The Ottawa Redblacks are set to sign quarterback Jake Maier, running back Greg Bell, wide receiver/returner James Letcher Jr., wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt, linebackers A.J. Allen and Brian Cole II, and defensive back Scott Hutter on Sunday according to Justin Dunk, Dan Ralph, Dave Naylor, J.C. Abbott, and Coty Wiles. Free agents can officially sign with their new teams on February 10, 2026.
Jake Maier is six foot and weighs 200 pounds. The 28-year-old from Fullerton, California, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on January 9, 2025. In 2025, he completed 56 of 87 passes (64.4%) for 617 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and four carries for 21 yards in 18 games when the Roughriders won the 112th Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes.
The Calgary Stampeders signed Maier on May 5, 2020. He played four seasons in Calgary, completing 1,022 of 1,497 passes (68.3%) for 11,685 yards, 60 touchdowns, 39 interceptions, 60 carries for 232 yards, and five touchdowns in 66 games. In 2023, he became the 10th player in Stampeders’ history to throw 4,000 yards in a single season.
In 2024, he completed 357 of 494 passes (72.3%) for 3,841 yards, 22 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and 10 carries for 46 yards in 18 games. The Saskatchewan Roughriders acquired Maier in a trade with the Calgary Stampeders for a 2025 eighth-round draft pick.
Collegiately, Maier was a redshirt freshman at Sacred Heart University and did not play a game for the Pioneers. Then, he played one season at Long Beach City College in 2016, completing 268 of 422 passes (63.5%) for 3,689 yards, 38 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 68 carries for 116 yards, and two touchdowns in 11 games for the Vikings.
Then, Maier transferred to U.C. Davis (2017-19), completing 992 of 1,495 (66%) for 11,163 yards, 88 touchdowns, 33 interceptions, 108 carries for -120 yards, and four touchdowns in 36 games for the Aggies. He was named the Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Big Sky Conference.
Greg Bell is six foot and weighs 200 pounds. The 27-year-old from San Diego, California, had 184 carries for 1,038 yards, five rushing touchdowns, 62 catches for 426 yards, and one touchdown in 15 games for the Tiger-Cats in 2025. He was named a CFL East All-Star.
The Detroit Lions signed Bell as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. In 2022, he suffered an injury and did not play in the preseason due to a hamstring injury. The Lions released him on July 22, 2023. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Bell on August 1, 2023. In 2023, Bell had 18 carries for 34 yards and five catches for seven yards in three preseason games. The Steelers released him on October 3, 2023.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Bell on March 25, 2024. In 2024, Bell had 94 carries for 625 yards, six rushing touchdowns, 29 catches for 230 yards, and one touchdown in eight games.
Collegiately, Bell played two seasons at Arizona Western Community College (2016-17) with 382 carries for 2,404 yards, 18 touchdowns, completed 2 of 2 passes (100%) for 38 yards, two touchdowns, 16 catches for 214 yards, and one kick return for 37 yards in 21 games for the Matadors. He helped the Matadors to a 20-2 record and was named a two-time All-American.
Next, he transferred to Nebraska in 2018 with 35 carries for 173 yards and four catches for 14 yards in four games for the Cornhuskers. Then, Bell transferred to San Diego State (2020-21) with 358 carries for 1,728 yards, 15 touchdowns, 15 catches for 119 yards, one touchdown, and one tackle (1 solo) in 21 games for the Aztecs.
In his final season at San Diego State, Bell had 245 carries for 1,091 yards, nine touchdowns, and four catches for five yards in 14 games. Bell was named a two-time Second Team All-Mountain West Conference.
James Letcher Jr. is five foot eight and weighs 175 pounds. The 26-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, re-signed with the Montreal Alouettes on January 27, 2025.
In 2025, he made five catches for 42 yards, one touchdown, 19 kick returns for 476 yards, 39 punt returns for 428 yards, one missed field goal return for 23 yards, and one tackle on special teams in nine games, helping Montreal appear in the 112th Grey Cup against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Letcher Jr. attended the Kansas City Chiefs rookie minicamp in 2023. The Montreal Alouettes signed Letcher Jr. on May 17, 2023.
In 2023, he made one catch for four yards, four kick returns for 92 yards, 23 punt returns for 392 yards, and one touchdown in four games, helping the Alouettes win the 110th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In 2024, he made three catches for 17 yards, three carries for 25 yards, 47 kick returns for 1,112 yards, 65 punt returns for 924 yards, and one touchdown in 17 games.
Letcher Jr. played five seasons at Washburn University (2017-22) with 228 catches for 2,992 yards, 29 touchdowns, 60 carries for 366 yards, two touchdowns, completed one of three passes for one yard, one interception, 68 kick returns for 1,678 yards, three touchdowns, and 49 punt returns for 611 yards, and two touchdowns in 48 games.
In 2022, he made 80 catches for 1,076 yards, 10 touchdowns, 12 carries for 27 yards, one touchdown, 14 kick returns for 186 yards, 11 punt returns for 286 yards, and two touchdowns in 11 games. He is an eight-time All-American selection.
Ayden Eberhardt is six foot two and weighs 195 pounds. The 27-year-old from Loveland, Colorado, made 45 catches for 863 yards and four touchdowns in 18 games. In the Grey Cup playoffs, Eberhardt made four catches for 60 yards.
The B.C. Lions signed Eberhardt as a free agent on January 27, 2023. In 2023, Eberhardt made five catches for 69 yards in two games. In 2024, he made 41 catches for 639 yards and two touchdowns in 18 games.
Collegiately, Eberhardt played five seasons at Wyoming (2017-21) with 47 catches for 722 yards, two touchdowns, five carries for 11 yards, 12 punt returns for 34 yards, and 15 tackles in 42 games for the Cowboys.
In his final season, Eberhardt made 21 catches for 298 yards, three carries for nine yards, and ten punt returns for 25 yards in eight games. Eberhardt was named to the Mountain West Academic All-Conference team after making five catches for 46 yards, one carry for one yard, and four tackles in 11 games.
A.J. Allen is six foot and weighs 210 pounds. The 27-year-old from Burlington, Ontario, re-signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on January 9, 2025. In 2025, he made 87 tackles, four tackles on special teams, four sacks, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles in 18 games. In the Grey Cup playoffs, he made eight tackles, one sack, and one tackle on special teams to help the Roughriders win the 112th Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders drafted Allen in the fourth round (35th pick) of the 2020 CFL Draft. However, the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. In 2021, Allen did not make the team and returned to Guelph for his final season.
In 2022, Allen made six tackles and six tackles on special teams in 12 games. In 2023, Allen made 19 tackles and 19 tackles on special teams in 18 games. In 2024, Allen made seven tackles, 22 tackles on special teams, one interception, and one touchdown in 18 games, helping the Roughriders reach the Western Final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Collegiately, Allen played five seasons at the University of Guelph (2016-19, 2021) with 124 tackles (82 solos, 42 assists), 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and three pass breakups in 37 games for the Gryphons. He received the President’s Award as the OUA’s Most Outstanding Stand-Up Defensive Player in 2021, as well as being named an All-Canadian and OUA All-Star.
Brian Cole II is six foot two and weighs 207 pounds. The 28-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan, signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on February 11, 2025. In 2025, he made three tackles, 19 tackles on special teams, and one forced fumble in 18 games.
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Cole II in the seventh round (249th pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Edmonton Elks. In 2021, he made three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) in two preseason games for the Carolina Panthers.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Cole II on July 13, 2022. In 2022, Cole II made six tackles on special teams in 11 games. In 2023, he made three tackles, 14 tackles on special teams, and three forced fumbles in 15 games.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-signed Cole II on January 2, 2024. In 2024, he made 24 tackles, four tackles on special teams, one interception, and one forced fumble in 11 games. He missed most of the season with a foot injury.
Collegiately, Cole II played one season at Michigan in 2015 as a wide receiver with one catch for -1 yard in two games for the Wolverines. Next, he transferred to East Mississippi Community College in 2016, switching to defensive back with 54 tackles (45 solos, 9 assists), one tackle for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and two blocked punts in 11 games for the Lions.
Then, Cole II transferred to Mississippi State (2018-19) with 78 tackles (43 solos, 35 assists), 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and 16 kick returns for 329 yards in 17 games for the Bulldogs. He was named Team Captain in 2019.
Scott Hutter is six foot and weighs 195 pounds. The 28-year-old from London, Ontario, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on June 9, 2025. In 2025, Hutter made one tackle and seven tackles on special teams in eight games.
The Edmonton Elks drafted Scott Hutter in the sixth round (50th pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft. In seasons, Hutter made 61 tackles, 46 tackles on special teams, and one forced fumble in 55 games. In 2023, Hutter made four tackles and 17 tackles on special teams in 16 games.
In 2024, he made four tackles on special teams in four games before missing the rest of the season due to a lower-body injury.
Collegiately, Hutter played four seasons at Wilfrid Laurier (2015-18) with 153 tackles (124 solos, 60 assists), 11.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, ten interceptions, one touchdown, 27 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 40 games for the Golden Hawks.
He helped Wilfrid Laurier win the 2016 Yates Cup. Hutter was named a two-time USPORTS Academic All-Canadian (2017-18) and a 2018 OUA Second Team All-Star.
