The B.C. Lions released nine players to being training camp on Sunday according to the CFL Transactions page. They are quarterback Garrett Shrader, running back Nathaniel Peat, wide receivers Bailey Gaither, Joseph Scates, and Michael ‘MJ’ Wright, offensive lineman Tairiq Stewart, defensive linemen Jeffrey Johnson and Tomasi Laulile, and defensive back Anthony Witherstone.
Garrett Shrader is six foot four and weighs 215 pounds. The 24-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. The B.C. Lions signed Shrader on December 10, 2024.
Collegiately, Shrader played two seasons at Mississippi State (2019-20) playing wide receiver and quarterback. He made one catch for 8 yards, 113 carries for 587 yards, six touchdowns completed 88 of 153 passes (58%) for 1,170 yards, 8 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and one tackle (1 solo) in 14 games for the Bulldogs.
Then, Shrader transferred to Syracuse (2021-23) completing 462 of 765 passes (60%) for 5,771 yards, 39 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 436 carries for 1,703 yards, 31 touchdowns, four catches for 1 yard, and two tackles (2 solos) in 35 games for the Orange.
In 2023, he completed 134 of 214 passes (63%) for 1,686 yards, 13 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 113 carries for 469 yards, 8 touchdowns, four catches for 1 yard, and one tackle (1 solo) in 11 games. He ranks fourth in school history in rushing touchdowns (31), fifth in school history in completions (462), and sixth in passing yards (5,771) and touchdowns (39).
Nathaniel Peat is five foot ten and weighs 205 pounds. The 24-year-old from Columbia, Missouri, signed with the B.C. Lions on February 19, 2025.
The Dallas Cowboys signed Peat as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, Peat had five carries for 19 yards and two catches for 12 yards in three preseason games. The Cowboys released him on August 26, 2024.
Collegiately, Peat played three seasons at Stanford (2019-21) with 117 carries for 665 yards, four touchdowns, 16 catches for 106 yards, 46 kick returns for 1,126 yards, and two tackles (2 solos) in 30 games for the Cardinal.
He was named First Team All-Pac 12 as a kick returner by Phil Steele in 2021, All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention in 2020, and a two-time winner of the Phil Moffatt Award (2020, 2021).
Then, he transferred to Missouri (2022-23) with 176 carries for 755 yards, five touchdowns, 16 catches for 147 yards, two touchdowns, 11 kick returns for 187 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 24 games for the Tigers.
Bailey Gaither is six foot and weighs 188 pounds. The 28-year-old from Paso Robles, California, signed with the B.C. Lions on March 6, 2025.
The Green Bay Packers signed Gaither as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. The Packers released Gaither on August 20, 2021. He also had stints with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants.
The Pittsburgh Maulers drafted Gaither in the 14th round (114th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, he made 24 catches for 328 yards, four touchdowns, and four tackles (1 solo, 3 assists) in seven games. In 2023, he made 34 catches for 370 yards, one touchdown, eight carries for 39 yards, and one touchdown in nine games helping Pittsburgh reach the USFL Championship Game.
The Houston Roughnecks drafted Gaither in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. He did not play for the Roughnecks in 2024. The Roughnecks released him on August 19, 2024.
Collegiately, Gaither played five seasons at San Jose State (2016-20) making 135 catches for 2,227 yards, 18 touchdowns, four carries for 30 yards, 23 kick returns for 434 yards, 8 punt returns for 56 yards, and two tackles (2 solos) in 44 games for the Spartans. He was named First Team All-MWC in 2020 and an All-MWC Honorable Mention in 2019.
Joseph Scates is six foot two and weighs 210 pounds. The 25-year-old from Dayton, Ohio, signed with the B.C. Lions on April 14, 2025.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Scates as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, he made one catch for 14 yards in three preseason games. The Jaguars released him on August 25, 2024. The Memphis Showboats signed Scates on December 6, 2024. He attended training camp and was released on March 20, 2025.
Collegiately, Scates played three seasons at Iowa State (2019-21) making 16 catches for 304 yards, four touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 32 games for the Cyclones. Then, he transferred to Memphis (2022-23) making 51 catches for 826 yards, 10 touchdowns, and one carry for four yards in 23 games for the Tigers.
Michael ‘MJ’ Wright is six foot and weighs 192 pounds. A native of Freehold, New Jersey, Wright attended the New York Giants rookie minicamp in 2024. The B.C. Lions signed Wright on January 29, 2025.
Collegiately, Wright played five seasons at Fordham University (2019-23) making 185 catches for 2,887 yards, 21 touchdowns, 37 kick returns for 688 yards, seven tackles (6 solos, 1 assist), and one fumble recovery in 45 games for the Rams. He was named First Team All-Patriot League in 2023 and was named a two-time Second Team All-Patriot League (2021-22). His 2,887 career receiving yards rank sixth on Fordham’s all-time list.
Tairiq Stewart is six foot six and weighs 300 pounds. The 25-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, signed with the B.C. Lions on December 12, 2024.
Stewart went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and attended the New England Patriots rookie minicamp. Then, Stewart signed with the Edmonton Elks on May 16, 2024.
He appeared in the two preseason games playing left tackle earning a spot on the practice squad. The Elks released him on August 27, 2024. The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Stewart on September 5, 2024, and spent three weeks on the practice squad. The Roughriders released him on September 22, 2024.
Collegiately, Stewart played two seasons at ASA Brooklyn College (2018-19) playing 12 games for the Avengers. In 2019, ASA Brooklyn College’s offense averaged 46.7 points per game, which was second-best in the nation, 463.4 yards per game, which was fourth-best in the country, and 254.6 rushing yards per game, ranking second-best in the nation. The Avengers finished the season 8-2.
Next, Stewart transferred to West Virginia in 2020 but he did not play for the Mountaineers. Then, Stewart transferred to North Carolina A&T (2021-23) playing right tackle in 29 games for the Aggies. In 2022, North Carolina A&T’s running backs rushed for 2,042 yards, and Stewart was named First Team All-Big South.
In 2023, North Carolina A&T’s offense averaged 16.09 points per game, 159.2 rushing yards per game, 104.91 passing yards per game, 264.1 total yards per game, and 21 touchdowns. He was named to the Second Team All-CAA in 2023. After the season, he participated in the 2024 HBCU Legacy Bowl.
Jeffrey Johnson is six foot two and weighs 312 pounds. The 24-year-old from Brookhaven, Mississippi, signed with the B.C. Lions on January 29, 2025.
The Houston Gamblers (USFL) signed Johnson on May 4, 2023. He made four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) in four games for the Gamblers in 2023. After the Gamblers were rebranded as the Roughnecks, Johnson was released on March 21, 2024.
Johnson re-signed with the Roughnecks on April 18, 2024. In 2024, Johnson made eight tackles (5 solos, 3 assists) and one tackle for loss in six games. The Roughnecks released him on August 15, 2024.
Collegiately, Johnson played four seasons at Tulane (2018-21) with 136 tackles (63 solos, 73 assists), 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, one pass breakup, and three fumble recoveries in 49 games for the Green Wave. Then, Johnson transferred to Oklahoma in 2022 with 23 tackles (9 solos, 14 assists), and four tackles for loss in 13 games for the Sooners.
Tomasi Laulile is six foot three and weighs 300 pounds. The 29-year-old from Westlake, California, signed with the B.C. Lions on April 24, 2025.
The Indianapolis Colts signed Laulile as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2018. In 2018, he made three tackles (1 solo, 2 assists), and one sack in three preseason games. The Colts released him on September 1, 2018, and he signed with the New Orleans Saints on September 27, 2018. The Saints released him on May 13, 2019.
The Dallas Renegades (XFL) signed Laulile on January 24, 2020. In 2020, he made two tackles (2 solos) in five games before the league shutdown due to COVID-19. In 2021, he played for the Jousters of The Spring League.
The Houston Gamblers (USFL) drafted Laulile in the 25th round (204th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, he made 21 tackles (12 solos, 9 assists), five tackles for loss, half a sack, one pass breakup, two fumble recoveries, and two touchdowns in 10 games. The Gamblers released him on July 29, 2022, and he signed with the San Francisco 49ers on July 30, 2022.
In 2022, he made one tackle (1 solo) in one preseason game. The 49ers released him on August 15, 2022. The Arlington Renegades drafted Laulile in the sixth round (46th pick) of the 2023 XFL Supplemental Draft. In 2023, he made nine tackles (3 solos, 6 assists), one interception for 22 yards, and one touchdown in nine games helping the Renegades win the XFL Championship.
The Renegades released him on August 18, 2023. He spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos in 2023 making four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists), and one pass breakup in two preseason games.
The Arlington Renegades re-signed Laulile on December 23, 2023. In 2024, Laulile made 14 tackles (8 solos, 6 assists), and three tackles for loss in ten games. He became a free agent after the 2024 season.
Collegiately, Laulile played three seasons at BYU (2014-16) making 47 tackles (28 solos, 19 assists), 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 33 games for the Cougars.
Anthony Witherstone is six foot two and weighs 193 pounds. The 25-year-old from Warwick, Rhode Island, signed with the B.C. Lions on November 12, 2024.
The Kansas City Chiefs signed Witherstone as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2023. Witherstone made one tackle (1 solo) in one preseason game for the Kansas City Chiefs against the New Orleans Saints in 2023 before he was waived from injured reserve on August 21, 2023.
Then, Witherstone was drafted by the St. Louis Battlehawks (XFL) in the 2023 XFL Rookie Draft. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Witherstone on March 12, 2024. Witherstone played one preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders making one tackle. The Blue Bombers released him on May 25, 2024.
Collegiately, Witherstone played six seasons at Merrimack University (2017-22) making 74 tackles (55 solos, 19 assists), two tackles for loss, four interceptions for 59 yards, two touchdowns, 19 pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 35 games for the Warriors.
