The Michigan Panthers signed running back Raymond Calais for the 2024 season on Monday.
Raymond Calais is five foot nine and weighs 188 pounds. The 25-year-old from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, attended training camp with the B.C. Lions in 2023. Before B.C., Calais played one game for the D.C. Defenders (XFL) with one catch for minus four yards.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Calais in the seventh round (245th pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent time on their practice squad before getting signed by the Los Angeles Rams off Tampa Bay’s practice squad. Calais played four regular season games for the Rams in 2020 with four kick returns for 152 yards.
In 2021, he played two preseason games with ten carries for 19 yards but was placed on injured reserve. Despite an injury, Calais received his Super Bowl ring when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. After the Rams released him on August 20, 2022, Calais signed with the D.C. Defenders on March 14, 2023, but was released on April 5th.
Collegiately, Calais played four seasons at Louisiana at Lafayette (2016-19) with 236 carries for 1,845 yards, 15 touchdowns, 17 catches for 145 yards, one touchdown, 99 kick returns for 2,493 yards, and two touchdowns in 49 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
In his final season, Calais had 117 carries for 886 yards, six touchdowns, ten catches for 67 yards, one touchdown, and 19 kick returns for 541 yards in 14 games in 2019.
He was named First Team All-Sun Belt Conference (Return Specialist), Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference (Running Back), Third Team All-Sun Belt Conference (All-Purpose), and All-Louisiana Second Team (Return Specialist).
