Ottawa Redblacks sign six for training camp, add one to retired list

Photo courtesy: William & Mary Athletics

The Ottawa Redblacks have signed six Americans to their training camp roster, including defensive lineman Marcel Walker-Burgess,  linebackers K.J. Cloyd and Bo Spearman, and defensive backs Marcus Barnes, Russell Dandy, and Chris Mills.

Walker-Burgess spent training camp with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2025 but was released as part of final cuts. He suited up in 14 games with Ohio University in 2024, recording 56 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception. Before transferring to the Bobcats, the six-foot-three, 252-pound Piscataway, New Jersey native played two seasons at Nevada (2022-2023) and one at Southern Connecticut (2021)

Cloyd split the past two seasons between stints with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Denver Broncos, but did not see regular-season game action in the NFL. He signed as an undrafted free agent after playing his final collegiate season for the University of Miami, registering 44 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass breakup. The six-foot-two, 230-pound defender transferred from the University of Louisville, where he played 36 games over three seasons and posted 39 total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, two batted passes, and one fumble recovery.

Spearman last played for Austin Peay State University in 2024, where he made 58 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks and two pass breakups in 12 games. The six-foot, 225-pound linebacker previously played for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he suited up in 33 games over four seasons and registered 67 total tackles, three tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and three fumble recoveries.

Barnes played all six seasons of his collegiate career at the College of William & Mary, collecting 214 total tackles, two tackles for loss, nine interceptions, 24 pass breakups, and four forced fumbles. The six-foot-three, 190-pound safety was named second-team all-conference in 2024 and an honourable mention in 2023. He is the son of Johnnie Barnes, who played four seasons as a receiver in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Dandy has spent parts of the past seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, getting cut in training camp but being brought back for stints on the practice roster both times. He played collegiately at Eastern Illinois University, where he made 74 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 24 pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries over 25 games. The six-foot, 175-pound coverman was named first-team All-Big South Conference in his senior season, earning undrafted free agent opportunities with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets.

Mills attended Texas State University, where he played 48 games over four seasons. The six-foot, 195-pound cornerback collected 115 total tackles, five tackles for loss, 0.5 quarterback sacks, one interception, 21 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He transferred from the University of Missouri, where he made five tackles in eight games.

The Redblacks have also announced the retirement of American defensive lineman Anton Juncaj, who was signed with the team earlier this offseason. The six-foot-three, 272-pound pass rusher split his collegiate career between the University of Arkansas, the University of Albany, and Southern Connecticut State, earning first-team FCS All-American recognition in 2023. He has reportedly joined the Duquesne University coaching staff.

The Ottawa Redblacks were the CFL’s most active team in free agency, adding players like quarterback Jake Maier, running back Greg Bell, offensive lineman Martez Ivey, defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado, linebacker A.J. Allen, strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis, and defensive back Demerio Houston. The team also had a few key departures, including quarterback Dustin Crum (Montreal Alouettes), strong-side linebacker Adarius Pickett (Toronto Argonauts), and return specialist DeVonte Dedmon (Montreal Alouettes).

The Redblacks hold the first overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. The team will play its first preseason game against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, May 22, and its first regular-season game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, June 6.

In 2025, Ottawa finished fourth in the East Division standings with a 4-14 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Ryan Dinwiddie was hired as the team’s head coach and general manager after the firing of Bob Dyce.