He attended Lee H. Edwards High School, being named to the Western AAA All-Star team in 1953.
[1] Playing the guard position, McCanless was described as the team's "big man" by the Asheville Citizen-Times.
He started in each of the five preseason games on the offensive line, and impressed enough to make the final roster.
[5][7] Shortly after being released by the Oilers, McCanless accepted a position as assistant football coach and science teacher at Clyde A. Erwin High School.
[8] He also served as the Buncombe County, North Carolina, Schools transportation director for over 20 years, from 1972 until at least 1992.