The Ottawa Redblacks have added four free agents ahead of training camp, including American quarterback Charlie Brewer, American running back De’Montre Tuggle, Global defensive lineman Thomas Schaffer, and American offensive lineman Frank Ball.
Brewer began his collegiate career at Baylor University and earned the starting job as a true freshman, splitting Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honours with future first-round NFL draft pick Jalen Reagor. In 44 games over four seasons, he completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 9,700 yards, 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions, while rushing for 1,039 yards and 22 majors.
The six-foot-one, 210-pound pivot transferred to the University of Utah in 2021 and started the first three games of the season, going 48-of-79 for 484 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions before being benched. He would move on to Liberty University and was once again named a starting quarterback, but broke his hand in the first quarter of the team’s season-opener and finished the year just 8-of-13 for 52 yards and an interception.
Tuggle spent three seasons at the University of Ohio, dressing for 26 games from 2019 until 2021. The five-foot-10, 198-pound back amassed 287 carries for 1,838 yards and 24 touchdowns, caught 32 passes for 277 yards and three scores, and returned 28 kicks for 675 yards and two majors. He attended rookie mini-camp with the Chicago Bears after going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft and briefly spent time with the XFL’s Arlington Renegades.
Schaffer spent five seasons at Stanford University, collecting 37 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and four sacks. The six-foot-seven, 300-pound defensive tackle was an honourable mention All-Pac 12 selection in 2020 and later signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent, but was released before training camp.
The native of Austria played four games for the Tirol Raiders in the European League of Football in 2022, registering nine tackles, four tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. Before joining the Redblacks, he had signed with the Vienna Vikings and announced his intention to convert to offensive line.
Ball attended Virginia State from 2015 to 2019, playing 38 games as an offensive tackle. The six-foot-three, 285-pound blocker was a three-time first-team all-conference selection and helped the Trojans eclipse 200 yards rushing eight times in 2019. He most recently spent time with the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.
Ottawa also officially announced the signing of offensive lineman Lucas Lavin, their second-round pick in the 2023 CFL Global Draft. The six-foot-five, 327-pound offensive tackle from Sweden began his college career at Northern Colorado, before transferring to Tennessee-Chattanooga in 2022.