B.C. Lions release five, including QB Gevani McCoy

Photo: Idaho Athletics

The B.C. Lions released five American players on Monday, including quarterback Gevani McCoy, running back Antonio Wimbush, linebacker Marvin Grant, and defensive backs Marquis Bridges and Jamal Parker Jr.

McCoy signed with the team in February. He concluded his collegiate career at Temple University in 2025, appearing in eight games without a single start for the Owls. He completed 24-of-33 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 31 yards on 16 attempts.

The six-foot, 195-pound passer participated in spring camp at Texas State before moving to Temple. He played for Oregon State in 2024, making nine starts in 10 appearances for the Beavers. He connected on 123-of-202 pass attempts for 1,300 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also ran for 328 yards and five touchdowns on 59 carries.

The native of Baldwin Hills, Calif. began his college career at the University of Idaho, where he appeared in 26 games from 2021 to 2023 and made 23 starts. He completed 448-of-684 pass attempts for 5,843 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions, while adding 301 yards and five touchdowns on 183 carries.

As a redshirt freshman in 2022, McCoy won the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman in the FCS, while also taking home Big Sky Freshman of the Year. He was a third-team All-Big Sky selection that season before earning first-team honours in 2023.

Following McCoy’s release, the Lions now have three quarterbacks on their roster: Nathan Rourke, Chase Brice, and Thomas Rittenhouse.

Wimbush Jr. has been a standout in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in recent years, rushing for 765 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2025 with the Vegas Knight Hawks. The five-foot-nine, 194-pound native of Kingsland, Ga. was also named the IFL Special Teams Player of the Year after returning 44 kicks for 854 yards and five scores. He signed with the Lions in February.

Grant also signed with B.C. in February. The six-foot-two, 210-pound defender spent three collegiate seasons at Kansas, primarily as a safety. He registered 163 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, eight pass breakups, three sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in 38 games with the Jayhawks.

Bridges signed with the Lions last fall following his release from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and made one start at boundary cornerback. Over 15 regular-season CFL games, he has made 24 defensive tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.

Parker Jr. joined B.C. as a free agent in February. The 28-year-old played 11 regular-season games for the Blue Bombers in 2025, making six starts at safety and five at field-side cornerback. He recorded 36 defensive tackles, one interception, and one touchdown but was released by the team in December.

B.C. also added three players on Monday, including a standout from the 2026 NFL Combine.

The Lions hold the seventh 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. B.C. will play its first preseason game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, May 23 and its first regular-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, June 13.

In 2025, B.C. finished second in the West Division standings with an 11-7 record. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final but lost the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Franchise quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.