The Ottawa Redblacks signed wide receiver Jon’Vea Johnson, offensive lineman Eric Starczala, and linebacker Vosean Joseph to the practice squad on Tuesday.
Jon’Vea Johnson is six foot and weighs 192 pounds. The 27-year-old from Gary, Indiana, was on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats practice squad before he was released by the Ticats on June 20th.
Before Hamilton, Johnson signed with the Memphis Showboats (USFL) in February 2023 but was released two months later. Before Memphis, Johnson spent the 2022 season on the Montreal Alouettes practice squad.
Johnson signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He also spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears.
Collegiately, Johnson played four seasons at Toledo (2015-18) with 120 catches for 2,186 yards, 24 touchdowns, one catch for three yards, and one kick return for 22 yards in 51 games for the Rockets. He was named Third Team All-MAC in 2018 after making 30 catches for 623 yards, nine touchdowns, and one kick return for 22 yards in 12 games.
Eric Starczala is six foot five and weighs 315 pounds. The 26-year-old from Cambridge, Ontario, returns to the Ottawa Redblacks after spending time with them earlier this year before he was released on August 15, 2023. He signed with Ottawa on December 12, 2022.
Before Ottawa, Starczala was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in the seventh round (62nd pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft from Guelph. Starczala played 17 games in five seasons at Guelph (2015-19) playing right tackle and is a two-time OUA Second-Team All-Star.
Vosean Joseph is six foot one and weighs 230 pounds. The 25-year-old from Miami, Florida, made two tackles and two special teams tackles in one game for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023 against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 28th.
Before Hamilton, Joseph was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round (147th pick) of the 2019 NFL Draft. However, he spent the season on injured reserve before being released on September 20, 2020. In 2022, Joseph signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Collegiately, Joseph played three seasons at the University of Florida (2016-18) with 161 tackles (69 solo, 92 assists), 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, one interception, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 37 games for the Gators. He helped the Gators win the 2017 Outback Bowl and the 2018 Peach Bowl.
In addition, the Redblacks announced that linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox and defensive back Money Hunter have been removed from the six-game injured list.
Jovan Santos-Knox is six foot two and weighs 233 pounds. The 29-year-old from Waterbury, Connecticut, made 42 games and one sack in eight games for the Redblacks in 2023 before sustaining an ankle injury. The Redblacks signed Santos-Knox as a free agent on February 7, 2023.
Before Ottawa, Santos-Knox signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2017 after a successful tryout. He played two seasons in Winnipeg with 130 tackles (130 solo), eight sacks, and two interceptions in 34 games, of 26 were starts. Next, he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos (now Elks) with 13 tackles (13 solo), and one sack in three games, of which two were starts.
After Edmonton, Santos-Knox signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021. He played two seasons in Hamilton with 177 tackles (177 solo), two sacks, and one interception in 31 games. In 2022, he was named a CFL East All-Star.
Collegiately, Santos-Knox played four seasons at the University of Massachusetts (2012-15) with 338 tackles (117 solo, 338 assists), 24.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, 13 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 46 games for the Minutemen.
Money Hunter is six foot one and weighs 193 pounds. The 28-year-old from Prosper, Texas, has missed 14 games due to a torn pectoral muscle he suffered in May. In 2022, Hunter made 38 tackles and four interceptions in 12 games for the Redblacks.
The Edmonton Elks (then Eskimos) signed Hunter as a free agent in 2018. In his rookie year, Hunter made 35 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games. In two seasons in Edmonton, Hunter had 96 tackles, one sack, and four interceptions in 30 games.
In 2021, Hunter signed with the Montreal Alouettes. He made 45 tackles, one sack, and two interceptions in 14 games. After Montreal, Hunter signed with the Redblacks as a free agent in 2022.
Collegiately, Hunter played four seasons at Arkansas State (2013-16) with 222 tackles (142 solo, 80 assists), three tackles for loss, six interceptions for 268 yards, four touchdowns, 11 pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries in 59 games for the Red Wolves. Hunter is the son of former Major League Baseball player Torii Hunter.
