The Ottawa Redblacks signed defensive linemen Amani Bledsoe, Isaiah Mack, and Kahzir Brown, and defensive back Kori Roberson Jr. on Monday.
Amani Bledsoe is six foot four and weighs 280 pounds. The 28-year-old from Lawrence, Kansas, was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2026 UFL Draft. In 2026, Bledsoe made 13 tackles (5 solos, 8 assists), one tackle for loss, and one sack in four games. The B.C. Lions signed Bledsoe to the practice squad on August 19, 2026. The Lions released him on September 6, 2026.
The Stallions traded him, along with quarterback Matt Corral, to the Orlando Storm for quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. In Orlando, Bledsoe made nine tackles (4 solos, 5 assists), one tackle for loss, one interception, and two pass breakups in six games. In the UFL Semi-Finals against the D.C. Defenders, Bledsoe made two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist).
The Tennessee Titans signed Bledsoe as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2019. He also spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons. In 2020, he made 17 tackles (6 solos, 11 assists) and two pass breakups in 14 games for the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2021, he made one tackle (1 solo) in five games for the Tennessee Titans.
The Arlington Renegades signed Bledsoe on January 23, 2025. In 2025, he made 17 tackles (8 solos, 9 assists), six tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 10 games.
Collegiately, Bledsoe played three seasons at Oklahoma (2016-18) with 59 tackles (30 solos, 29 assists), 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and eight pass breakups in 30 games, of which 22 were starts for the Sooners. He was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2018.
Isaiah Mack is six foot one and weighs 305 pounds. The 30-year-old from Tunnel Hill, Georgia, was drafted by the Orlando Storm in the 2026 UFL Draft. In 2026, he made 24 tackles (15 solos, 9 assists), six tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 10 games. In the UFL Semi-Finals against the D.C. Defenders, he made three tackles (1 solo, 2 assists).
The Tennessee Titans signed Mack as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2019. He played a season and a half in Tennessee with 10 tackles (5 solos, 5 assists), one tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery in 19 games, of which one was a start.
The Titans released him on November 2, 2020. The New England Patriots acquired him via waivers on November 3, 2020. He made one tackle (1 assist) in two games. He became a free agent after the 2020 season.
Mack spent time with the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers before signing with the Baltimore Ravens on November 17, 2021. He played two seasons in Baltimore with six tackles (2 solos, 4 assists), two tackles for loss, and one sack in four games. The Ravens released him on December 26, 2022.
Mack also spent time with the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders, and the Miami Dolphins. In 2024, Mack made eight tackles (4 solos, 4 assists) and one sack in three preseason games for Miami. The Dolphins released him on August 27, 2024.
The St. Louis Battlehawks signed Mack on December 4, 2024. In 2025, he made 12 tackles (6 solos, 6 assists), one tackle for loss, two sacks, and one forced fumble in three games.
Collegiately, Mack played four seasons at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2015-18) with 222 tackles (110 solos, 112 assists), 41 tackles for loss, 21 sacks, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick in 48 games for the Mocs.
He was named First Team All-SoCon in 2018, Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, Second Team All-SoCon in 2017, and First Team All-American by HERO Sports.com in 2018. His 41.0 career tackles for loss ranks third all-time at UTC behind Davis Tull (2011-14 – 60.0) and Keionta Davis (2013-16 – 43.0)
Kahzir ‘Buggs’ Brown is six foot three and weighs 210 pounds. The 23-year-old from Trenton, New Jersey, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on November 27, 2025. He attended training camp before the team released him on May 13, 2026.
The Green Bay Packers signed Brown as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2025. He spent time in training camp before he was released on July 30, 2025.
Collegiately, Brown spent three seasons at the University of Maine (2021-23) with 143 tackles (80 solos, 63 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions for 83 yards, 23 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one blocked kick in 32 games for the Black Bears. In 2023, he had a career-high 61 tackles (30 solos, 31 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception for 12 yards, eight pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 11 games. He was named to the 12th Annual Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List.
Then, he transferred to Florida Atlantic University in 2024 with 44 tackles (24 solos, 20 assists), two tackles for loss, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 12 games for the Owls. He was named preseason Third Team All-AAC by Phil Smith, Fourth Team All-AAC by Athlon, and Second Team All-AAC by the College Football Network.
Kori Roberson Jr. is six foot three and weighs 303 pounds. The 25-year-old from Houston, Texas, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on May 18, 2025. In 2025, he made six tackles and one sack in two preseason games, earning a spot on the practice squad. He appeared in seven regular-season games with eight tackles. In 2026, he made one tackle in one preseason game. In the regular season, he made one tackle against the Edmonton Elks in Week 3. The Alouettes released him on June 29, 2026.
Collegiately, Roberson Jr. played three seasons at Oklahoma (2019-21) with 29 tackles (10 solos, 19 assists), seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in 26 games for the Sooners.
Then, he transferred to SMU (2023-24) with 53 tackles (26 solos, 27 assists), six tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions for 11 yards, one touchdown, and six pass breakups in 26 games for the Mustangs. In 2024, he made 24 tackles (10 solos, 14 assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, one interception for -5 yards, and four pass breakups in 13 games. He was named an All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2024.
The Redblacks released defensive linemen Habakkuk Baldonado, Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal, and Norell Pollard, linebackers K.J. Cloyd and Daniel Kwamou, and defensive back Lento Smith Jr.
Habakkuk Baldonado is six foot five and weighs 260 pounds. The 27-year-old from Rome, Italy, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on February 10, 2026. In 2026, he made eight tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks in eight games.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders drafted Baldonado in the second round (12th pick) of the 2023 CFL Global Draft. The New York Giants signed Baldonado as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2023. In 2023, he made five tackles (1 solo, 4 assists), one sack, and one pass breakup in three preseason games.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Baldonado on September 18, 2023. In 2023, he made three tackles and two tackles for loss in four games. In 2024, he made 11 tackles, one tackle for loss, and two sacks in 14 games. In 2025, he made 17 tackles, one tackle for loss, four sacks, and one forced fumble in 18 games, helping the Roughriders win the 112th Grey Cup over the Montreal Alouettes.
Collegiately, Baldonado played five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh (2018-22) with 99 tackles (45 solos, 54 assists), 22.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick in 40 games for the Panthers.
He was named Second Team All-ACC in 2021 and named to the All-ACC Academic Football Team in 2022, and played in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal is six foot five and weighs 252 pounds. The 29-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on July 28, 2025. In 2025, he made two tackles on special teams in 10 games. The Alouettes released him on May 4, 2025. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Lemieux-Cardinal to the practice squad on August 28, 2026.
Lemieux-Cardinal went undrafted in the 2022 CFL Draft. He signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on January 21, 2023. He was released by the Redblacks on May 22, 2023.
The Montreal Alouettes signed Lemieux-Cardinal on September 1, 2024. He appeared in one game against the Calgary Stampeders in Week 15, recording no stats. The Alouettes released him on September 27, 2024. Montreal re-signed Lemieux-Cardinal on October 23, 2024, and he spent the rest of the season on the practice squad. The Alouettes released him on November 10, 2024.
Collegiately, Lemieux-Cardinal played six seasons at the University of Montreal (2017-19, 2021-22) with 85 tackles (60 solos, 25 assists), 20 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, seven pass breakups, one interception, and one touchdown in 35 games for the Carabins. He was named First Team U Sports All-Star Team, RSEQ Lineman of the Year, and RSEQ All-Star Defensive Team.
In 2022, he made 17 tackles, 5.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and two pass breakups in seven games. The Montreal Carabins finished in second place with a 6-2 record and lost the Dunsmore Cup to Laval 25-24. Lemieux-Cardinal was named Second Team U Sports All-Star and RSEQ All-Star Defensive Team in 2022.
Norell Pollard is six foot one and weighs 283 pounds. The 25-year-old from Apopka, Florida, signed with the Calgary Stampeders on February 2, 2026. In 2026, he made one tackle in two preseason games. The Stampeders released him on May 30, 2026.
The Washington Commanders signed Pollard as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. He spent two seasons in Washington with five tackles (3 solos, 2 assists) in six preseason games. The Commanders released him on August 25, 2025.
Collegiately, Pollard spent five seasons at Virginia Tech (2019-23) with 118 tackles (45 solos, 73 assists), 22 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 61 games for the Hokies. In 2020, he had a career-high 30 tackles (13 solos, 17 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 11 games. He was named Second Team All-Freshman by PFF.
Norell Pollard is six foot one and weighs 283 pounds. The 25-year-old from Apopka, Florida, signed with the Calgary Stampeders on February 2, 2026. In 2026, he made one tackle in two preseason games. The Stampeders released him on May 30, 2026. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Pollard to the practice squad on August 17, 2026.
The Washington Commanders signed Pollard as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. He spent two seasons in Washington with five tackles (3 solos, 2 assists) in six preseason games. The Commanders released him on August 25, 2025.
Collegiately, Pollard spent five seasons at Virginia Tech (2019-23) with 118 tackles (45 solos, 73 assists), 22 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 61 games for the Hokies. In 2020, he had a career-high 30 tackles (13 solos, 17 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 11 games. He was named Second Team All-Freshman by PFF.
K.J. Cloyd is six foot two and weighs 228 pounds. The 25-year-old from Columbia, Mississippi, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on April 14, 2026. In 2026, he made five tackles and one tackle on special teams in two preseason games. The Redblacks released him on May 30, 2026. The Redbacks re-signed him to the practice squad on July 9, 2026.
The Minnesota Vikings signed Cloyd as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. The Vikings released him on July 25, 2024. The New York Giants signed Cloyd on August 11, 2024. In 2024, he made 21 tackles (12 solos, 9 assists) in two preseason games. The Giants released him on August 30, 2024.
The Denver Broncos signed Cloyd to the practice squad on December 10, 2024. They released him on May 12, 2025. The New York Giants re-signed Cloyd on August 4, 2025. In 2025, he made 15 tackles (7 solos, 8 assists) and one quarterback hit in three preseason games. The Giants released him on August 22, 2025.
Collegiately, Cloyd spent one season at Jones College in 2019 with 46 tackles (16 solos, 30 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick in 10 games for the Bobcats.
Next, he transferred to Louisville (2020-22) with 40 tackles (23 solos, 17 assists), half a tackle for loss, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 36 games for the Cardinals. Then, Cloyd transferred to Miami (FL) in 2023 with a career-high 44 tackles (21 solos, 23 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one pass breakup in 13 games for the Hurricanes.
Daniel Kwamou is six foot and weighs 224 pounds. The 26-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, made one tackle and two tackles on special teams in two preseason games. In the regular season, Kwamou made two tackles on special teams in four games.
The Argonauts released him on July 15, 2025. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Kwamou on July 23, 2025. In 2025, he made three tackles on special teams in three games. The Tiger-Cats released him on November 9, 2025. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Kwamou to the practice squad on August 24, 2026.
The Toronto Argonauts drafted Kwamou in the fifth round (44th pick) of the 2022 CFL Draft. He was released at the end of training camp to return to UBC for his final season. The Argonauts re-signed him on June 3, 2023.
In 2023, he made six tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in one preseason game. In the regular season, he made eight tackles on special teams in nine games. In 2024, he missed the season due to an injury when they won the 111th Grey Cup.
Collegiately, Kwamou played four seasons at the University of British Columbia (2018-19, 2021-22) with 108 tackles (64 solos, 44 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, and three pass breakups in 26 games for the Thunderbirds.
Lento Smith Jr. is five foot nine and weighs 185 pounds. A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Smith Jr. attended rookie minicamp with the Baltimore Ravens in 2026. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Smith Jr. to the practice squad on August 24, 2026.
Collegiately, Smith Jr. spent one season at Santa Rosa Junior College in 2022, where he played one game for the Bear Cubs. Then, he spent two seasons at Ferris State University (2023-24) with 86 tackles (52 solos, 34 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, four interceptions, and 10 pass breakups in 26 games for the Bulldogs. In 2024, he was named First Team All-GLIAC and helped the Bulldogs win the Division II National Championship after finishing the season with 47 tackles (29 solos, 18 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one interception, and seven pass breakups in 15 games.
Then, he transferred to Tulsa in 2025, where he was named Second Team All-AAC after finishing the season with 76 tackles (45 solos, 31 assists), two tackles for loss, one interception, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 11 games for the Golden Hurricanes.
