The Ottawa Redblacks signed defensive Elijah Blades to the practice squad and released running back Kylin Hill on Tuesday.
Elijah Blades is six foot two and weighs 185 pounds. The 24-year-old from Pasadena, California, was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) in the 2023 XFL Combine Draft. The Roughnecks were not included in the XFL and USFL merger which formed the United Football League (UFL) but the brand went to the Houston Gamblers.
Then, Blades was drafted by the D.C. Defenders in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. The Defenders released him on March 10, 2024, and he later signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on April 8, 2024. The Redblacks released Blades on May 15, 2024.
Collegiately, Blades played two seasons at Arizona Western Community College (2017–18) with 39 tackles (24 solo, 15 assists), one interception for 54 yards, one touchdown, nine pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked punt in 21 games for the Matadors where he was ranked the No. 4 JUCO player.
Next, he transferred to Texas A&M (2019-20) with 19 tackles (15 solo, 4 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and three pass breakups in eight games for the Aggies. Then, he transferred to Florida in 2021 with three tackles (2 solo, 1 assist) in three games for the Gators. Blades concluded his collegiate career at Buffalo in 2022 with 27 tackles (22 solo, 5 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, and four pass breakups in eight games for the Bulls.
Kylin Hill is five foot ten and weighs 214 pounds. The 25-year-old from Columbus, Mississippi, was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round (256th pick) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played two seasons for the Green Bay Packers with 11 carries for 31 yards, one catch for five yards, and ten kick returns for 199 yards in ten games.
Next, Hill signed with the Orlando Guardians (XFL) in 2024 but the Guardians were not included in the XFL and USFL merger that formed the United Football League (UFL). Then, he signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on February 12, 2024. He played in two preseason games with seven carries for 43 yards, and made one catch for nine yards earning a spot on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Hill played four seasons at Mississippi State (2017-20) with 452 carries for 2,535 yards, 16 touchdowns, 67 catches for 631 yards, six touchdowns, and nine touchdowns (7 solo, 2 assists), and one tackle for loss in 40 games for the Bulldogs. He was named First Team All-SEC by the Associated Press, and Second Team All-SEC in 2019.
