The B.C. Lions have signed six American players ahead of rookie camp getting underway on Wednesday, including offensive lineman Kohl Levao, defensive lineman Romeo McKnight, defensive lineman Casey Williams, linebacker Dae’Lun Darien, defensive back Josh Thornton, and defensive back Howard Wilson.
Levao transferred from City College of San Francisco to Hawaii for his final two years of college and made an immediate impact as a junior, starting 11 games at right tackle and three at centre. The six-foot-six, 350-pound blocker helped Hawaii’s offence finish ninth overall nationally in passing yards.
McKnight most recently attended training camp with the Cleveland Browns in 2021. He transferred from Illinois State to Charlotte for his senior season of 2020 and recorded 24 defensive tackles and a team-high five tackles for a loss to go along with 1.5 sacks and a team-best three quarterback hurries in six contests.
Williams redshirted at Temple in his native Philadelphia in 2017 before moving to Stony Brook College and suiting up in 39 games with the Seawolves. He recorded 135 combined tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks.
Darien suited up in 17 games at Penn State before transferring to Delaware for his final three seasons and racking up 44 total tackles, two pass knockdowns, and an interception in 31 games. He also hauled in two receptions for 13 yards.
Thornton last saw game action with the XFL DC Defenders in 2020 and previously had NFL practice roster stints in Carolina, Detroit, Baltimore, and Houston.
Wilson was a fourth-round selection of the Cleveland Browns in the 2017 NFL Draft, though he was kept out of action due to injuries in his first two seasons. The six-foot-one, 185-pound cover man was selected by the Houston Gamblers in the 2022 USFL Draft but was released before the season got underway.
B.C.’s three-day rookie camp will take place at Hillside Stadium beginning on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. PT.
