The Ottawa Redblacks made several moves on Tuesday according to the CFL Transactions page including placing running back Devonte Williams on the retired list, signing wide receiver Andre Miller and offensive lineman Isaac Moore, and releasing defensive lineman Gerald Willis.
Devonte Williams is five foot nine and weighs 170 pounds. The 27-year-old from Columbia, Maryland, had 182 carries for 1,002 yards (5.5 AVG), three touchdowns, 37 catches for 327 yards (8.8 AVG), and four kick returns for 73 yards (18.2 AVG) in 15 games for the Redblacks in 2023. Williams recently had successful surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon suffered during off-season training.
The Redblacks signed Williams as a free agent on April 20, 2022. In 2022, Williams had 90 carries for 454 yards (5.0 AVG), and 27 catches for 159 yards (5.9 AVG) in eight games. Before Ottawa, Williams was on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice squad in 2021.
Collegiately, Williams played two seasons at Indiana University (2015-16) with 68 carries for 237 yards, 19 catches for 218 yards, two touchdowns, and 77 kick returns for 1,511 yards in 26 games for the Hoosiers. Williams is sixth on Indiana’s all-time list with 1,511 kick return yards.
Then, Williams transferred to Southeastern Louisiana (2017-18) with 222 carries for 892 yards, 12 touchdowns, 88 catches for 720 yards, three touchdowns, 10 kick returns for 164 yards, 18 punt returns for 251 yards, and one touchdown in 23 games for the Lions. He was named First Team All-Southland Conference in 2018.
Andre Miller is six foot two and weighs 224 pounds. The 26-year-old from Old Town, Maine, signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022. He also had a brief stint with the Green Bay Packers.
Collegiately, Miller played one season at Husson University in 2016 making 13 catches for 152 yards, one touchdown, and one kick return for 11 yards in 10 games for the Eagles. Then, Miller transferred to Maine (2018-21) making 104 catches for 1,848 yards, 14 touchdowns, one carry for 25 yards, one kick return for 8 yards, and six punt returns for 16 yards in 38 games for the Black Bears. He was named First Team All-CAA in the Spring 2021 season.
Isaac Moore is six foot seven and weighs 300 pounds. The 26-year-old from Orebro, Sweden, was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round (6th pick) in the 2023 CFL Global Draft. The Stampeders released him on June 3, 2023.
Before Calgary, attended the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers rookie minicamps in 2023. In addition, he was also drafted by the Philadelphia Stars in the third round (21st pick) in the 2023 USFL Draft.
Before Calgary, Moore played 57 games playing left tackle in five seasons at Temple (2018-22). He played 12 games in 2022 and broke Delvon Randall’s school record for most consecutive games played with 55. Furthermore, Temple’s offense scored 21.92 points per game for a total of 263 points, and the offensive line had the best pass protection in the American Athletic Conference allowing just 10 sacks in 12 games.
The Owls had 1,229 yards, 11 touchdowns in rushing, and 3,217 yards and 18 touchdowns in passing for a total of 4,206 yards. Moore earned postseason fourth-team All-AAC in 2022.
Gerald Willis is six foot two and weighs 300 pounds. The 28-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on April 22, 2024. In 2023, Willis made 24 tackles (8 solo, 16 assists), five tackles for loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles in ten games for the Orlando Guardians (XFL). The Guardians drafted Willis in the second round (9th pick) in Phase 3 of the 2022 XFL Draft.
Before Orlando, Willis signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2023. He also spent time with the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers. In 2019, he played two regular season games with the Dolphins making two tackles (2 assists).
Collegiately, Willis played one season at Florida in 2014 making 14 tackles (6 solo, 8 assists), half a tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 8 games for the Gators.
Then, he transferred to Miami (FL) (2015-18) with 78 tackles (47 solo, 31 assists), 23.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 21 games for the Hurricanes. He was named Second Team All-ACC and Second Team All-American in 2018.
