The Ottawa Redblacks signed former Sacramento State quarterback Jake Dunniway, St. Francis Xavier wide receiver Zakariya Karim, Texas State defensive lineman Nelson Mbanasor, and Calgary long snapper Tanner Doll.
Jake Dunniway is six foot one and weighs 211 pounds. The 24-year-old from Tracy, California, played three seasons at Sacramento State (2019, 2021-22) completing 410 of 674 passes (61 %) for 5,575 yards, 36 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 74 carries for 68 yards, and one punt for 47 yards in 33 games for the Hornets. He is a two-time Third Team All-Big Sky.
Before Sacramento State, Dunniway played two games at UC Davis before transferring to San Diego Mesa College in 2018, completing 241 of 392 passes (61.5%) for 2,888 yards, 27 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 76 carries for 22 yards, and one touchdown in 10 games for the Olympians.
Zakariya Karim is five foot eleven and weighs 181 pounds. The 22-year-old from Ottawa, Ontario, played four seasons at St. Francis Xavier (2018-19, 2021-22) with 51 receptions for 740 yards, three touchdowns, three carries for 18 yards, nine kick returns for 114 yards, and three punt returns for 28 yards in 21 games for the X-Men.
Nelson Mbanasor is six foot three and weighs 270 pounds. The 24-year-old from Pflugerville, Texas, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. Mbanasor played one season at Texas State in 2022 with 34 tackles (19 solo, 15 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 12 games for the Bobcats.
Before Texas State, Mbanasor played four seasons at Texas Tech (2018-21) with 39 tackles (16 solo, 23 assists), five tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 31 games for the Red Raiders. After the 2020 season, Mbanasor initially transferred to Louisiana Tech but returned to Texas Tech for his final season.
Tanner Doll is six foot and weighs 221 pounds. The 29-year-old from St. Albert, Alberta, played 18 games for the B.C. Lions in 2022. The Ottawa Redblacks drafted Doll in the fourth round (28th pick) in the 2015 CFL Draft. He played 22 games for the Redblacks in two seasons including winning the 104th Grey Cup.
Then, Doll signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2018. He was placed on the practice squad but did play four games before his released and later signed with the Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks) but did not play a game. After his release, he signed with the B.C. Lions and played 50 games in three seasons.
Collegiately, Doll played five seasons at the University of Calgary (2011-15) with 126 tackles (92 solo, 71 assists), 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions for 25 yards, nine pass breakups, and three fumble recoveries. In the 2013 Vanier Cup, Doll made 12.5 tackles and one pass breakup.
To make room for these players, the Redblacks released wide receiver Tyrice Richie, defensive lineman Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal, linebacker Emmanuel Beal, and long snapper Blaise Barber.
Tyrice Richie is five foot eleven and weighs 201 pounds. The 25-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, signed with Ottawa in November. Before Ottawa, he played three 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 for the Huskies. He earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2021.
Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal is six foot five and weighs 252 pounds. The 26-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, signed with the Redblacks in January. Before Ottawa, he went undrafted in the 2022 CFL Draft and returned to the Carabins for his final season. He made 17 tackles, 5.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and two pass breakups in seven games.
The Carabins finished in second place with a 6-2 record and lost the Dunsmore Cup to Laval 25-24. Lemieux-Cardinal was named U Sports Second All-Star and RSEQ All-Star Defensive Team in 2022.
In 2021, Lemieux-Cardinal had 13.5 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in seven games. He was named U Sports First All-Star Team, RSEQ Lineman of the Year, and RSEQ All-Star Defensive Team.
Lemieux-Cardinal played five seasons with the Carabins (2017-19, 2021-21) with 72.5 tackles, 20.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, seven pass breakups, one interception, and one touchdown. His one interception came in 2018 against Concordia and returned it for a 78-yard touchdown in a 75-3 win.
Emmanuel Beal is six foot and weighs 218 pounds. The 27-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, signed with Ottawa in April. Before Ottawa, he played for the Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) in 2022 with 45 tackles and one sack.
The Bandits drafted Beal in the 29th round (240th pick) in the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2020, Beal played five games for the Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) with seven tackles.
Beal signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He played four preseason games with nine tackles.
Collegiately, Beal played two seasons at Lackawanna Community College (2014-15) with 48 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three pass breakups in 17 games for the Falcons.
Blaise Barber is six foot two and weighs 250 pounds. The 24-year-old from Hamilton, Ontario, signed with Ottawa on May 9th. Before Ottawa, he signed with the Edmonton Elks in 2022 but was released during training camp.
Collegiately, Barber played five seasons at McMaster University (2017-19, 2021-22) with 26 tackles (15 solo, 11 assists). He was selected to play in East-West Bowl in 2021.
