Ottawa Redblacks cut recently-signed QB Zach Calzada, 10 others

Photo: Incarnate Word/Ashley Monjaras

The Ottawa Redblacks have released American quarterback Zach Calzada, the team announced on Wednesday.

The six-foot-four, 230-pound passer spent this past season at the University of Kentucky, where he went 1-1 as a starter. He completed 48.3 percent of his passes for 238 yards and two interceptions, and rushed 14 times for 23 yards and one touchdown.

The 25-year-old rose to collegiate stardom at the University of the Incarnate Word, where he earned back-to-back first-team All-Southland Conference selections.

Over two seasons, Calzada went 17-5 as a starter and completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 6,342 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions, and rushed for a career-high 332 yards and five scores in 2024. He was named the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2023 and the Southland Player of the Year in 2024.

The native of Buford, Ga. started his collegiate career at Texas A&M, where he went 6-4 as a starter and completed 55.7 percent of his passes for 2,318 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He transferred to Auburn University in 2022, though he did not play after reportedly undergoing shoulder surgery.

The Redblacks have also cut American receiver John Dunmore and Daniel Jackson, American defensive linemen Bryce Cage and Tre’Vonn Rybka, Global defensive lineman Yoann Miangué, Canadian linebacker Jayden Griffiths, American linebacker KK Reno, and American defensive backs Russell Dandy, Chris Mills, and Kobe Savage.

All nine CFL teams were required to trim their rosters to 75 players (not including draft picks) by 11:59 p.m. local time on Tuesday, May 12.

Ottawa also signed American quarterback Bryson Barnes.

The six-foot-two, 210-pound passer recently attended rookie minicamp with the Cleveland Browns. He finished his collegiate career at Utah State, where he completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 1,804 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions over 10 games. He also rushed for 790 yards and five touchdowns.

The 24-year-old native of Milford, Utah previously played at the University of Utah, where he completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 2,025 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions over 24 games. He also rushed for 391 yards and three scores.

The Redblacks have also moved former first-round CFL draft pick Nick Mardner from the injured veteran list to the active roster.

The Ottawa Redblacks opened training camp on May 10. The team will play its two preseason games against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, May 22 and Friday, May 29. Final roster cuts are due on Saturday, May 30, after which the team will play its first regular-season game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, June 6.

Ottawa recently selected Purdue offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft and it appears he could be a day-one starter. The team’s other major offseason additions include quarterback Jake Maier, running back Greg Bell, linebacker A.J. Allen, and strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis.

In 2025, the Redblacks 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.