B.C. Lions sign eight, including first-round pick OL George Una

Photo courtesy: Seyran Mammadov/Windsor

The B.C. Lions have signed eight players, including Canadian offensive lineman George Una, who was selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2024 CFL Draft.

Una played 22 collegiate games at the University of Windsor, helping turn around a rapidly improving Lancers program. The six-foot-two, 313-pound native of Toronto was named a first-team OUA all-star this past season at guard, his first season at the position after converting from offensive tackle. He also took some reps at centre at the CFL Combine in Winnipeg, showing plenty of versatility.

The Lions have also signed second-round pick Ezechiel Tieide, third-round pick Cristophe Beaulieu, sixth-round pick Terrence Ganyi, seventh-round pick Dawson Marchant, and first-round Global draft pick Carl Meyer.

Tieide finished his collegiate career at Concordia University after originally committing to Boston College as a defensive back and transferring to Toledo University. The six-foot-two, 205-pound native of Lachine, Que. caught 28 passes for 471 yards and six touchdowns this past season and had a strong performance in the RSEQ semifinal round against Laval, making eight receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns.

Beaulieu was a two-time first-team U Sports All-Canadian safety at Université Laval and helped the team win a Vanier Cup in 2022. The six-foot-two, 198-pound native of Blainville, Que. is the younger brother of former CFL defensive back Jordan Beaulieu.

Ganyi spent two seasons at the University of Connecticut before transferring to the University of Maine ahead of the 2022 season. The six-foot, 218-pound native of Montreal made 12 total tackles over 10 career games with the Black Bears.

Marchant started his collegiate career at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. before moving south to Northwest Oklahoma State. The six-foot-one, 198-pound native of Vancouver recorded 60 total tackles, five pass knockdowns, and one interception over two seasons with the team.

Meyer participated in the CFL’s Kicking Showcase in San Diego in January after spending last year with the Jacksonville Sharks of the Indoor Football League. The native of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa previously appeared in 64 matches with Dragons RFC of the Welsh Rugby Union.

B.C. has also signed American linebacker KeSean Brown and American defensive back Isaiah Abraham.

Brown recorded 36 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks over 12 games this past season at Marshall University. The six-foot-one, 221-pound defender previously played at Appalachian State University where he made 66 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Abraham recorded 135 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, six sacks, four pass knockdowns, and one interception over 44 collegiate games at Western Oregon University.