The Ottawa Redblacks have signed eight Americans to their training camp roster, including former Green Bay Packers running back Kylin Hill.
The five-foot-10, 214-pound running back was selected 256th overall in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft and played eight games as rookie before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He played two games afterrecovering late the following year but was waived that November over an apparent playtime dispute, finishing his NFL career with 11 carries for 31 yards and one reception for five yards. He was signed by the XFL’s Orlando Guardians earlier this offseason, but released when the team folded in the midst of the USFL merger.
Hill played four seasons at Mississippi State University, rushing 452 times for 2,535 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 67 receptions for 631 yards and six scores. He was named first-team All-SEC in 2019 after rushing for 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns and made headlines around the world after threatening to leave the school if the state of Mississippi did not remove the Confederate flag from their state flag. However, the Columbus, Mis. native played just three games as a senior before opting out to focus on the NFL Draft, eventually earning an invite to the Senior Bowl.
Also signed were offensive linemen Samuel Jackson, Des Holmes and Austin Myers, as well as receivers Joseph Walker, Kalil Pimpleton, Dontay Demus Jr. and Tyler Hudson.
Jackson played six seasons at the University of Central Florida, appearing in 67 games and making 45 career starts at tackle. The six-foot-six, 325-pound blocker was a second-team All-AAC selection in 2022 but went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, later spending time with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Holmes wrapped up his collegiate career at Arizona State University in 2022, making 10 starts as a Sun Devil. The six-foot-five, 307-pound blocker transferred from Penn State University, where he played 33 contests over five years and saw action at both guard and tackle.
Myers played two seasons at the University of Memphis, starting all 15 games in which he appeared. The six-foot-five, 295-pound big man previously spent five seasons at Texas Christian University, making 18 starts at various spots along the offensive line in 32 appearances.
Walker returns to the Redblacks after attending part of training camp with the team in 2021. The six-foot-two, 208-pound target has spent the last two seasons with the USFL’s Michigan Panthers, catching 66 passes for 826 yards and six touchdowns. The native of Philadelphia, Pa. began his career as a quarterback at the University of Delaware, throwing for 2,256 yards, eight touchdowns and 16 interceptions while rushing for 1,207 and six majors. He converted to receiver full-time as a senior in 2018 and caught 41 passes for 837 yards and four touchdowns, landing an undrafted free agent contract with the Chicago Bears.
Pimpleton began his college career at Virginia Tech before transferring to Central Michigan, catching 170 passes for 2,131 yards and 12 touchdowns in 33 games while adding 39 carries for 299 yards and five more scores. The five-foot-seven, 175-pound speedster was also a threat in the return game, fielding 48 punts for 568 yards and winning MAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021 after returning two for touchdowns. He signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and went on to spend the year on the New York Giants’ practice roster.
Demus Jr. played 47 games over five seasons at the University of Maryland, earning honourable mention All-Big Ten honour on three occasions. The six-foot-three, 212-pound receiver caught 128 passes for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns, finishing top 10 all-time in all major receiving statistics for the program. He went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, but spent time on the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.
Hudson wrapped up his college career at the University of Louisville in 2022, logging 69 receptions for 1,034 yards and two touchdowns on his way to second-team All-ACC honours. The six-foot-two, 197-pound target transferred from Central Arkansas, where he caught 167 passes for 3,062 yards and 27 touchdowns in 33 games and won Southland Offensive Player of the Year in Spring 2021, earning FCS All-American honours in the process. He later earned a shot with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent.
The Redblacks will begin their 2024 season when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
