Redblacks sign five on defence, including former freshman All-American Adrian Frye

Photo courtesy: AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

The Ottawa Redblacks have signed five American defenders to their training camp roster, including defensive linemen Jamare Edwards and Deyon Sizer, defensive backs Adrian Frye and Bralen Trahan, and linebacker Kaleb Oliver.

Edwards finished his collegiate career at James Madison University in 2022, earning second-team All-Sun Belt honours after collecting 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 11 games. The six-foot-three, 281-pound defensive tackle transferred from Marshall University, where he tallied 87 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks and one forced fumble in five seasons. He was drafted by the XFL’s Vegas Vipers but never played a game for the team.

Sizer spent the last two seasons with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL, recording 26 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The six-foot-four, 280-pound defensive tackle previously spent parts of three seasons on the practice roster of the Denver Broncos, dressing for one game and making one tackle. He played collegiately at Colorado State-Pueblo, amassing 138 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two blocked kicks in 41 games.

Frye played five seasons at Texas Tech University, earning first-team All-Big 12 and Freshman All-American honours in 2018. The six-foot, 205-pound cover man collected 101 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 26 pass breakups, seven interceptions, a forced fumble and a blocked kick in 51 career games. He signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2023 but was waived following training camp.

Trahan played six seasons for the University of Louisiana, suiting up in 67 career games. The six-foot, 201-pound safety amassed 213 tackles, six tackles for loss, 29 pass deflections, 13 interceptions, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick, earning first-team All-Sun Belt honours in 2022. He signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent but was waived after the preseason.

Oliver spent his final two college seasons at Western Kentucky University, recording 95 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions, seven pass breakups and a forced fumble. The six-foot-four, 215-pound backer transferred from Georgia Tech, where he collected 92 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three interceptions, nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 33 games. He was drafted by the XFL’s D.C. Defenders in 2023 but never joined the team.

The Redblacks will begin their 2024 season when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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