On Tuesday, the Calgary Stampeders signed running back Kayden Johnson, wide receiver Floyd Allen, defensive lineman Nik D’Avanzo, and quarterback Chase Litton.
Kayden Johnson, a 26-year-old from Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, attended the Stampeders’ training camp last season, and the BC Lions’ training camp in 2021. The Lions drafted Johnson in the seventh round (58th pick) in the 2020 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Johnson played one game at the University of Saskatchewan (2015) with 18 carries for 103 yards and two kick returns for nine yards. Then, Johnson transferred to York University (2016-19) with 248 carries for 1,199 yards, six touchdowns, 34 catches for 390 yards, and one touchdown in 25 games. He ended his career with the seventh-most rushing touchdowns and 10th-most rushing yards in school history.
Floyd Allen, a 26-year-old from Houston, Texas, attended the Stampeders’ training camp in 2022, playing one preseason game with one catch for ten yards, and a missed field goal return for 45 yards. He previously spent time with the Houston Texans in 2019 and was drafted by the Dallas Renegades (XFL) in the 2020 XFL Supplemental Draft. In 2021, he was with the Generals (TSL) but did not play a game.
Collegiately, Allen played one season at El Camino College (2016) with three catches for 40 yards, one carry for one yard, three tackles, and one pass breakup in two games. Next, he transferred to Ole Miss (2017-18) with four catches for 44 yards and one kick return for ten yards in nine games.
Nik D’Avanzo, a 27-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, played two preseason games for the Stampeders with two tackles. In 2017, D’Avanzo signed with the Minnesota Vikings. In 2019, he played two seasons for the Arizona Rattlers (IFL) with 56.5 tackles, nine sacks, three pass breakups, five blocks, and one safety in 21 games. He is a two-time IFL All-Star.
Collegiately, D’Avanzo played four seasons at New Mexico (2013-16) with 197 tackles, 11 sacks, one forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries in 49 games, of which 35 were starts.
Chase Litton, a 27-year-old from Winter Park, Florida, was with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2022. Last year, he attended the Ottawa Redblacks training camp. In 2020, he spent time in the XFL with the Seattle Dragons and Tampa Bay Vipers.
He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent and later signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019. Collegiately, Litton played three seasons at Marshall (2015-17) with 728 of 1,198 completions for 8,335 yards, 72 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions.
