The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed defensive backs Demerio Houston and Russell Dandy to the practice squad on Sunday. They also released running back Quinton Cooley from the practice squad.
Demerio Houston is five foot ten and weighs 173 pounds. The 28-year-old from Shelby, North Carolina, signed with the Calgary Stampeders on February 6, 2024. In 2024, he made 74 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, and one forced fumble in 15 games. The Stampeders released him on February 12, 2025.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Houston as a free agent on October 22, 2019. He played three seasons with 84 tackles, three tackles on special teams, nine interceptions, and one touchdown in 30 games. In 2023, he made 50 tackles, seven interceptions, and one touchdown in 15 games. He was named a CFL West All-Star and CFL All-Star after the season.
Collegiately, Houston played four seasons at Southern University (2015-18) making 114 tackles (77 solos, 37 assists), five interceptions for 142 yards, seven punt returns for 206 yards, and one touchdown in 43 games for the Jaguars.
Russell Dandy is six foot and weighs 175 pounds. The 25-year-old from Hinesville, Georgia, re-signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on December 2, 2024. In 2025, he made three tackles and one tackle on special teams in two preseason games. The Blue Bombers released him on May 31, 2025.
Dandy went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and attended the New York Jets rookie minicamp in 2024. He signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 22, 2024.
Dandy played two preseason games making two tackles and one tackle on special teams. The Blue Bombers released him on June 2, 2024. The Blue Bombers re-signed Dandy on September 16, 2024, and he spent several weeks on the practice squad. Winnipeg released him again on October 15, 2024.
Collegiately, Dandy played two seasons at Butte College (2018-19) making 25 tackles (19 solos, 6 assists), one tackle for loss, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 15 games for the Roadrunners.
Then, Dandy transferred to Eastern Illinois University (2021-23) making 74 tackles (61 solos, 13 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, 24 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 25 games for the Panthers.
In 2023, Dandy made 34 tackles (30 solos, 4 assists), one tackle for loss, one interception, 19 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 11 games. He was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team in 2021 and First Team All-Big South Conference in 2023.
Quinton Cooley is five foot seven and weighs 220 pounds. The 24-year-old from Bailey, North Carolina, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 2, 2025.
In 2025, he had 13 carries for 92 yards and three catches for 45 yards in two preseason games to earn a spot on the practice squad. Cooley had 11 carries for 62 yards, two catches for five yards, and one kick return for five yards in three games.
Collegiately, Cooley played two seasons at Wake Forest (2021-22) with 96 carries for 402 yards, four touchdowns, four catches for 30 yards, and three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) in 25 games for the Demon Deacons.
Then, Cooley transferred to Liberty (2023-24) with 426 carries for 2,655 yards, 29 touchdowns, seven catches for 52 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 25 games for the Flames. He was named First Team All-CUSA and the 2023 CUSA Newcomer of the Year.
