He never expected to make the final cut.

That was Ray Wladichuk’s mind set as he entered the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ main camp after they selected him in the fifth round (38th overall) in the CFL Canadian college draft.

Instead, after starting camp at the bottom of the depth chart as a safety, the VSS Panther grad made a solid impression. The 21-year-old recorded a tackle in an exhibition game against the Toronto Argonauts and was named to the Ti-Cats’ 46-man active roster.

However, not wanting to squander the three years of education he put in at Simon Fraser University, Wladichuk declined to play with the Ti-Cats, and instead opted to continue his earth sciences degree and play with the SFU Clan.

“My original plan was always to come back to school,” said Wladichuk, who is taking a short break in Vernon before heading back to Burnaby Mountain to begin training for the Clan’s main camp in August.

Wladichuk recently switched majors, and explains a course scheduling conflict made it impossible for him to stay in Hamilton.

“If I didn’t come back, I’d be screwed for finishing (school). It was a hard decision, but I knew going in that I had to come back.”

The Ti-Cats have suspended Wladichuk, and in doing so, retain his CFL playing rights. He is hoping the door will remain open for a possible return.

“I went there for the experience and for them to get a look at me, and hopefully I’ll get another shot next year.”

Wladichuk, who grew up in Oakville, Ont., just 32 kilometres north of Hamilton, still has two years of Canadian Interuniversity Sport eligibility. He was initially recruited by the Clan as a receiver out of VSS, and was converted to defensive back in his second season.

In 2008, Wladichuk started in all eight regular-season games with SFU, finishing second on the team in tackles with 43.5, while posting two interceptions and four breakups.

Wladichuk, who missed the 2008 postseason with a leg injury, wasn’t highly touted going into the CFL Combine in April, and admits he didn’t fully expect to hear his name called at the draft – especially, by Hamilton. The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto were the only teams who interviewed him.