The Montreal Alouettes signed defensive back Matt Severance on Sunday according to the CFL Transactions page. The Alouettes also placed running back Mike Weber Jr., wide receiver Preston Williams, and defensive back J.R. Reed on the suspended list.
Matt Severance is five foot ten and weighs 195 pounds. The 22-year-old from Lynn, Massachusetts, went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and attended the Kansas City Chiefs rookie minicamp.
Collegiately, Severance played four seasons at Bentley University (2019, 2021-23) making 120 tackles (76 solo, 44 assists), six tackles for loss, half a sack, two forced fumbles, two interceptions for 57 yards, 22 pass breakups, two blocked kicks, one punt for 32 yards, and one punt return for 12 yards in 41 games for the Falcons. He was named Second Team All-NE10 Conference.
In 2023, Severance made 37 tackles (26 solo, 11 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, one forced fumble, six pass breakups, three blocked kicks, one punt for 32 yards, and one punt return for 12 yards in 10 games. Severance has played every game for the Falcons since he arrived in 2019.
Mike Weber Jr. is five foot ten and weighs 210 pounds. The 26-year-old from East Orange, New Jersey, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (218th pick) of the 2019 NFL Draft and was placed on the practice squad. In addition, he spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants.
Then, Weber Jr. was drafted by the New Jersey Generals (USFL) in the 27th round (219th pick) of the 2022 USFL Draft. Unfortunately, Weber Jr. suffered a knee injury and was placed on the practice squad before his eventual release on April 19, 2022. Weber Jr. was with the Orlando Guardians (XFL) in 2023 before they folded due to the merger between the XFL and USFL which created the United Football League (UFL). The Alouettes signed Weber Jr. on January 5, 2024.
Collegiately, Weber Jr. played four seasons at Ohio State (2015-18) with 455 carries for 2,676 yards, 24 touchdowns, 54 catches for 297 yards, one touchdown, and nine kick returns for 143 yards in 38 games for the Buckeyes. He was named Big 10 Freshman of the Year, and Second Team All-Big 10 in 2016.
Preston Williams is six foot five and weighs 215 pounds. The 27-year-old from Lovejoy, Georgia, made three catches for 22 yards, and five punt returns for 15 yards in three preseason games for the Miami Dolphins before the Dolphins released him on August 30, 2023.
The Dolphins signed Williams as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2023. Next, he signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2023 and appeared in one regular season game before being released on May 18, 2023. Then, the D.C. Defenders signed Williams as a free agent on December 14, 2023, but was released on March 5, 2024. The Alouettes signed Williams on May 3, 2024.
Collegiately, Williams played two seasons at Tennessee (2015-16) making 16 catches for 247 yards, two touchdowns, two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist), and one forced fumble in seven games for the Volunteers.
Then, Williams transferred to Colorado State in 2018 making 96 catches for 1,345 yards, 14 touchdowns, four carries for 13 yards, six kick returns for 119 yards, and two punt returns for one yard in 12 games for the Rams. He was named First Team All-Mountain West Conference by Phil Steele and Third Team All-American by the Sporting News in 2018.
J.R. Reed is six foot one and weighs 194 pounds. The 27-year-old from Frisco, Texas, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2020 before he was released on September 5th. Shortly after his release, Reed signed with the Los Angeles Rams and played eight games in one and a half seasons with two tackles.
The Rams released him on October 2nd, 2021, and signed with the New York Giants 24 days later. He played eight games for the Giants with 13 tackles (5 solo, 8 assists). After the Giants, Reed was with the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and Detroit Lions.
The Alouettes signed Reed as a free agent on May 23, 2023. In 2023, Reed made 20 tackles, 11 tackles on special teams, and one interception in 11 games as the Alouettes went on to win the 110th Grey Cup championship over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Collegiately, Reed played one season at Tulsa in 2015 with five tackles (2 solo, 3 assists), and one pass breakup in 13 games for the Golden Hurricanes.
Then, Reed transferred to Georgia (2017-19) with 199 tackles (107 solo, 92 assists), nine tackles for loss, three sacks, five interceptions for 48 yards, 19 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick in 42 games for the Bulldogs.
He was named Walter Camp All-America First Team and Coaches’ All-SEC 1st Team in 2019, and Associated Press All-SEC 2nd Team in 2017.
