The B.C. Lions made several moves on Wednesday, including signing former University of Alabama-Birmingham offensive lineman Sidney Wells.
Sidney Wells is six foot four and weighs 330 pounds. The 24-year-old from Clinton, Mississippi, started 13 games at right tackle for the top offensive line unit in Conference USA. The Blazers rushed for 235.3 yards per game which is 8th nationally and rushed for over 215 yards in ten of 13 games.
In addition, the offensive line helped paved the way for record-setting running back DeWayne McBride, who led the nation in rushing. He was named First Team All-Conference USA. Sidney Wells played 41 games in four seasons at UAB (2019-22), of which 40 were starts. He is a two-time First Team All-Conference USA.
Before UAB, Wells played 18 games in two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (2017-18). In 2018, he blocked for a team that finished 7-2 and averaged 211.6 rushing yards per game, and the offense averaged 36.7 points per game and 412.1 yards per game overall.
In other moves, the Lions moved wide receivers Josh Pearson and Jacob Scarfone to the retired list, while releasing linebacker Jacob Firlotte.
Josh Pearson is six foot four and weighs 205 pounds. The 25-year-old from Decatur, Alabama, signed with the Lions as a free agent in January 2022. Pearson played two games with two catches for 73 yards and one touchdown.
Before the Lions, the signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent and played one game against the Chicago Bears. He earned a Super Bowl ring just before his release during training camp.
Collegiately, played three seasons (2017-19) at Jacksonville State with 126 catches for 2,066 yards, 30 touchdowns, and one carry for seven yards in 26 games for the Gamecocks.
In 2018, he led the Gamecocks in receiving yards with 67 catches for 1,123 yards and 17 touchdowns. Pearson was named First Team All-American by the Associated Press.
Jacob Scarfone is six foot one and weighs 204 pounds. The 28-year-old from London, Ontario, signed a contract extension with the Lions in January. He had ten catches for 131 yards and one touchdown in 17 games in 2022. This will be Scarfone’s third season for the Lions.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats drafted Scarfone in the sixth round (47th pick) in the 2017 CFL Draft. However, he never played a game for the Ticats. In 2018, Scarfone signed with the Ottawa Redblacks and played four games.
Scarfone played two seasons in Ottawa (2018-19) with three catches for 17 yards in 11 games. In 2021, Scarfone signed with the Lions. He made six catches for 85 yards, and one touchdown in 14 games.
Collegiately, Scarfone played four seasons at the University of Guelph (2013-17) with 109 catches for 1,789 yards and 17 touchdowns in 22 games for the Gryphons. He was named U Sports Second-Team All-Canadian in 2017 after making 37 catches for 634 yards, and five touchdowns in eight games.
In 2015, he led the Gryphons in receiving with 60 catches for 962 yards, and ten touchdowns in eight games. In addition, Scarfone had one punt return for 26 yards.
Jacob Firlotte is six foot three and weighs 217 pounds. The 26-year-old from Abbotsford, British Columbia, spent most of the season on the Lions practice squad and played one game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers drafted Firlotte in the seventh round (58th pick) in the 2018 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Firlotte played four seasons at Queen’s University (2014-17) with 58 tackles (49 solo, 18 assists), one tackle for loss, three interceptions, seven pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 30 games for the Gaels.
After college, Firlotte played for the Langley Rams (CJFL) in 2018 with eleven tackles (10 solo, 1 assist), one sack, one interception, seven kick returns for 88 yards, nine punt returns for 132 yards, and one touchdown in six games.
