The Ottawa Redblacks signed running back Ronnie Brown and defensive back Louis Lavaud on Thursday according to the CFL Transactions page. The Redblacks also placed defensive back Brandin Dandridge on the six-game injured list and placed defensive back Adrian Frye on the suspended list.
Ronnie Brown is five foot eleven and weighs 187 pounds. The 24-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, had 12 carries for 33 yards, and three catches for 38 yards in three preseason games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. The Buccaneers signed Brown as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Then, Brown signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on January 5, 2024, and was released on May 15, 2024.
Collegiately, Brown played four seasons at Shepherd University (2019-22) with 370 carries for 3,041 yards, 30 touchdowns, 81 catches for 1,158 yards, 11 touchdowns, 59 kick returns for 1,404 yards, and one touchdown in 41 games for the Rams. He was a two-time First Team All-PSAC and the AP Division II First Team All-American in 2022.
Louis Lavaud is six foot and weighs 186 pounds. A native of Montreal, Quebec, went undrafted in the 2024 CFL Draft. At the 2024 CFL Combine, Lavaud made 10 bench presses, ran a 4.8 in the 40-yard dash, 30 in the vertical jump, a broad jump of 9’ 4 5/8”, 7.33 in the 3-cone drill, and a 4.7 in the shuttle drill.
Collegiately, Lavaud played three seasons at Carleton University making 67 tackles (49 solo, 18 assists), three tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions for 37 yards, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one blocked kick in 20 games for the Ravens. In 2023, he was named First Team OUA All-Star and Second Team All-Canadian after finishing the season with 29 tackles (21 solo, 8 assists), two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one blocked kick in seven games.
