The Montreal Alouettes signed quarterback Arnaud Desjardins, re-signed quarterback James Morgan, and signed linebackers Damonte Smith and Malick Sylla on Monday.
Arnaud Desjardins is six foot five and weighs 215 pounds. The 26-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, spent four seasons at Laval University (2022-25), completing 700 of 955 passes (73.3%) for 8,829 yards, 63 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 88 carries for 502 yards, five rushing touchdowns, one catch for five yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 31 games for the Rouge et Or.
In 2022, he was named First Team U Sports All-Canadian and the RSEQ Offensive All-Star after finishing the season by completing 195 of 267 passes (73%) for 2,555 yards, 20 touchdowns, four interceptions, 17 carries for 99 yards, and one rushing touchdown in eight games, helping Laval win the Vanier Cup.
In 2023, he completed 155 of 226 passes (68.6%) for 2,028 yards, 12 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 42 carries for 242 yards, two rushing touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in eight games.
In 2024, he was named the RSEQ Most Valuable Player and RSEQ All-Star after finishing the season by completing 189 of 249 passes (75.9%) for 2,373 yards, 17 touchdowns, one interception, and 16 carries for 57 yards in eight games, helping Laval win another Vanier Cup.
In 2025, he was named Second Team U Sports All-Canadian and the RSEQ Offensive Player of the Year after finishing the season by completing 161 of 213 passes (75.6%) for 1,873 yards, 14 touchdowns, four interceptions, 13 carries for 104 yards, two rushing touchdowns, and one catch for five yards in seven games.
James Morgan is six foot four and weighs 229 pounds. The 29-year-old from Green Bay, Wisconsin, re-signed with the Montreal Alouettes on December 11, 2024. In 2025, he completed 55 of 93 passes (59.1%) for 547 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions, and six carries for 17 yards in 10 games. The Alouettes released him on February 27, 2026.
The New York Jets drafted Morgan in the fourth round (125th pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft. In 2021, Morgan completed 19 of 35 passes (54.3%) for 208 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and six carries for -13 yards in three preseason games. The Jets released him on August 31, 2021. He also spent time with the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and Arizona Cardinals.
The Pittsburgh Maulers signed Morgan on January 14, 2023. In 2023, Morgan completed 23 of 48 passes (47.9%) for 210 yards, three interceptions, and five carries for seven yards in three games.
The Montreal Alouettes signed Morgan on January 16, 2024. In 2024, he completed 15 of 23 passes (65.2%) for 146 yards, one interception, six carries for four yards, and one touchdown in two preseason games.
In 2024, he dressed for three games but did not record any stats. The Alouettes released him on September 10, 2024. Morgan re-signed with the Alouettes on October 8, 2024. He dressed for an additional game but did not see any action. The Alouettes released him on November 10, 2024. Montreal re-signed him on November 22, 2024.
Collegiately, Morgan played three seasons at Bowling Green (2015-17), completing 279 of 538 passes (52%) for 3,342 yards, 25 touchdowns, 22 interceptions, and 71 carries for -109 yards in 21 games for the Falcons.
Then, he transferred to Florida International University (2018-19), completing 420 of 683 passes (61%) for 5,287 yards, 40 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 59 carries for -59 yards, and three touchdowns in 25 games for the Panthers. He was named an All-C-USA Honorable Mention in 2019.
Damonte Smith is six foot one and weighs 301 pounds. The 22-year-old from Savannah, Georgia, spent five seasons at Middle Tennessee State University (2021-25) with 79 tackles (38 solos, 41 assists), 17.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 42 games for the Blue Raiders.
In 2025, he was named First Team All-CUSA and First Team All-CUSA by Phil Steele after finishing the season with a career-high 34 tackles (21 solos, 13 assists), 11.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 12 games.
Malick Sylla is six foot six and weighs 255 pounds. A native of Katy, Texas, spent three seasons at Texas A&M University (2022-24) with 26 tackles (21 solos, 5 assists), six tackles for loss, and four sacks in 33 games for the Aggies. Then, he transferred to Mississippi State University in 2025 with a career-high 33 tackles (10 solos, 23 assists), seven tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in 13 games for the Bulldogs.
