Ottawa Redblacks sign two, including former Blue Bombers’ RB Ronnie Brown

Photo courtesy: AP Photo/Jason Behnken

The Ottawa Redblacks have signed American running back Ronnie Brown and Canadian defensive back Louis Lavaud.

Brown comes over to the Redblacks after a training camp stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The ball-carrier should help bolster the club’s running back depth after presumed starter Devonte Williams suffered a torn Achilles this offseason and Canadian running back Jackson Bennett announced his retirement.

The five-foot-eleven, 192-pounder played four seasons at Shepherd University, earning Division II All-American status as a senior after rushing for 1,863 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2022. He played 41 career games for the Rams, racking up 370 carries for 3,041 yards and 30 touchdowns as well as 81 receptions for 1,158 yards and 11 scores. He added 59 kick returns for 1,404 yards and another major.

The native of Baltimore, Md. went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft but signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. He recorded 12 carries for 33 yards and three receptions for 38 yards in three preseason games, but was released as part of the team’s final cuts in August.

Lavaud spent time collegiately at Carleton University where he played in 20 games with the Ravens from 2021 to 2023. The five-foot-ten, 190-pound defensive back tallied 49 total tackles, 18 assisted tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass break-ups, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

The Redblacks have their first of two preseason games on May 25 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.