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Who is the jacked BC Lions running back suddenly tearing up the CFL?

Trevor Beggs
Trevor Beggs
|
Aug 21 2026, 8:36 pm
Who is the jacked BC Lions running back suddenly tearing up the CFL?
@zhorvath_/Instagram

The BC Lions have completely rewritten the script of their season.

They were hanging by a thread after a deflating 26-12 home defeat to the Toronto Argonauts on July 25. Since then, they’ve won three straight to get right back into the playoff mix.

Nathan Rourke’s return has certainly helped, but there’s another massive reason for the Lions’ success: their jacked 6-foot-3, 230-pound running back.

Zander Horvath has ripped off 355 rushing yards during the last three Lions wins. He received CFL Player of the Week honours twice already this month, and could join Nathan Rourke as the only Lions player to get that honour three times in the same month.

So, after rushing for just 294 yards in 16 career CFL games before this month, how the heck did this outburst from Horvath transpire?

Horvath’s path to BC

Despite his raw athletic ability, Horvath wasn’t expected to be taken in the 2022 NFL Draft.

But at the tail end of the draft, the Los Angeles Chargers took him with their final pick in the seventh round, at 260th overall.

Because of his sturdy frame, he largely played fullback for the Chargers, in front of primary running back Austin Ekeler.

Horvath caught touchdown passes from Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in each of his first two NFL games. That garnered him some attention, as he became the first running back or fullback in over 80 years to record touchdown catches in their first two NFL games.

Unfortunately for Horvath, that was the pinnacle of his NFL career.

The fitness fanatic was cut from the Chargers roster just days before the start of the 2023 season. He then signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad in September 2023, but was released a month later.

Horvat then rejoined the Chargers on their practice squad on Nov. 22, but was released on Dec. 1.

The fullback signed with two more teams, the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins, in 2024, but was subsequently waived by both teams before the start of the 2024 campaign.

Horvath’s rise to stardom with the Lions

zander horvath bc lions

Zander Horvath’s breakout game came against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 9. (BC Lions)

Horvath was part of the Lions roster all of last season after signing with the team in January 2025.

He didn’t record any stats until Week 5 of last season, but got injured during one of his first looks with CFL action. Horvath wound up missing eight games after that.

After regaining his health, Horvath wound up in a familiar spot: the practice roster.

However, an injury to Lions starting running back James Butler opened the door for the Purdue alumnus to make an impression.

In his first CFL start, Horvath ripped off 152 yards on 12 carries, earning CFL Player of the Week honours. While he showed flashes after that game, he firmly played a backseat role to Butler.

This season, however, Horvath’s contributions while Butler was on the shelf have been hard to ignore.

Not only has the 27-year-old racked up over 300 rushing yards in his last three games, but he has six touchdowns in those contests. Horvath is up to 418 rushing yards, good for sixth overall in the league despite the fact he’s started just three games.

Simply put, Horvath has caught the attention of the CFL.

ā€œHeā€™s a behemoth of a human being,ā€ Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Mace said this week. ā€œYouā€™ve got to be sound in your tackling, and you canā€™t sleep on his athleticism.

Lions coach Buck Pierce alluded to the fact that Horvath’s rise up to being BC’s starting running back didn’t happen by mistake.

“He works extremely hard,” Pierce told the media this week. “He’s the type of guy that doesn’t say a whole lot, but shows up and just works. He wants to be good for his teammates, too. Unselfish.”

“When he gets the ball in his hand, he plays hard. He takes care of his body. He’s a good football player that has a great combination of strength and speed.”

Horvath, a young dad, also has shown some talents off the field too. He has an art page on Instagram showcasing incredibly detailed sketches.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Alexander Horvath (@art_by_zander)

What can’t he do?

Horvath doesn’t appear to be conceding snaps anytime soon, and he’ll attempt to help the Lions win their fourth game in a row on Sunday, at home against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The Lions have opened the Upper Bowl for that contest, and a source told Daily Hive that BC is expecting its biggest crowd of the season.

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