The Ottawa Redblacks signed 2021 Draft pick long snapper Keegan Markgraf, former Oklahoma linebacker Emmanuel Beal, and former Illinois State defensive back Deandre Lamont on Tuesday.
Keegan Markgraf is six foot three and weighs 232 pounds. The 25-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, was drafted by the Redblacks in the fifth round (42nd pick) in the 2021 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Markgraf was at Central Michigan (2016-17) for two seasons but did not see any action. Then, he transferred to Utah (2018-21) playing 39 games and 210 snaps (87 punts, 31 FG, 92 PAT) for the Utes.
In 2020, Markgraf was a Patrick Mannelly Award Semifinalist and Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention. Furthermore, he was a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist in 2021.
Emmanuel Beal is six foot and weighs 218 pounds. The 27-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, played for the Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) in 2022 with 45 tackles and one sack.
The Bandits drafted Beal in the 29th round (240th pick) in the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2020, Beal played five games for the Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) with seven tackles.
Beal signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He played four preseason games with nine tackles.
Collegiately, Beal played two seasons at Lackawanna Community College (2014-15) with 48 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three pass breakups in 17 games for the Falcons.
Then, he transferred to Oklahoma (2016-17) with 176 tackles, ten tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception for three yards, two forced fumbles, and three pass breakups in 27 games, of which 24 were starts for the Sooners. He was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches in 2017.
Deandre Lamont is five foot eleven and weighs 190 pounds. The 23-year-old from Baytown, Texas, played at Illinois State in 2022 with 68 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception for three yards, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 11 games for the Redbirds.
Before Illinois State, Lamont played five seasons at Central Arkansas (2017-21) with 150 tackles, five tackles for loss, five interceptions for 35 yards, 20 pass breakups, one forced fumble, five fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick in 37 games for the Bears. He was a preseason All-ASUN selection in 2021.
