The Ottawa Redblacks signed quarterback Nicholas Vattiato and released quarterback Max Duggan on Monday.
Nicholas Vattiato is six foot and weighs 210 pounds. The 23-year-old from Plantation, Florida, spent five seasons at Middle Tennessee State University (2021-25), completing 918 of 1,419 passes (65%) for 9,674 yards (236.0 AVG/G), 62 touchdowns, 37 interceptions, 336 carries for 534 yards, five rushing touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 41 games for the Blue Raiders.
In 2025, he was named to the Manning Award Watch List after finishing the season completing 218 of 356 passes (61%) for 2,150 yards (238.9 AVG/G), 16 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 62 carries for 20 yards, and two rushing touchdowns in nine games. Vattiato was one of 12 to win the Conference USA Fall Spirit of Service Award, which honors student-athletes with significant community service endeavors, good academic standing, and participation in their sport.
Max Duggan is six foot one and weighs 207 pounds. The 26-year-old from Council Bluffs, Iowa, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on May 11, 2026. In 2026, he completed 10 of 16 passes (62.5%) for 89 yards and four carries for 21 yards in two preseason games. In the regular season, Duggan appeared in two games, throwing two incomplete passes, and two carries for -1 yard.
The Los Angeles Chargers drafted Duggan in the seventh round (239th pick) of the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed with the Chargers on May 12, 2023.
In 2023, Duggan completed 6 of 12 passes (50%) for 34 yards, one touchdown, and 10 carries for 71 yards in two preseason games. He spent the majority of the 2023 season on the practice squad. In 2024, Duggan completed 4 of 7 passes (57.1%) for 41 yards and two carries for 15 yards in two preseason games. The Chargers released him on August 19, 2024.
Duggan signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks on December 19, 2024. In 2025, he completed 63 of 110 passes (57.3%) for 696 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions, five carries for 59 yards, and five rushing touchdowns in eight games.
In the playoffs, Duggan completed 7 of 14 passes (50%) for 105 yards, one interception, eight carries for 33 yards, and one rushing touchdown. The Battlehawks released him on August 16, 2025.
Duggan signed with the Toronto Argonauts on August 27, 2025. In 2025, Duggan completed 13 of 17 passes (76.5%) for 109 yards, one touchdown, and six carries for 46 yards in three games. The Argonauts released him on May 9, 2026.
Collegiately, Duggan played four seasons at TCU (2019-22), completing 739 of 1,225 passes (60%) for 9,618 yards, 73 touchdowns, 28 interceptions, 488 carries for 1,856 yards, 28 touchdowns, two catches for one yard, and two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in 47 games for the Horned Frogs.
Duggan led the Horned Frogs to the CFP National Championship Game against Georgia in 2023. In that game, he completed 14 of 22 passes (63.6%) for 152 yards, two interceptions, 10 carries for -38 yards, and one touchdown. In 2022, Duggan was named First Team All-Big XII, Second Team All-American, Big XII Athlete of the Year, Big XII Offensive Player of the Year, and the winner of the Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Bob Bowlsby Award, and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.
