The Ottawa Redblacks signed quarterback Matt Morrissey, offensive lineman David Knevel, defensive lineman Ramon Puryear, and linebackers Woodly Appolon and Jamie Pettway Jr. to the practice squad on Tuesday.
Matt Morrissey is six foot four and weighs 229 pounds. The 25-year-old from Elmhurst, Illinois, went undrafted in 2025.
Collegiately, Morrissey played one season at Trinity Valley Community College in the Spring 2021 season completing 124 of 190 passes (65.3%) for 1,523 yards, 13 touchdowns, two interceptions, 39 carries for 107 yards, and two rushing touchdowns in eight games for the Cardinals.
Next, he transferred to the University of Northern Iowa (2021-22) completing 10 of 29 passes (34%) for 126 yards, three interceptions, and four carries for 13 yards in five games for the Panthers.
Then, he transferred to Western Illinois in 2023 completing 207 of 339 passes (61%) for 2,014 yards, 13 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 116 carries for -192 yards, and two rushing touchdowns in 11 games for the Leathernecks. He was an All-MVFC Honorable Mention and an All-MVFC All-Academic Honorable Mention.
Morrissey concluded his collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky University in 2024 completing 187 of 326 passes (57%) for 2,088 yards, 14 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 91 carries for 297 yards, three touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 13 games for the Colonels.
David Knevel is six foot eight and weighs 325 pounds. The 30-year-old from Brantford, Ontario, re-signed with the B.C. Lions on February 3, 2024. In 2024, he played eight games. B.C.’s offense averaged 24.9 points per game, 364.0 net offense per game, 101 yards per game, 283.3 passing yards per game, 42 touchdowns, and allowed 43 sacks. He became a free agent after the 2024 season.
The B.C. Lions drafted Knevel in the third round (21st pick) in the 2018 CFL Draft. In five seasons in British Columbia, Knevel has played 72 games at both guard and tackle. In 2023, he played 18 games, including starting the last six games playing left guard.
In 2023, B.C.’s offense finished third in average offense points (26.1), touchdowns (45), average net offense (371.2), first in average passing yards (315.1), ninth in average rushing yards (77.3), and sixth in sacks allowed (53). In 2022, Knevel missed the season due to having labrum repair surgery on his shoulder.
Collegiately, Knevel played four seasons at Nebraska (2014-17) playing 31 games at right tackle for the Cornhuskers. In 2016, the Cornhuskers’ offense had 550 yards of total offense against both Wyoming and Northwestern, while senior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. became Nebraska’s all-time leader in total offense and passing yardage.
Knevel was named Academic All-Big Ten in 2016, a four-time Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2014-17), and a four-time Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2014-17).
Ramon Puryear is six foot three and weighs 275 pounds. The 24-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, went undrafted in 2025.
Collegiately, Puryear played five seasons at Louisville (2020-24) with 87 tackles (35 solos, 52 assists), 14.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, five fumble recoveries, and three touchdowns in 62 games for the Cardinals. He was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2024.
Woodly Appolon is six foot four and weighs 220 pounds. The 29-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, made one tackle on special teams in eight games in 2024. The Elks released him on September 12, 2024.
Appolon was drafted by the Ottawa Redblacks in the fifth round (40th pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft. His brother, Wesly, was drafted one sport ahead of him by the Elks in the fifth round (39th pick). Appolon did not sign with the Redblacks and returned to Tuskegee University with 18 tackles in eight games for the Golden Tigers in 2022.
Appolon was acquired by the Edmonton Elks from the Ottawa Redblacks on February 27, 2023, for a 2023 second-round pick (12th overall). In 2023, Appolon made four tackles on special teams in nine games.
Collegiately, Appolon started at Highland Community College in Kansas in 2018 with 17 tackles (10 solo, 7 assists), two tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in eight games for the Scotties. Next, he went to Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas, in 2019 with 13 tackles (8 solo, 5 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, and one interception in 13 games for the Grizzlies.
Then, Appolon transferred to Northern Illinois in 2020 and played in one game before transferring to Tuskegee University (2021-22) with 88 tackles (49 solo, 39 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 18 games.
Jamie Pettway Jr. is six foot two and weighs 237 pounds. The 24-year-old from Albany, Georgia, went undrafted in 2025.
Collegiately, Pettway Jr. played three seasons at Missouri (2019-21) with two tackles (2 solos) and one tackle for loss in nine games for the Tigers. Next, he transferred to Florida Atlantic University in 2022 making 51 tackles (21 solos, 30 assists), two tackles for loss, one sack, and one pass breakup in 10 games for the Owls.
Then, he transferred to the University of South Florida (2023-24) with 75 tackles (35 solos, 40 assists), nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and three kick returns for 24 yards in 25 games for the Bulls.
