The B.C. Lions released quarterback Dakota Prukop, running back Taquan Mizzell, wide receivers Taylor Grimes and Mataio Talalemotu, linebackers Joe Beckett and KeSean Brown, and defensive backs Tyon Davis and Jassin States-McClean on Monday.
Dakota Prukop is six foot one and weighs 208 pounds. The 30-year-old from Newport, California, signed with the B.C. Lions on February 13, 2024. He played one preseason game completing 4 of 9 passes (44%) for 56 yards, and two carries for nine yards against the Calgary Stampeders.
Before B.C., Prukop went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft and signed with the Toronto Argonauts. He played three seasons (2017-19) in Toronto with 18 of 30 completions (60%) for 284 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and 11 carries for 39 yards in 41 games for the Argonauts. He is a member of the 2017 Argonauts Grey Cup Championship team.
After Toronto, Prukop signed with the Calgary Stampeders in 2020, but the season was canceled. He re-signed with the Stampeders in 2021 but was released at the end of training camp.
On July 30, 2021, he signed with the Edmonton Elks. Prukop played one season in Edmonton in 2021 with 18 of 26 completions (69.2%) for 183 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, 27 carries for 134 yards, and two touchdowns in eight games for the Eskimos.
In 2022, Prukop signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He completed 7 of 14 passes (50%) for 181 yards, two touchdowns, 53 carries for 209 yards, and six touchdowns in 12 games.
Then, Prukop signed with the Jersey Generals as a free agent on March 14, 2023. In 2023, Prukop completed 31 of 50 passes (62%) for 312 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, 11 carries for 97 yards, and one touchdown in four games. The Generals released Prukop on June 24, 2023. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Prukop as a free agent on June 27, 2023. completed 4 of 8 passes (50%) for 28 yards, 58 carries for 188 yards, and seven touchdowns in 15 games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2023.
Collegiately, Prukop played in three seasons at Montana State (2013-15) completing 387 of 607 completions (63.8%) for 5,584 yards, 46 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 328 carries for 1,763 yards, and 24 touchdowns in 23 games for the Bobcats. He was named Second Team All-Big Sky Conference and First Team FCS All-American in 2015.
Then, Prukop transferred to Oregon in 2016, completing 94 of 143 passes (65.7%) for 1,214 yards, eight touchdowns, two interceptions, 54 carries for 171 yards, and two touchdowns in six games for the Ducks.
Taquan Mizzell is five foot ten and weighs 185 pounds. The 30-year-old from Virginia Beach, Virginia, spent two seasons on the New York Giants on the practice squad. Before the Giants, Mizzell tried out for the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints.
Then, Mizzell signed with the B.C. Lions in 2022 but was placed on the suspended list. Mizzell did not play in the preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders last Saturday.
Collegiately, Mizzell played four seasons at Virginia (2013-16) with 460 carries for 2,075 yards, 12 touchdowns, 195 catches for 1,560 yards, and seven touchdowns in 46 games for the Cavaliers. He is the only player in ACC history with 1,500+ career rushing yards and 1,500+ receiving yards. In addition, Mizzell ranked 16th in all-time rushing (2,075) and 12th in receiving yards (1,560) in school history.
Taylor Grimes is five foot eleven and weighs 180 pounds. The 24-year-old from Godly, Texas, signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. Grimes made three catches for 23 yards in three preseason games for the Denver Broncos in 2023.
Grimes signed with the B.C. Lions on December 12, 2023. Grimes played one preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders making two catches for 36 yards.
Collegiately, Grimes played three seasons at Illinois State (2018-20) with 21 catches for 394 yards, two touchdowns, one carry for five yards, and three punt returns for 11 yards in 13 games for the Redbirds.
Then, Grimes transferred to Incarnate Word (2021-22) with 170 catches for 2,366 yards, 30 touchdowns, two carries for -two yards, and one touchdown in 28 games for the Cardinals.
In the 2022 season, Grimes made 83 catches for 1,221 yards, and 15 touchdowns in 14 games leading the Cardinals to win the Southland Conference championship. He was named First Team SLC All-Conference and Second Team All-American in 2022, and the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2021.
Mataio Talalemotu is six foot one and weighs 180 pounds. The 25-year-old from Beaverton, Oregon, earned a rookie mini-camp tryout from the Tennessee Titans in 2023. Then, Talalemotu signed with the B.C. Lions on December 7, 2023. He played one preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders making two catches for 31 yards.
Collegiately, Talalemotu played five seasons at Portland State (2018-22) with 121 catches for 1,857 yards, 16 touchdowns, eight carries for 20 yards, two touchdowns, and six kick returns for 115 yards in 38 games for the Vikings.
He ranks 11th all-time in career receptions (127) and career yards (2,008). In addition, Talalemotu is a three-time Academic All-Big Sky Conference (2018-20).
Joe Beckett is six foot four and weighs 240 pounds. The 25-year-old from Lexington, South Carolina, Beckett attended the New York Giants Mini Camp after going undrafted in 2022. He later attended the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL) training camp in 2023. Next, Beckett signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on April 3, 2023, playing two preseason games with four tackles.
Then, Beckett signed with the B.C. Lions on April 11, 2024. Beckett played one preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders making four tackles.
Collegiately, Beckett played five seasons at Wofford (2017-21) with 183 tackles (87 solo, 96 assists), 14 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 53 games, of which 28 were starts for the Terriers.
Beckett is part of three Southern Conference Championship teams in 2017, 2018, and 2019. In addition, he played three seasons in the NCAA FCS playoffs.
In his final season, Beckett led the Terriers with 80 tackles (35 solo, 45 assists), four tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 11 games.
KeSean Brown is six foot one and weighs 221 pounds. The 23-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina, signed with the B.C. Lions on May 2, 2024. He played one preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders making three tackles.
Collegiately, Brown played four seasons at Appalachian State (2019-22) making 66 tackles (35 solo, 31 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass breakup, and two forced fumbles in 49 games for the Mountaineers.
Then, Brown transferred to Marshall University in 2023 making 36 tackles (12 solo, 24 assists), three tackles for loss, and two sacks in 10 games for the Thundering Herd.
Tyon Davis is six foot and weighs 180 pounds. The 25-year-old from Putnam City, Oklahoma, signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2023. In 2023, Davis made nine tackles (6 solo, 3 assists) and one pass breakup in three preseason games.
Then, Davis signed with the B.C. Lions on January 4, 2024. Davis played one preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders making two tackles.
Collegiately, Davis played one season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in 2018 with 15 tackles (8 solo, 7 assists) and one pass breakup in 11 games for the Golden Norsemen.
Then, Davis transferred to Tulsa (2019-22) with 138 tackles (106 solo, 32 assists), three tackles for loss, two interceptions, 26 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 36 games for the Golden Hurricanes. He was an All-AAC Honorable Mention in 2022.
Jassin States-McClean is six foot two and weighs 180 pounds. The 23-year-old from Halifax, Nova Scotia, attended the Lions training camp in 2023 before returning to St. Mary’s University.
The B.C. Lions drafted States-McClean in the sixth round (52nd pick) in the 2023 Draft. States-McClean played one preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders in 2024 making one tackle.
Collegiately, he played five seasons at St. Mary’s University (2019-23) with 60.5 tackles (48 solo, 25 assists), one tackle for loss, two interceptions, and 10 pass breakups in 26 games for the Huskies. States-McClean played in the 2022 East-West Bowl and was named U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian in 2023.
