC.