The B.C. Lions added fullback/tight end John Levi-Kruse on Monday. The 26-year-old from Hamburg, Germany, caught 12 passes for 113 yards, and three touchdowns in 11 games, of which eight were starts for the Hamburg Sea Devils (ELF). The Lions drafted Kruse in the third round (21st pick) in the 2022 CFL Global Draft.
Kruse played two seasons with the Hamburg Sea Devils with 23 catches for 214 yards, five touchdowns, and two carries for -25 yards in 19 games, of which 14 were starts. In addition, Kruse played for the Elmshorn Fighting Pirates in 2019, and Hamburg Blue Devils in 2018.
The Lions also announced they have released quarterback Vad Lee, defensive back Tyneil Cooper, and defensive linemen Kameron Toomer and Josiah Erickson.
Vad Lee, a 29-year-old from Durham, North Carolina, completed 71 of 128 passes for 729 yards, six touchdowns, six interceptions, 17 carries for 60 yards, and one touchdown for the Pittsburgh Maulers (USFL) in 2022.
In 2016, Lee played three games for the Saskatchewan Roughriders with one rushing attempt. Then in 2018, he played for the Columbus Lions of the National Arena League. In 2021, Lee played in The Spring League with the Alphas and Aviators completing 48 of 76 passes for 542 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, 22 carries for 112 yards, and three touchdowns.
Collegiately, Lee played two seasons at Georgia Tech (2012-13) completing 109 of 236 passes (46.2%) for 2,157 yards, 15 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 278 carries for 1.057 yards, and 17 touchdowns in 25 games.
Then, Lee transferred to James Madison (2014-15) completing 446 of 705 passes (63.3%) for 5,652 yards, 51 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 292 carries for 1,640 yards, and 17 touchdowns in 21 games. He is a three-time All-American, and the first back-to-back winner of the Bill Dudley Award, honoring the state’s best Division I player (both FBS and FCS).
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.
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.
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.
