He played college football for the San Jose State Spartans, earning third-team All-American honors in 1990.

After spending his first season on injured reserve, Canley was eventually released, in part due to stiff competition in a 49ers offensive backfield that included former first-round pick Dexter Carter, Tom Rathman, and 1992 Pro-Bowler Ricky Watters (a fellow 1991 49ers draftee who coincidentally also sat out his entire rookie season due to injury).

He would play in his only NFL regular season game with the Jets, rushing four times for nine yards in a 20-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints on 26 December 1992.

Canley was part of the 1994 Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League, which eventually lost the Grey Cup game to the BC Lions, 23-20.

Again, strong competition from fellow running backs played a large part in his release; this time his teammates included 1995 Pro-Bowler Glyn Milburn and then-unknown rookie Terrell Davis.