The Montreal Alouettes released wide receiver Hergy Mayala and signed defensive lineman Vincent Desjardins and defensive back Daniel Valente on Tuesday.
Hergy Mayala is six foot one and weighs 208 pounds. The 27-year-old from Congo, but grew up in Montreal, Quebec, made seven catches for 118 yards in ten games for the Alouettes in 2023. Last year, Mayala made 33 catches for 409 yards, and two touchdowns in 18 games for the Alouettes before he was released. He signed with the New Orleans Breakers on February 15th, 2023, but was released at the end of training camp.
The Calgary Stampeders drafted Mayala in the first round (8th pick) of the 2019 CFL Draft. In his rookie season, Mayala caught 38 passes for 562 yards, and five touchdowns for the Stampeders. In 2021, Mayala caught 29 passes for 284 yards before signing with Montreal as a free agent in 2022.
Collegiately, Mayala played four seasons at the University of Connecticut (2015-18) with 113 catches for 1,352 yards and 12 touchdowns in 43 games for the Huskies.
Vincent Desjardins is six foot one and weighs 275 pounds. The 28-year-old from Quebec City, Quebec, returns to Montreal after making one tackle in four games for the Alouettes in 2022. This will be his second season in Montreal and fourth in the CFL. The Calgary Stampeders drafted Desjardins in the second round (17th pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft.
He played two seasons in Calgary with three tackles and one forced fumble in 20 games before signing with Montreal in 2022 as a free agent. Collegiately, Desjardins played four seasons at Laval University (2015-18) with 51 tackles, 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 25 games for the Rouge et Or. He is a two-time U Sports First-Team All Canadian, and a Vanier Cup champion in 2016.
Daniel Valente is five foot eleven and weighs 176 pounds. The 23-year-old from London, Ontario, was on the Ottawa Redblacks practice squad in 2023. Valente was drafted by the Redblacks in the fourth round (31st pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Valente played five seasons at Western (2017-19, 2021-22) with 100 tackles (75 solo, 50 assists), five tackles for loss, nine interceptions for 148 yards, two sacks, and four pass breakups in 35 games for the Mustangs.
