The B.C. Lions signed defensive linemen Mayan Ahanotu and D.J. Walden, and defensive backs Tanner Volk and Lorando Johnson on Thursday. All of these players signed future contracts earlier this year.
Mayan Ahanotu is six foot three and weighs 285 pounds. A native of Tampa, Florida, Ahanotu attended the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie minicamp in 2024. In 2025, he played for the Vegas Knight Hawks (IFL) with 17 tackles (7 solos, 10 assists), two tackles for loss, and one blocked kick in eight games, helping the Knight Hawks in the IFL Championship over the Green Bay Blizzard. The B.C. Lions signed Ahanotu to a future contract on October 10, 2025.
Collegiately, Ahanotu spent two seasons at Minnesota (2018-19) with one tackle (1 solo) in three games for the Golden Gophers. Then, Ahanotu transferred to Rutgers (2020-23) with 54 tackles (19 solos, 35 assists), 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 45 games for the Scarlet Knights.
Ahanotu was named a four-time Academic All-Big Ten, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, two-time Team Captain, William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist, College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, and the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List.
D.J. Walden is six foot and weighs 230 pounds. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Walden re-signed with the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football One League on October 10, 2024.
In 2025, he made 22 tackles (18 solos, 4 assists), 7 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 10 games. In the playoffs, he made four tackles (4 solos), two tackles for loss, and one sack, helping the Firebirds win the Arena Crown Championship over the Nashville Kats. The B.C. Lions signed Walden to a future contract on August 28, 2025.
Walden went undrafted in 2022. He worked out for the XFL and CFL before signing with the Albany Firebirds on October 23, 2023. In 2024, he made 18 tackles, 10 sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 10 games, helping them to a 7-2 record, and appeared in Arena Bowl XXXIII against the Billings Outlaws.
Collegiately, Walden played five seasons at Shorter University (2018-21) with 79 tackles (42 solos, 37 assists), 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in 31 games for the Hawks.
Tanner Volk is six foot one and weighs 189 pounds. A native of Portland, Oregon, Volk attended the Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp in 2025. The B.C. Lions signed Volk to a future contract on October 17, 2025.
Collegiately, Volk spent four seasons at Central Washington University (2021-24) with 307 tackles (161 solos, 146 assists), 13.5 tackles for loss, 24 interceptions for 308 yards, two touchdowns, 42 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one catch for nine yards in 46 games for the Wildcats.
In his sophomore season in 2022, he was named First Team All-LSC with 69 tackles (43 solos, 26 assists), two tackles for loss, two interceptions for 10 yards, 10 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 10 games.
In 2023, Volk became the first Wildcat to win the Cliff Harris Award after making 124 tackles (64 solos, 60 assists), 8.5 tackles for loss, 13 interceptions for 182 yards, one touchdown, 17 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 13 games.
Volk was named a Harlon Hill finalist, CCA Ron Lenz National Defensive Player of the Year, on Hansen National Defensive Player of the Year, D2Football.com National Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-American by AFCA, AP, D2CCA, D2Football.com, and Don Hansen Football Gazette, D2CCA Super Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-West Region by D2CCA and Don Hansen Football Gazette, J.V. Sikes Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year, D2Football.com Elite 100, and First Team All-LSC.
In 2024, Volk made 64 tackles (28 solos, 36 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions for 96 yards, one touchdown, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one catch for nine yards in 12 games. He was nominated for the Cliff Harris Award for the third straight season, First Team All-LSC, and was named Second Team All-American.
Lorando Johnson is six foot and weighs 192 pounds. A native of Lancaster, Texas, Johnson attended the Las Vegas Raiders rookie minicamp in 2025. The B.C. Lions signed Johnson to a future contract on October 8, 2025.
Collegiately, Johnson started at Baylor (2021-22) with 20 tackles (14 solos, 6 assists), two tackles for loss, half a sack, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 19 games for the Bears.
Next, he transferred to Arkansas in 2023 with 29 tackles (20 solos, 9 assists), four tackles for loss, one sack, six pass breakups, one interception, and one touchdown in 12 games for the Razorbacks. Then, he returned to Baylor in 2024 with 15 tackles (13 solos, 2 assists), one tackle for loss, one interception, and 11 pass breakups in 12 games.
