The B.C. Lions signed wide receivers Devron Harper, Natorian Watts, Stacy Chukwumezie, Jared Bernhardt, defensive lineman Terrance Taylor, linebacker Mike Smith Jr., and defensive back Amechi Uzodinma to the practice squad on Monday.
Devron Harper is five foot nine and weighs 170 pounds. The 24-year-old from Conyers, Georgia, signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. The Vikings released him on June 17, 2024.
Collegiately, Harper played two seasons at Gardner-Webb University (2019-20) making 67 catches for 824 yards, four touchdowns, seven carries for 14 yards, 40 kick returns for 999 yards, one touchdown, 20 punt returns for 219 yards, two touchdowns, one tackle (1 solo), and one forced fumble in 16 games for the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
Then, Haper transferred to Mercer (2021-23) making 159 catches for 1,929 yards, 13 touchdowns, 56 carries for 458 yards, six touchdowns, 55 kick returns for 1,346 yards, one touchdown, 44 punt returns for 625 yards, three touchdowns, and two tackles (2 solo) in 34 games for the Bears.
In 2023, Harper made 57 catches for 549 yards, two touchdowns, 26 carries for 185 yards, one touchdown, 22 kick returns for 503 yards, 27 punt returns for 271 yards, and two touchdowns in 13 games.
In 2022, Harper was named First Team All-SoCon, a Walter Payton Award Finalist, and he broke six school records. He finished the 2022 season making 78 catches for 987 yards, 10 touchdowns, 25 carries for 199 yards, four touchdowns, 18 kick returns for 523 yards, one touchdown, 10 punt returns for 169 yards, one touchdown, and two tackles (2 solo) in 11 games.
Natorian “Deuce” Watts is six foot one and weighs 196 pounds. The 24-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2023. He played three preseason games making one catch for nine yards. The Packers released him on August 29, 2023.
Then, Watts signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 20, 2023, and spent the season on the practice squad. In 2024, Watts played three preseason games making two catches for 14 yards. The Steelers released him on August 27, 2024.
Collegiately, Watts played two seasons at Jones College (2018-19) making 47 catches for 702 yards, five touchdowns, one carry for 13 yards, seven kick returns for 196 yards, one punt return for 13 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 22 games for the Bobcats.
Then, Watts transferred to Tulane (2020-22) making 81 catches for 1,407 yards, 16 touchdowns, two carries for three yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 37 games for the Green Wave.
Stacy Chukwumezie is six foot two and weighs 180 pounds. The 26-year-old from Downey, California, went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. He attended the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers rookie minicamps in 2023.
He was drafted by the Vegas Vipers (XFL) in the 2023 XFL Rookie Draft. Chukwumezie re-signed with the Vipers on October 24, 2023. He became a free agent when the Vipers were not included in the XFL and USFL merger that formed the United Football League (UFL).
Collegiately, Chukwumezie played two seasons at Cerritos College (2016-17) making 50 catches for 899 yards, five touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 19 games for the Falcons. He was named Second Team All-Northern Division.
In addition, he competed in track and field in 2016 and 2017. In 2017, Chukwumezie came in third place in the triple jump (14.25 meters) at the CCCAA State Championships after placing seventh at the Southern California Championships and fifth at the South Coast Conference Championships.
He also qualified for the Southern California Prelims in the long jump (7.26 meters), and high jump (1.90 meters), won the conference championship in the long jump, and placed second in the high jump.
Then, Chukwumezie transferred to Northern Arizona (2018-22) making 96 catches for 1,629 yards, 12 touchdowns, eight carries for 31 yards, one touchdown, and three kick returns for 75 yards on 28 games for the Lumberjacks.
Jared Bernhardt is six foot one and weighs 195 pounds. The 27-year-old from Longwood, Florida, signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. He played three preseason games making five catches for 102 yards and one touchdown. He spent the 2022 season on injured reserve with a groin injury. In 2023, he was placed on the retired list to return to playing lacrosse and was released on April 1, 2024.
Collegiately, Bernardt played lacrosse for five seasons at Maryland (2017-21) playing 76 games for the Terrapins with 290 career points, 202 goals, 88 assists, and 105 groundballs. He holds the record for goals in a single NCAA Tournament (18), points in a single NCAA Tournament (24), and led Maryland to a national championship in 2017.
Then, Bernardt transferred to Ferris State in 2021 playing quarterback completing 87 of 123 passes (70.7) for 1,322 yards, 11 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 159 carries for 1,421 yards, 26 touchdowns, and one catch for 33 yards in 10 games for the Bulldogs.
He was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year as the Bulldogs went 14-0 that season winning the 2021 NCAA Division II Championship over Valdosta State in which Bernardt had 14 carries for 148 yards, and three touchdowns.
Terrance Taylor is six foot three and weighs 229 pounds. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Taylor worked out for the Detroit Lions before the 2024 NFL Draft on April 9, 2024. He went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Collegiately, Taylor played five seasons at Toledo (2018-23) making 123 tackles (60 solo, 63 assists), 28 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and five forced fumbles in 46 games for the Rockets. In 2023, Taylor made 37 tackles (16 solo, 21 assists), six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 11 games.
He was named the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week in 2023 against Illinois making six tackles (4 solo, 2 assists), three tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Mike Smith Jr. is six foot one and weighs 231 pounds. The 24-year-old from Flora, Mississippi, signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on August 19, 2024. He played one preseason game recording no stats. The Colts released him on August 25, 2024.
Collegiately, Smith Jr. played three seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast (2019-21) making 248 tackles (151 solo, 97 assists), 19 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions for 66 yards, and 10 pass breakups in 27 games for the Bulldogs. He was named First Team All-MACCC in 2021.
Next, Smith Jr. transferred to Liberty in 2022 making 69 tackles (39 solo, 30 assists), eight tackles for loss, one interception for 22 yards, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 11 games for the Flames. Then, he transferred to Baylor in 2023 making 25 tackles (18 solo, 7 assists), three tackles for loss, one sack, and one pass breakup in five games for the Bears.
Amechi (A.J.) Uzodinma is five foot eleven and weighs 189 pounds. The 24-year-old from Orlando, Florida, signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. In 2023, Uzodinma made seven tackles (4 solo, 3 assists) in one preseason game before an injury sidelined him and he was placed on injured reserve. The Chargers released him on March 12, 2024.
Collegiately, Uzodinma played five seasons at Ball State (2018-22) making 172 tackles (138 solo, 34 assists), four tackles for loss, two sacks, 10 interceptions for 134 yards, one touchdown, 44 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 22 kick returns for 511 yards in 57 games for the Cardinals. He was named Second Team All-MAC in 2019 and was named the Ball State John Hodge Award (most valuable freshman) in 2018.
