The Ottawa Redblacks released defensive linemen Jake Heimlicher and Darius Hodges, and defensive back Clay Fields III from the practice squad on Friday. Heimlicher was recently moved to the future active list on Thursday.
Jake Heimlicher is six foot four and weighs 255 pounds. The 25-year-old from Aurora, Colorado, went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and attended the New York Giants rookie minicamp. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Heimlicher on October 8, 2024.
Collegiately, Heimlicher played four seasons at Penn (2018-19, 2021-22) making 112 tackles (60 solo, 52 assists), 27.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, one interception for four yards, one pass breakup, and one forced fumble in 31 games for the Quakers. He was named First Team All-Ivy and Third Team All-American by the Associated Press in 2022.
Then, Heimlicher transferred to UCLA in 2023 making seven tackles (5 solo, 2 assists), one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup in 12 games for the Bruins.
Darius Hodges is six foot two and weighs 280 pounds. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Hodges signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on May 11, 2024, but was released on May 14, 2024. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Hodges on September 18, 2024, and spent several weeks on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Hodges played four seasons at Tulane (2020-23) making 114 tackles (84 solo, 30 assists), 34 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, four pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 46 games for the Green Wave. In 2023, Hodges made 25 tackles (20 solo, 5 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks in 13 games. He was named Second Team All-AAC in 2022.
Clay Fields III is five foot ten and weighs 211 pounds. The 24-year-old from Franklin, New Jersey, signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on June 6, 2024. He played two preseason games making two tackles (2 solo).
The Colts released him on August 25, 2024. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Fields III on September 18, 2024, and spent several weeks on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Fields III played five seasons at Marist College (2018-22) making 169 tackles (75 solo, 94 assists), five tackles for loss, half a sack, seven interceptions for 166 yards, one touchdown, 20 pass breakups, one fumble recovery, 11 kick returns for 176 yards, 20 punt returns for 191 yards, and one touchdown in 32 games for the Red Foxes. He was named a two-time First Team All-PLL (2021-22) and Third Team FCS All-American in 2021.
Then Fields III transferred to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2023 making 49 tackles (36 solo, 13 assists), two tackles for loss, one interception, nine pass breakups, and one quarterback hit in 12 games for the Mocs.
