The Montreal Alouettes signed offensive lineman Cannon Panfiloff and released defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo on Tuesday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Cannon Panfiloff is six foot six and weighs 294 pounds. A native of Roy, Utah, Panfiloff began his collegiate career at Utah Tech University (2020-22), playing 18 games for the Trailblazers. In 2022, Utah Tech averaged 28.4 points per game, 425.4 total yards per game, 310.4 passing yards per game, 115 rushing yards per game, and 28 touchdowns.
Then, Panfiloff transferred to the University of Montana (2023-25), starting 30 games, and appeared in 41 games for the Grizzlies. In 2025, he was named First Team All-Big Sky Conference, Second Team All-American by Stats Perform, Third Team All-American by Sports Illustrated, and the winner of the Paul Weskamp Award as UM’s top o-line. Montana averaged 41 points per game, 457 total yards per game, 285.5 passing yards per game, 171.5 rushing yards per game, 84 touchdowns, and the offensive line allowed 23 sacks.
Chidozie Nwankwo is five foot eleven and weighs 290 pounds. A native of Houston, Texas, Nwankwo signed with the Montreal Alouettes on January 6, 2026.
Collegiately, Nwankwo spent four seasons at the University of Houston (2020-23) with 95 tackles (48 solos, 47 assists), 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, and one blocked kick in 41 games for the Cougars. In 2022, he had a career-high 36 tackles (17 solos, 19 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, and one sack in 12 games.
Then, he transferred to Colorado in 2024 with 19 tackles (14 solos, 5 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, and one sack in eight games for the Buffaloes.
Nwankwo went to Foster High School in Richmond, Texas, where he played under head coach Shaun McDowell. As a senior, he made 31 tackles (27 solos, 4 assists). He was named a two-time 10-5A Defensive MVP, the Touchdown Club of Houston Defensive Player of the Year Finalist, Unanimous First-Team All-District as a sophomore, and First-Team All-District as a freshman.
In addition, Nwankwo competed in wrestling, where he was a two-time Class 5A State Champion as a sophomore and senior. He was also a four-time district champion and three-time regional champion, and concluded his wrestling career with a 102-5 record. He was a runner-up in the Class 5A State Championship in his junior season, and finished in third place as a freshman in the Class 5A State Championship.
