The Montreal Alouettes have signed six Americans, including quarterbacks Philip Nelson and Broc Rutter. The team also agreed to terms with receivers Jordan Lasley, Eli Rogers, Nelson Spruce and Reggie White Jr..
Nelson took part in the Winnipeg Blue Bombers training camp in 2018 and also participated in the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals rookie Mini-Camps one year earlier. The quarterback also played for the Dallas Renegades of the XFL and for the San Diego Fleet in the Alliance of American Football.
The six-foot-three, 221-pound athlete spent his first two seasons with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. The 27-year-old completed 169 of his 338 attempts for gains of 2,179 yards and 17 touchdowns. Two years later, the Madison, WI native earned 2,621 yards and threw 16 touchdown passes by completing 237 of his 349 attempted with the East Carolina University Pirates with whom he played for two years.
Rutter was the North Central University Cardinals’ starting quarterback from 2016 to 2019 for all their 51 games. The six-foot-two, 204-pound pivot was dominant during his senior year as he completed 309 of his 435 attempts for 4,591 yards and 56 touchdowns in 15 games, rewriting the school’s record book. He amassed 14,265 passing yards and 135 touchdowns during his time at North Central. Moreover, the 23-year-old quarterback collected at least 200 passing yards in 44 games.
He was voted on the All-CCIW and CCIW Art Keller First Team for the offensive player of the year. The Naperville, IL native was the recipient of the Gagliardi Trophy in Division III. In 2019, he had back-to-back six-touchdown games and added a 522-passing yard game, establishing a new record for his university. He also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers.
Spruce earned a roster spot with the Los Angeles Rams in 2016 following an impressive collegiate career with the University of Colorado Buffaloes. The Westlake Village, CA native ended up being the most prolific receiver in school history, on top of establishing 41 school records and two Pac-12 records. He was voted to the All Pac-12 Team following his senior season. After his time with the Rams, he went to sign deals with the Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. The 28-year-old receiver continued his professional career with the San Diego Fleet of the AAF in 2018 and the Los Angeles Wildcats in the XFL with who he made 20 catches for 256 yards and two touchdowns in only three games.
Rogers spent four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a brilliant collegiate career with the University Of Louisville Cardinals. In three seasons in Steeltown, the 28-year-old Miami, FL native played 30 games, including 15 as a starter, hauling in 78 passes for 822 yards and four touchdowns. In 2020, he played five games for the Washington DC Defenders, amassing 164 yards on 14 receptions, on top of rushing the ball three times for 25 yards.
Lasley played three seasons with the UCLA Bears, making 113 catches for 1,901 yards and 14 touchdowns in 29 games. The 24-year-old Compton, CA native was then drafted in the fifth round,162nd overall by the Baltimore Ravens, before spending time with the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions. More recently, he was a member of the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL.
White Jr. signed with the New York Giants in 2019 after playing collegiately with Monmouth University Hawks. In four preseason games with the Giants, the 24-year-old caught eight passes for 115 yards before spending the season on the team’s practice roster. The Randallstown, MD native led the Big South Conference with 1,133 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns in his senior year. His dad Reggie played in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots.
