The Ottawa Redblacks have agreed to terms with offensive lineman Ucambre Williams on one-year contract for the 2022 season, per sources.
Williams can officially sign with the team on Tuesday, February 8 as Ottawa will secure a versatile blocker to protect the blindside for quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.
The 29-year-old is capable of starting at left tackle and centre, which is rare versatility for an offensive lineman. The six-foot-three, 312-pounder has dressed for 63 career CFL games since first joining the Calgary Stampeders in 2016 following a standout NCAA career at the University of South Alabama, including 11 starts at left tackle in 2021.
Williams started 16 games for the Stamps in 2019 with 12 of those at tackle and four at centre. He was called a cornerstone of the protection up front by general manager John Hufnagel. Between 2017 and 2018, Williams started 33 games at centre for Calgary and earned West Division all-star honours in 2017.
He first signed with Calgary in 2016, starting three regular season games at right tackle, before moving to right guard for the Grey Cup. Williams joins an Ottawa offensive line that allowed a league-worst 52 sacks last year, with high hopes he’ll be the piece to turn the tide in the nation’s capital.
