On Tuesday, the Ottawa Redblacks signed wide receivers Quan Bray, Tyrice Richie, Savon Scarver, defensive backs Jeremiah Baltrip and Darius Williams, defensive lineman Jake Hlava, offensive lineman Justice Powers, and linebacker Jordan Young.
Quan Bray, a 29-year-old from LaGrange, Georgia, was on the Redblacks’ practice squad in the 2022 season. Before Ottawa, Bray spent two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes and was one of the final cuts in training camp earlier this year. Bray had 93 catches for 1,299 yards, eight touchdowns, one carry for six yards, 26 punt returns for 191 yards, and two kick returns for 45 yards in 27 games.
Before the CFL, the Indianapolis Colts signed Bray as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He played three seasons with the Colts, catching six passes for 75 yards, one carry for seven yards, 48 kick returns for 1,231 yards, and 45 punt returns for 314 yards in 24 games. In 2019, Bray played three games for the Birmingham Iron (AAF), with one carry for three yards.
Collegiately, Bray played four seasons at Auburn (2011-14) with 83 catches for 853 yards, seven touchdowns, 13 carries for 68 yards, one touchdown, 56 punt returns for 565 yards, 34 kick returns for 758 yards, and two touchdowns in 43 games.
Tyrice Richie, a 24-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, played three collegiate seasons at Northern Illinois (2019-21) with 129 catches for 1,552 yards, nine touchdowns, 16 carries for 68 yards, and four punt returns for 46 yards in 26 games. He earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2021.
Savon Scarver, a 23-year-old from Las Vegas, Nevada, was on the Redblacks’ practice squad this year. He previously attended the Chicago Bears training camp earlier this year.
Collegiately, Scarver played five seasons at Utah State (2017-21) with 55 catches for 757 yards, five touchdowns, ten carries for 39 yards, 107 kick returns for 2,935 yards, and seven touchdowns in 56 games. He is a two-time First-Team All-MWC (2018, 2019) and Consensus All-American in 2018.
Jake Hlava, a 25-year-old from Batavia, Illinois, was on the Redblacks’ practice squad this year. He attended the Toronto Argonauts training camp earlier this year before signing with Ottawa. Collegiately, Hlava spent three seasons at Northern Illinois (2015-17) and did not play in his first two seasons until 2017, playing four games.
Then, Hlava transferred to Grand Valley State (2018-21) with 91 tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 34 games for the Lakers. Hlava is a two-time Academic All-GLIAC performer.
Jeremiah Baltrip, a 25-year-old from Tampa, Florida, played three seasons at Southeastern Oklahoma State University (2018-19, 2021) with 56 tackles, two interceptions, 12 pass breakups, and six punt returns for 195 yards in 21 games. He was an Honorable Mention All-GAC selection in 2019.
Darius Williams, a 24-year-old from St. Petersburg, Florida, was on the Redblacks’ practice squad this year. Before signing in Ottawa, Williams played for the Montreal Alouettes with nine tackles, five tackles on special teams, and two interceptions in ten games this year before Montreal released him on September 20th.
In 2021, Williams played 14 games for the Edmonton Elks with 30 tackles, six special teams tackles, and one forced fumble.
Collegiately, Williams played four seasons at Carson-Newman University (2016-19) with 179 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, nine pass breakups, and eight interceptions.
Justice Powers, a 26-year-old from Cedar Hill, Texas, was on the Redblacks’ practice squad this year. He attended the Redblacks training camp and played one pre-season game. Powers signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2019 but was released by the season was canceled in 2020. In 2019, Powers signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent. In 2022, Powers was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Draft but was released in May.
Powers played two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College (2015-16). In 2016, he played 12 games, helping them win the 2016 SWJCFC Championship, before transferring to the University of Alabama-Birmingham (2017-18), playing 28 games.
Jordan Young, a 24-year-old from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, was on the Redblacks’ practice squad. Collegiately, he played five seasons at Old Dominion (2017-21) with 350 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and eight pass breakups in 49 games.
In his final year with the Monarchs, he had 104 tackles, which was seventh in Conference USA, and 57th in the country, along with two sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery. His 350 tackles set a new ODU record, breaking the previous record of 340 tackles by Craig Wilkins.
In 2017, Young was named Conference USA All-Freshman Team with 85 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups.
