The B.C. Lions signed offensive lineman Christian Olmstead to a future contract that starts in 2026 and released defensive back Travian Blaylock from the practice squad on Friday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Christian Olmstead is six foot four and weighs 315 pounds. The 28-year-old from Florence, Kentucky, played three games for the San Diego Strike Force (IFL) in 2025 with two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) and one fumble recovery. San Diego’s offense averaged 44.06 points per game, 170.5 passing yards per game, 54.7 rushing yards per game, 105 touchdowns, and allowed six sacks.
The Montreal Alouettes signed Olmstead on October 29, 2021. He spent the season on the practice squad before he was released on November 5, 2021. He also played for the Linemen of The Spring League in 2021, helping them win the Mega Bowl over the Jousters.
The St. Louis Battlehawks drafted Olmstead in the ninth round (71st pick) of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, he played three games. He re-signed with the Battlehawks on January 23, 2024, but was released at the end of training camp on March 10, 2024.
Collegiately, Olmstead played four seasons at the University of Findlay (2015-18), a Division II college in Findlay, Ohio. Olmstead played in 42 games for the Oilers. In 2018, Findley’s offense averaged 41.18 points per game, 494.2 yards per game, 267.1 yards rushing per game, 292 first downs (fourth in the country), and allowed seven sacks.
The Oilers made it to the 2017 championship game with a 10-3 record, but lost 45-26 to the Assumption Greyhounds. Olmstead was named an All-G-MAC Honorable Mention in 2017 and named Second Team All-G-MAC in 2018.
Travian Blaylock is five foot eleven and weighs 208 pounds. The 26-year-old from Humble, Texas, attended the Chicago Bears rookie minicamp in 2024. The B.C. Lions signed Blaylock on April 22, 2025. In 2025, he made three tackles in one preseason game. He spent three weeks on the practice squad. The Lions released him on June 25, 2025.
The Lions re-signed Blaylock to the practice squad on July 1, 2025. Blaylock appeared in one game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, making three tackles.
Collegiately, Blaylock played six seasons at Wisconsin (2018-23) with 26 tackles (12 solos, 14 assists), one tackle for loss, half a sack, one pass breakup, and two fumble recoveries in 35 games for the Badgers.
He missed the entire 2022 season due to an injury. In 2023, he made seven tackles (4 solos, 3 assists) and one pass breakup in 13 games. Blaylock was named a four-time Academic All-Big Ten.
Blaylock’s dad, Derrick, was a football player drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round (150th pick) of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played six seasons in the NFL (2001-07) with the Chiefs, the New York Jets, and the Washington Redskins, with 156 carries for 723 yards, 10 touchdowns, 45 catches for 474 yards, two touchdowns, 19 tackles (19 solos), and five kick returns for 103 yards in 51 games.
