The B.C. Lions released wide receiver Jared Gipson, offensive linemen Josh Castro, Kaiden Kerntopf, and Connor Klassen, defensive linemen D.J. Walden and Ezekiel “Zeke” Vandenburgh, linebacker Corey Flagg Jr., and defensive backs Joe Foucha and Tyrell Raby on Saturday.
Jared Gipson is six foot one and weighs 205 pounds. The 23-year-old from Stockton, California, signed with the B.C. Lions on May 5, 2025. In 2025, he made four catches for 39 yards in two preseason games. The Lions released him on June 1, 2025. The Lions re-signed Gipson on November 5, 2025.
Collegiately, Gipson played four seasons at Sacramento State (2021-24) with 147 catches for 2,218 yards, 17 touchdowns, one kick return for no yards, and two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in 50 games for the Hornets.
In 2023, he made 38 catches for 657 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. He was named Second Team All-Big Sky Conference after the season. In 2024, he made 56 catches for 797 yards, nine touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 12 games. He was named Second Team All-Big Sky Conference.
Josh Castro is six foot three and weighs 310 pounds. A native of Los Angeles, California, Castro signed with the B.C. Lions on November 25, 2025.
San Diego averaged 44.06 points per game, 170.5 passing yards per game, 54.7 rushing yards per game, 225.16 total yards per game, 102 touchdowns, and allowed six sacks, helping the Strike Force reach the Western Conference Finals against the Vegas Knight Hawks. The B.C. Lions signed Castro to a future contract on August 9, 2025.
Castro went undrafted in 2023. In 2024, he played for the Bay Area Panthers of the Indoor Football League. Bay Area averaged 43.9 points per game, 102.4 rushing yards per game, 130.9 passing yards per game, 274.35 total yards per game, 118 touchdowns, and allowed 17 sacks, reaching the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Castro signed with the San Diego Strike Force on October 15, 2024. In 2025, he played five games with five tackles (1 solo, 4 assists).
Collegiately, Castro had stops at Santa Monica College (2018-19), where he played six games for the Corsairs, Azusa Pacific (2020), and Angelo State (2021). He transferred to California Lutheran University in 2022.
In 2022, he started 10 games for the Kingsmen. Cal Lutheran averaged 25.80 points per game, 120.5 rushing yards per game, 226.60 passing yards per game, 347.1 total yards per game, 35 touchdowns, and allowed 19 sacks, finishing 3-7 for the season.
Castro was named Second Team All-SCIAC. Then, he transferred to Nevada in 2023. He did not see any action for the Wolfpack.
Kaiden Kerntopf is six foot four and weighs 325 pounds. The 22-year-old from Kelowna, British Columbia, signed with the B.C. Lions on April 4, 2026, to attend training camp only.
Kerntopf played for the Okanagan Sun of the CJFL, where he was named a two-time CJFL All-Canadian and BCFC All-Star. He helped the Sun finish with a 10-0 record before appearing in the Canadian Bowl against Saskatoon. Kerntopf is committed to playing at the University of Alberta.
Connor Klassen is six foot three and weighs 311 pounds. The 24-year-old from Big River, Saskatchewan, was drafted by the B.C. Lions in the fourth round (37th pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft. He suffered an injury during training camp, and the Lions released Klassen on May 21, 2025. He re-signed with the Lions on November 20, 2025.
Klassen played three seasons with the Regina Thunder (CJFL), helping them win a Prairie Football Conference championship in 2022. Klassen was named the PFC’s Outstanding Lineman and a First-Team All-Canadian with the Thunder in 2022. He also earned PFC all-star recognition two times (2021-22).
Collegiately, Klassen spent three seasons at the University of Regina (2023-25), playing right tackle in 16 games for the Rams. He missed the 2025 season due to injury. In 2024, Regina averaged 19.82 points per game, 131.8 rushing yards per game, 234.55 passing yards per game, 355.6 total yards per game, 21 touchdowns, and allowed seven sacks, finishing 5-6 for the season. He was named a two-time Academic All-Canadian.
D.J. Walden is six foot and weighs 230 pounds. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Walden signed with the B.C. Lions on November 27, 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.
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.
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.
Ezekiel “Zeke” Vandenburgh is six foot four and weighs 232 pounds. The 27-year-old from Vallejo, California, signed with the B.C. Lions on March 3, 2026.
The Miami Dolphins signed Vandenburgh as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. In 2023, he was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. In 2024, Vandenburgh suffered a leg injury and was released on August 28, 2024. Vandenburgh signed with the Memphis Showboats on January 23, 2025. In 2025, he made 37 tackles (14 solos, 23 assists), one tackle for loss, half a sack, and one pass breakup in eight games.
Collegiately, Vandenburgh played five seasons at Illinois State (2018-22) with 256 tackles (151 solos, 105 assists), 43.5 tackles for loss, 24 sacks, one interception, seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one carry for four yards in 51 games for the Cardinals. He was named First Team All-MVFC in 2022. He ranked third all-time with 24 sacks in program history.
Vandenburgh became the first Illinois State player to earn the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in FCS football, and he was named MVFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.
Corey Flagg Jr. is five foot ten and weighs 233 pounds. The 24-year-old from Houston, Texas, attended the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs rookie minicamps in 2025. The B.C. Lions signed Flagg Jr. on January 26, 2026.
Collegiately, Flagg Jr. spent four seasons at Miami (FL) (2020-23) with 179 tackles (93 solos, 86 assists), 23.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, one interception for nine yards, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 43 games for the Hurricanes.
Then, he transferred to Missouri in 2024 with a career-high 81 tackles (37 solos, 44 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception for 80 yards, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in 13 games for the Tigers.
Joe Foucha is five foot eleven and weighs 200 pounds. The 27-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, signed with the B.C. Lions on August 21, 2025.
Foucha re-signed with the Bay Area Panthers of the Indoor Football League on November 14, 2024. In 2025, he was named the IFL Defensive Player of the Year after making 54 tackles (37 solos, 17 assists), one tackle for loss, seven interceptions for 84 yards, one touchdown, 21 pass breakups, and six kick returns for 39 yards in 13 games, helping them reach the Western Conference First Round playoffs against the Vegas Knight Hawks. Foucha was also named First Team All-IFL.
Foucha attended the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills rookie minicamps in 2023. He signed with the Bay Area Panthers on December 19, 2023. In 2024, he made 67 tackles (43 solos, 24 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions for 31 yards, 16 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 17 games. He was named Second Team All-IFL and the All-IFL Rookie Team.
Collegiately, Foucha played four seasons at Arkansas (2018-21) with 233 tackles (102 solos, 131 assists), 12 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four interceptions for 46 yards, 12 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 44 games for the Razorbacks.
In 2020, he was named the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week against Mississippi State after making two tackles (2 assists), a half tackle for loss, and two interceptions.
Tyrell Raby is six foot and weighs 190 pounds. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Raby signed with the B.C. Lions on April 27, 2026.
Collegiately, Raby began his collegiate career at Memphis (2021-22), but did not see any action for the Tigers. Next, he transferred to Middle Tennessee State University (2023-24) with 44 tackles (37 solos, 7 assists), two interceptions, and 14 pass breakups in 21 games for the Blue Raiders.
Then, he transferred to Grambling State University in 2025 with 35 tackles (27 solos, 8 assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, three interceptions, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 12 games for the Tigers. He played in the HBCU Legacy Bowl in 2026.
