The Ottawa Redblacks released quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, wide receiver Sam Schnee, defensive lineman Ramon Puryear, and linebacker Ayinde Eley from the practice squad on Wednesday.
Hajj-Malik Williams is six foot one and weighs 205 pounds. The 25-year-old from Atlanta, Georgia, attended the Las Vegas Raiders rookie minicamp in 2025. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Williams to the practice squad on September 18, 2025.
Collegiately, Williams played five seasons at Campbell University (2019-23), completing 662 of 1,072 passes (62%) for 8,236 yards, 58 touchdowns, 28 interceptions, 417 carries for 1,600 yards, 24 rushing touchdowns, three catches for 73 yards, three touchdowns, and five tackles (5 solos) in 41 games for the Fighting Camels.
Williams was named First Team FCS Freshman All-American by HERO Sports, Big South’s Offensive Freshman of the Year, Big South Freshman of the Year by Phil Steele, and Third Team All-Big South by Phil Steele.
Then, he transferred to UNLV in 2024, completing 150 of 252 passes (60%) for 1,941 yards, 19 touchdowns, five interceptions, 161 carries for 851 yards, nine rushing touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 13 games for the Rebels. He was named Second Team All-Mountain West.
Sam Schnee is five foot ten and weighs 191 pounds. The 25-year-old from Dubuque, Iowa, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on March 6, 2025. In 2025, he made four catches for 54 yards and one touchdown in one preseason game. The Redblacks released him on May 31, 2025. They re-signed him to the practice squad on June 17, 2025.
The Tennessee Titans signed Schnee as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, Schnee made two catches for 24 yards and one tackle (1 solo) in three preseason games. The Titans released him on August 26, 2024.
Collegiately, Schnee played five seasons at the University of Northern Iowa (2019-23) making 139 catches for 2,231 yards, 14 touchdowns, 37 carries for 137 yards, two touchdowns, completing one pass for 30 yards, four kick returns for 79 yards, three punt returns for nine yards, and six tackles (4 solos, 2 assists) in 46 games for the Panthers.
In 2023, he made 57 catches for 1,039 yards, six touchdowns, four kick returns for 79 yards, three punt returns for 39 yards, and two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in 11 games. He was named First Team All-MVFC, AFCA FCS Second Team All-American, Third Team All-American by Phil Steele in 2023, and All-MVFC Honorable Mention in 2022.
Ramon Puryear is six foot three and weighs 275 pounds. The 24-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, went undrafted in 2025. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Puryear to the practice squad on September 2, 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.
Ayinde Eley is six foot three and weighs 233 pounds. The 26-year-old from Olney, Maryland, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on February 24, 2025. In 2025, he made 13 tackles, one tackle on special teams, and one interception in five games.
The Carolina Panthers signed Eley as an undrafted free agent on May 16, 2023. In 2023, he made six tackles (2 solos, 4 assists), one sack, and one quarterback hit in three preseason games. Next, he signed with the Houston Roughnecks (UFL) on January 22, 2024, and was released on March 21, 2024. The B.C. Lions signed Eley on April 3, 2024. In 2024, he made 60 tackles, six tackles on special teams, and one forced fumble in 17 games. The Lions released him on February 21, 2024.
Collegiately, Eley played three seasons at Maryland (2018-20) with 111 tackles (58 solos, 53 assists), five tackles for loss, half a sack, two interceptions for 35 yards, six pass breakups, and fumble recoveries in 25 games for the Terrapins. He was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention by the coaches in 2019.
Then, Eley transferred to Georgia Tech (2021-22) with 208 tackles (100 solos, 108 assists), 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, four forced fumbles, and four pass breakups in 23 games for the Yellow Jackets. He was named Second Team All-ACC and Second Team All-ACC by the Associated Press in 2022.
