The Ottawa Redblacks released offensive linemen Mahamane Moussa, Christian Coulter, and Anim Dankwah, defensive linemen Joseph Zelinsky, C.J. Nunnally IV, and DaMarcus Mitchell, linebacker DeMarquis Gates, and defensive backs Ahmari Harvey and Kenzel Lawler from the practice squad on Sunday, according to the CFL transactions page. These players automatically became free agents after Ottawa’s season ended on Saturday.
Mahamane Moussa is six foot four and weighs 305 pounds. The 23-year-old from Indianapolis, Indiana, attended a rookie minicamp for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2026. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Moussa to the practice squad on September 29, 2026.
Collegiately, Moussa spent four seasons at Purdue University (2021-24), playing left tackle and left guard in 40 games, of which 31 were starts for the Boilermakers. In 2024, he started 12 games as Purdue’s offense averaged 15.3 points per game, 299.3 yards per game, 183.9 passing yards per game, 115.3 rushing yards per game, and 23 touchdowns.
Then, Moussa transferred to the University of Louisville in 2025, playing right tackle and left tackle in 13 games for the Cardinals. Louisville averaged 29.9 points per game, 384.5 points per game, 220.6 passing yards per game, 163.9 rushing yards per game, and 46 touchdowns.
Christian Coulter is six foot five and weighs 300 pounds. The 25-year-old from Thomas, Georgia, started 11 games for the Vegas Knight Hawks in 2026. The Knight Hawks averaged 51.8 points per game, 252.8 yards per game, 167.9 passing yards per game, 84.9 rushing yards per game, and 117 touchdowns. In 2025, Coulter played two games for the Bay Area Panthers. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Coulter to the practice squad on September 22, 2026.
Collegiately, Coulter spent two seasons at Tusculum University (2019-20), where he played 16 games for the Pioneers. In 2020, he was awarded Academic All-SAC honors after starting five games. Tusculum averaged 37.6 points per game, 533.4 yards per game, 394.2 passing yards per game, 139.2 rushing yards per game, and 27 touchdowns.
Then, Coulter transferred to Western Carolina University (2021-23), starting left guard and right tackle in 33 games for the Catamounts. In 2023, he was named First Team All-Southland Conference and Third Team All-American by FCS Football Central after starting left guard and right tackle in 11 games. Western Carolina averaged 37.6 points per game, 504.1 yards per game, 321.2 passing yards per game, 182.9 rushing yards per game, and 53 touchdowns.
Anim Dankwah is six foot seven and weighs 362 pounds. The 26-year-old from Ontario, Canada, appeared in four games for the Argonauts in 2026. The Argonauts released him on July 9, 2026. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Dankwah to the practice squad on September 4, 2026.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Dankwah as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024. In 2024, he played three preseason games. The Eagles released him on August 27, 2024, and he signed with the Washington Commanders on September 10, 2024.
Dankwah spent over a month on Washington’s practice squad. They released him on October 29, 2024, and re-signed him on January 8, 2025. The Commanders released him again on May 12, 2024. The Toronto Argonauts signed Dankwah on May 17, 2025. In 2025, he appeared in four games.
Collegiately, Dankwah played four seasons at Howard University (2019, 2021-23), playing 33 games for the Bison. In 2023, Howard averaged 28.50 points per game, 172.6 rushing yards per game, 194.75 passing yards per game, 367.3 total yards per game, 36 touchdowns, and allowed 19 sacks, finishing 6-6 for the season.
Dankwah was named First Team All-MEAC in 2022, Second Team All-MEAC in the Fall of 2021, First Team All-MEAC in 2022 by Phil Steele, and he helped Howard share the MEAC regular-season championship, its first since 1993.
Joseph Zelinsky is six foot four and weighs 250 pounds. The 24-year-old from Cressona, Pennsylvania, attended rookie minicamps with the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers in 2026. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Zelinsky to the practice squad on September 29, 2026.
Collegiately, Zelinsky spent one season at Hudson Valley Community College in 2021 with 24 tackles (11 solos, 13 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in eight games for the Vikings. Next, he transferred to Eastern Michigan University (2022-24) with 78 tackles (31 solos, 47 assists), 12 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 36 games for the Eagles.
Then, he transferred to the University of Pittsburgh in 2025 with 23 tackles (10 solos, 13 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in 12 games for the Panthers.
C.J. Nunnally IV is six foot three and weighs 265 pounds. The 23-year-old from Douglasville, Georgia, signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2026. They released him on June 17, 2026. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Nunnally IV to the practice squad on September 16, 2026.
Collegiately, Nunnally IV spent one season at Jackson State University in 2021, appearing in one game for the Tigers. Next, he transferred to Independence Community College in 2022 with 35 tackles (28 solos, 7 assists), seven tackles for loss, two sacks, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in eight games for the Pirates.
Then, he transferred to the University of Akron (2023-24) with 121 tackles (59 solos, 62 assists), 26.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, two pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 24 games for the Zips. In 2024, he was named First Team All-MAC after finishing the season with 56 tackles (24 solos, 32 assists), 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, and two forced fumbles in 12 games.
Nunnally IV concluded his collegiate career at Purdue University in 2025 with 44 tackles (30 solos, 14 assists), 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 12 games for the Boilermakers.
DeMarquis Gates is six foot two and weighs 230 pounds. The 30-year-old from Hampton, Georgia, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on September 30, 2026, and was placed on the practice squad.
The Cleveland Browns signed Gates as an undrafted free agent on May 22, 2018. The Browns released him on June 14, 2018. He also had stints with the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings. Next, Gates played for the Memphis Express (AAF) in 2019 with 72 tackles (53 solos, 19 assists), two fumble recoveries, and five forced fumbles in eight games before the league ceased operations.
In 2020, Gates played four games for the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) with 32 tackles (25 solos, 7 assists), two sacks, and one interception in five games before the league shutdown due to the pandemic. In 2021, Gates played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders with five tackles and three tackles on special teams.
Next, Gates was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 29th round (234th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Gates made 62 tackles (43 solos, 19 assists), 11 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and three pass breakups.
In the playoffs, Gates made 14 tackles (12 solos, 2 assists), one tackle for loss, half a sack, one interception for 71 yards, one touchdown, and three pass breakups, helping the Stallions win the USFL Championship. He was named to the All-USFL Team in 2022.
The Chicago Bears signed Gates as a free agent on August 6, 2022. He made one tackle (1 solo) in one game for the Chicago Bears in 2023 against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears released him on January 3, 2024.
Gates re-signed with the Stallions on February 13, 2024. In 2024, Gates made 37 tackles (22 solo, 15 assists), three tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in seven games.
In the 2024 UFL playoffs, Gates made eight tackles (3 solos, 5 assists), one tackle for loss, and one sack in two games, helping the Stallions win their third consecutive championship (2 USFL, 1 UFL). The Stallions re-signed Gates on September 20, 2024, and released him on March 19, 2025.
Gates re-signed with the Stallions on March 24. 2025. In 2025, he made 36 tackles (24 solos, 12 assists), two tackles for loss, half a sack, and three pass breakups in nine games. In the playoffs, he made three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) and one tackle for loss against the Michigan Panthers in the USFL Conference Championship Game.
Collegiately, Gates played four seasons at Ole Miss (2014-17) with 282 tackles (163 solos, 119 assists), 17.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, nine pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and three forced fumbles in 45 games for the Rebels.
Ahmari Harvey is six foot and weighs 195 pounds. The 23-year-old from Tallahassee, Florida, signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent on May 8, 2026. The Broncos released him on June 18, 2026. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Harvey on June 25, 2026. The Steelers released him on August 6, 2026.
The Miami Dolphins acquired Harvey via waivers on August 7, 2026. In 2026, played in two preseason games. The Dolphins released him on August 24, 2026. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Harvey to the practice squad on September 22, 2026.
Collegiately, Harvey spent one season at Auburn University in 2021, but did not see game action for the Tigers. Then, he transferred to Georgia Tech University (2022-25) with 121 tackles (98 solos, 23 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions for 31 yards, 12 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 43 games for the Yellow Jackets. In 2024, he had a career-high 63 tackles (48 solos, 15 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception for 15 yards, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 13 games.
Kenzel Lawler is six foot and weighs 190 pounds. The 25-year-old from Corona, California, attended rookie minicamps with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs in 2026. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Lawler to the practice squad on August 10, 2026. In 2026, he made four tackles in two games.
Collegiately, Lawler spent four seasons at the University of Utah (2020-23) with one tackle (1 solo) and one pass breakup in 16 games for the Utes. Then, he transferred to the University of Montana (2024-25) with 69 tackles (43 solos, 26 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions for 21 yards, one touchdown, 15 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 28 games for the Grizzlies.
In 2025, he made a career-high 58 tackles (36 solos, 22 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions for 21 yards, one touchdown, 15 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 15 games. He was named the Big Sky Co-Defensive Player of the Week on October 13th when he made two tackles (2 assists) and had a pick-six 21-yard touchdown against Cal Poly.
