The B.C. Lions signed offensive lineman Joshua Donovan and defensive backs Stantley Thomas-Oliver III and Morice Norris Jr. on Monday, according to the CFL Transactions page.
Joshua Donovan is six foot six and weighs 330 pounds. The 26-year-old from College Station, Texas, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on September 15, 2025. He spent the season on the practice squad. The Argonauts released him on May 13, 2026.
Donovan attended the Buffalo Bills rookie minicamp in 2023. The Montreal Alouettes signed Donovan to the practice squad on July 25, 2023. He re-signed with the Alouettes on November 27, 2023.
In 2024, Donovan appeared in 17 games. Montreal averaged 25.3 points per game (5th), 332.9 net offense per game (9th), 84.3 rushing yards per game (8th), 264.4 passing yards per game (7th), and 46 touchdowns (4th). They won the East Division and appeared in the Finals against the Toronto Argonauts. Donovan did not play in the 2025 preseason due to an injury. He was released on May 31, 2025.
Collegiately, Donovan played two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College (2017-18), playing 19 games for the Cardinals. He was named First Team All-SWJCFC in 2018 after helping the Cardinals’ running backs average 5.1 yards per carry and 193.0 yards per rushing.
Then, Donovan transferred to Arizona (2019-22), playing right guard in 28 games for the Wildcats. In 2022, Arizona’s offense was ranked sixth in passing offense and 21st in total offense, averaging 30.8 points per game.
Stantley Thomas-Oliver III is six foot and weighs 190 pounds. The 26-year-old from Tallahassee, Florida, re-signed with the Detroit Lions on January 20, 2025. They released him on July 27, 2025.
The Carolina Panthers drafted Thomas-Oliver III in the seventh round (221st pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He played three seasons in Carolina with 17 tackles (12 solos, 5 assists) in 25 games. In 2023, he made one tackle (1 solo) in one preseason game. The Panthers released him on September 22, 2023.
The New York Giants signed Thomas-Oliver III on October 30, 2023, and spent the season on the practice squad. In 2024, an injury prevented him from playing, and he was released on July 31, 2024.
The Birmingham Stallions signed Thomas-Oliver III on November 18, 2024. The Stallions released him on December 16, 2024, and he signed with the Detroit Lions on December 17, 2024. He dressed for one game with the Lions.
Collegiately, Thomas-Oliver III played four seasons at Florida International University (2016-19), playing wide receiver and defensive back with 94 tackles (77 solos, 17 assists), 7 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions for 23 yards, 20 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, 36 catches for 489 yards, and one touchdown in 43 games for the Panthers.
He was named Conference USA All-Freshman Team, All-Conference USA Honorable Mention, and Second Team All-Conference USA. He was invited to play in the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl and the 2020 Tropical Bowl.
Morice Norris Jr. is five foot eleven and weighs 192 pounds. The 25-year-old from Fresno, California, signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, he made three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) in one preseason game. He would appear in two regular-season games and appeared in a playoff game against the Washington Commanders, where he made three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist). In 2025, he made four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) in two preseason games. The Lions released him on August 28, 2026.
Collegiately, Norris Jr. spent two seasons at Orange Coast College (2018-19) with 35 tackles (30 solos, 5 assists), half a tackle for loss, one interception, and seven pass breakups in 15 games for the Pirates. In 2019, he made 23 tackles (22 solos, 1 assist), one interception, and four pass breakups in eight games.
Then, he transferred to Fresno State University (2021-23) with 116 tackles (78 solos, 38 assists), 17.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, 16 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 27 games for the Bulldogs. In 2023, he was named Second Team All-Mountain West after finishing the season with a career-high 59 tackles (42 solos, 17 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 13 games.
The Lions released running back Peyton Barber, offensive lineman Brock Bethea, and defensive backs Marc Stampley II and Bruce Harmon Jr.
