B.C. Lions release eight, including former starting RB Taquan Mizzell

Photo courtesy: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

The B.C. Lions have released eight players, including Taquan Mizzell, the team’s starting running back from last season.

The 30-year-old native of Virginia Beach, Va. dressed for 14 games in 2023 and carried the ball 157 times for 773 yards and three touchdowns, his first in the CFL. He also caught 41 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns.

The five-foot-ten, 185-pound ball-carrier spent five seasons in the NFL before joining the Lions, spending time with the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, and New York Giants.

B.C. now has three running backs remaining on the roster, including two-time CFL all-star William Stanback, who was signed following his release from the Montreal Alouettes.

The Lions have also released American quarterback Dakota Prukop, American receivers Taylor Grimes and Mataio Talalemotu, American linebackers Joe Beckett and KeSean Brown, American defensive back Tyon Davis, and Canadian defensive back Jassin States-McClean.

Prukop signed with B.C. in free agency following a two-year run with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, minus a foray into the USFL as a member of the New Jersey Generals. He threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns with the club and carried the ball 111 times for 397 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The six-foot-one, 210-pound passer from Newport, Calif. entered the CFL as a member of the Toronto Argonauts in 2017 but has since been a member of the Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Elks, and Blue Bombers. In total, he has thrown for 676 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions over 76 games along with 149 rushes for 570 yards and 15 scores.

These moves came following B.C.’s 30-6 preseason loss to the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday. The team will finish its preseason schedule on Friday, May 31 when they host the Edmonton Elks.