The Ottawa Redblacks re-signed wide receivers Sam Schnee and Robert Lewis, defensive lineman Jessie Evans, and linebacker Jamie Pettway Jr. to future contracts that start in 2026 on Sunday according to the CFL Transactions page. All of these players were on Ottawa’s practice squad in 2025.
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 Redblacks released him for the second time on October 1, 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.
Robert Lewis is five foot ten and weighs 185 pounds. The 23-year-old from Covington, Georgia, signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2025. In 2025, Lewis made one catch for 13 yards in one preseason game.
The Vikings released him on August 24, 2025. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Lewis to the practice squad on October 9, 2025. The Redblacks released him on October 25, 2025.
Collegiately, Lewis played four seasons at Georgia State (2020-23) with 90 catches for 1,019 yards, 10 touchdowns, four carries for 33 yards, six kick returns for 130 yards, five tackles (4 solos, 1 assist), and one forced fumble in 32 games for the Panthers.
He was named Third Team All-Sun Belt in 2023 after making 61 catches for 618 yards, four touchdowns, and six kick returns for 130 yards in 10 games. Then, he transferred to Auburn in 2024 with 16 catches for 155 yards in 11 games for the Tigers.
Jessie Evans is six foot three and weighs 260 pounds. The 23-year-old from Houston, Texas, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on September 18, 2025. He spent the season on the practice squad. The Redblacks released him on October 25, 2025.
Collegiately, Evans played three seasons at Prairie View A&M (2020-22) with 110 tackles (42 solos, 68 assists), 23 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 24 games for the Panthers.
Then, he transferred to Louisiana Tech (2023-24) with 72 tackles (35 solos, 37 assists), 12.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in 25 games for the Bulldogs.
In 2024, he made 40 tackles (17 solos, 23 assists), six tackles for loss, and three sacks in 13 games. He was named an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention by College Football Network, Fourth Team All-CUSA by Phil Steele, and Third Team All-CUSA by Phil Steele.
Jamie Pettway Jr. is six foot two and weighs 237 pounds. The 24-year-old from Albany, Georgia, went undrafted in 2025. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Pettway Jr. to the practice squad on September 2, 2025. In 2025, he made one tackle on special teams in one game. The Redblacks released him on October 25, 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 with 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.
