The B.C. Lions signed running back Vance McShane, wide receivers Ayden Eberhardt and Kieren Poissant, offensive linemen Jacky Chen and Tyler Packer, defensive lineman Steven Richardson, and defensive back Rico Gafford.
Vance McShane is five foot six and weighs 190 pounds. The 25-year-old from Freeport, Illinois, was on the Lions practice squad in 2023.
Collegiately, McShane started at St. Francis Xavier in Chicago, Illinois, for three seasons (2018-19, Spring 2021) with 480 carries for 2,516 yards, 23 touchdowns, 70 catches for 468 yards, four touchdowns, and 45 kick returns for 874 yards in 32 games for the Cougars.
McShane was a two-time All-MSFA Midwest League Second Team and MSFA Midwest League Offensive Player of the Week (9/10/18).
Then, McShane transferred to Northern Iowa (Fall 2021-22) with 189 carries for 1,042 yards, eight touchdowns, 11 catches for 99 yards, one touchdown, and four kick returns for 90 yards in 20 games for the Panthers.
Ayden Eberhardt is six foot two and weighs 195 pounds. The 25-year-old from Loveland, Colorado, made five catches for 69 yards in two games for the Lions in 2023. The Lions signed Eberhardt as a free agent on January 27, 2023. In the preseason, Eberhardt made seven catches for 111 yards.
Collegiately, Eberhardt played five seasons at Wyoming (2017-21) with 47 catches for 722 yards, two touchdowns, five carries for 11 yards, 12 punt returns for 34 yards, and 15 tackles in 42 games for the Cowboys.
In his final season, Eberhardt made 21 catches for 298 yards, three carries for nine yards, and ten punt returns for 25 yards in eight games. Eberhardt was named to the Mountain West Academic All-Conference team after making five catches for 46 yards, one carry for one yard, and four tackles in 11 games.
Kieren Poissant is six foot and weighs 175 pounds. The 23-year-old from Victoria, British Columbia, attended training camp for the Lions in 2023. Poissant plays for the BCFC’s Westshore Rebels (2021-23) with 21 carries for 146 yards, one touchdown, 146 catches for 2,314 yards, 25 touchdowns, and three kick returns for 50 yards in 29 games.
Jacky Chen is six foot six and weighs 310 pounds. The 23-year-old from Port Jefferson, New York, had a brief stint on the Lions practice squad in 2023. Before B.C., Chen attended training camp for the Minnesota Vikings.
Collegiately, Chen played five seasons at Pace University (2018-22) playing 31 games for the Setters. In 2019, Chen helped the Setters’ offense accumulate over 3,700 total yards of offense, 22 passing touchdowns, and 20 rushing touchdowns. Chen was invited to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl and was named First Team All-NE10 in 2022.
Tyler Packer is six foot six and weighs 315 pounds. The 24-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, was on the Lions practice squad in 2023. In 2022, Packer played two games for the Lions. The Lions drafted Packer in the sixth round (51st pick) in the 2021 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Packer played four seasons at the University of Calgary (2017-19, 2021) playing 37 games at right tackle for the Dinos. He was the first Dino rookie to start at tackle since former Lion Kirby Fabien in 2009. In addition, he helped the Dinos win the 2019 Vanier Cup, which was their first title since 1995, and was named Canada West Rookie of the Year in 2017 and a Canada West All-Star in 2018.
Steven Richardson is five foot eleven and weighs 304 pounds. The 27-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, returns to the Lions after signing with them in 2022 but a pair of Achilles injuries ended his season.
Before B.C., Richardson signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2018. In the preseason, Richardson made eight tackles (6 solo, 2 assists) in four games and made the practice squad.
Then, he played two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021 with 38 tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble in 25 games. He helped the Blue Bombers win two Grey Cup championships before signing with the Lions as a free agent on February 2, 2022.
Collegiately, Richardson played four seasons at the University of Minnesota (2014-17) with 101 tackles (51 solo, 50 assists), 28 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, three pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 47 games for the Golden Gophers. He was a Third Team All-Big Ten in 2016 and a two-time Big-Ten Honorable Mention.
Rico Gafford is five foot ten and weighs 185 pounds. The 27-year-old from Des Moines, Iowa, was on the Lions practice squad in 2023. Before B.C., Gafford spent the majority of the 2022 season on the Green Bay Packers practice squad. On December 13, 2022, Gafford signed with the Birmingham Stallions but was released on April 10, 2023.
Gafford signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He later signed with the Oakland Raiders. Gafford played eight games for the Raiders with one tackle and one catch for 12 yards. After Oakland/Las Vegas, Gafford signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Collegiately, Gafford played two seasons at Iowa Community College (2014-15) with 77 tackles (54 solo, 23 assists), four interceptions, 18 kick returns for 460 yards, and one blocked punt return for 12 yards, and one touchdown in 23 games for the Reivers.
He helped the Reivers win the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship Bowl in 2015.
Then, Gafford transferred to Wyoming (2016-17) with 103 tackles (76 solo, 27 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions for 109 yards, one touchdown, 17 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and seven kick returns for 140 yards in 27 games for the Cowboys.
