On Thursday, the BC Lions re-signed running back Bruce Anderson III, wide receiver Jamarius Way, and defensive backs Tyneil Cooper and Quincy Mauger.
Bruce Anderson III, a 25-year-old from Ruskin, Florida, had 19 carries for 67 yards, eight carries for 60 yards, and two kick returns for 25 yards in six games for the Lions. In 2021, he played three games for the Edmonton Elks on special teams with seven kick returns for 170 yards.
In the NFL, Anderson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He spent the next two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad.
Anderson played 52 games in four seasons (2015-18) at North Dakota State with 486 carries for 2,896 yards, 24 touchdowns, 32 catches for 448 yards, and seven touchdowns. Anderson had 52 kickoff returns for 1,360 yards and two touchdowns on special teams.
Jamarius Way, a 25-year-old from Belle Glade, Florida, did not play a game for the Lions in 2022. He was with the Lions during training camp and played two preseason games with seven catches for 87 yards before an elbow injury sidelined him.
In 2019, the Denver Broncos signed Way as an undrafted free agent and attended training camp. Collegiately, Way played two seasons at Ellsworth Community College in Iowa, with 41 catches for 596 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games.
In 2016, he was named First-Team All-Region and All-Iowa Community College Athletic Conference. After Ellsworth, Way transferred to South Alabama and played two more seasons, with 108 catches for 1,617 yards and 11 touchdowns in 24 games.
Tyneil Cooper, a 27-year-old from Providence, Rhode Island, had ten tackles in three games for the Lions this year. Last year, he signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a free agent and played five games with 13 tackles.
Collegiately, Cooper played two seasons at Dean College with seven tackles in four games. Then, he transferred to Grossmont College (CA) for one season with 17 tackles and one interception in eight games. Finally, he transferred to Dixie College (2016-17) with 61 tackles, 18 pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble, and one block in 18 games.
Quincy Mauger, a 27-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, had 21 tackles, one sack, one interception, and one forced fumble in eight games this year.
Before signing with the Lions, he played for the Blues of The Spring League (TSL) in 2020. He also played for the Atlanta Legends of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). Mauger signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia. He also had a stint with the Oakland Raiders.
Mauger spent four seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs (2013-16). He played 50 games with 186 tackles, seven interceptions, 12 pass blocks, and one forced fumble. In 2015, the Bulldogs’ defense were the best in the nation.
In addition, the Lions signed quarterback Breylin Smith, running back Nate Chavious, offensive lineman JR Hensley, and defensive linemen Josiah Erickson, Isaiah Gay, Alex Tchangham, and Kameron Toomer.
Breylin Smith, a 24-year-old from Little Rock, Arkansas, was on the Ottawa Redblacks practice squad this year. Collegiately, Smith played five seasons at Central Arkansas (2017-21) with 790 of 1260 completions for 9,536 yards, 84 touchdowns, 37 interceptions, and 192 carries for -10 yards, and two touchdowns in 42 games. He was named Second-team All-Southland Conference in 2019.
Nate Chavious, a 27-year-old from Bellport, New York, played for the Sioux Falls Storm (IFL) in 2022 with 158 carries for 684 yards, 18 touchdowns, 19 catches for 131 yards, two touchdowns, 51 kick returns for 951 yards, and two touchdowns in 16 games. In 2021, he was named Special Teams Player of the Year, and First Team All-IFL honoree.
Collegiately, Chavious played four seasons at Sacred Heart University (2013, 2015-17) with 349 carries for 1,800 yards, 17 touchdowns, 32 catches for 332 yards, two touchdowns, and 74 kick returns for 1,583 yards, and one touchdown in 37 games.
JR Hensley, a 25-year-old from Edmond, Oklahoma, played for the Spokane Shock (IFL) in 2021. Collegiately, Hensley played four seasons at Hawaii (2016-19) playing 42 games, of which 32 were starts at left guard.
Josiah Erickson, a 24-year-old from San Dimas, California, played four seasons at Sacramento State (2016-19, 2021) with 123 tackles, 15 sacks, one pass breakup, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 39 games. He was named First Team All-Big Sky in 2021.
Isaiah Gay, a 23-year-old from Nashville, North Carolina, played one game for the Montreal Alouettes in 2022. Collegiately, Gay played five seasons at Illinois (2017-21) with 134 tackles, 8.5 sacks, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and one block on special teams in 51 games.
Alex Tchangham, a 25-year-old from Douala, Cameroon, attended the Seattle Seahawks training camp earlier this year. Collegiately, Tchangham played two seasons at De Anza College (2016-17) with 72 tackles, and 11.5 sacks in 15 games. Then, he transferred to Colorado (2018-19) with 24 tackles, four sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble in 21 games.
Kameron Toomer, a 24-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada, played five seasons at Nevada (2017-21) with 73 tackles, 5.5 sacks, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble in 41 games. In the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl, Toomer had for tackles and a half sack in a 52-24 loss to Western Michigan.
