The B.C. Lions released running back Jordan Terrell, wide receivers Ezechiel Tieide, Jared Bernhardt, and Kieran Poissant, defensive end Juliano Falaniko, linebacker Mike Smith Jr., defensive backs Jordan Perryman, Charlie Ringland, Amechi Uzodinma II, and Tyler Coyle, and placekicker Carl Meyer from the practice squad on Sunday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Jordan Terrell is five foot ten and weighs 210 pounds. The 24-year-old from Ramseur, North Carolina, signed with the B.C. Lions on May 16, 2024. He played in two preseason games with seven carries for 35 yards and earned a spot on the practice squad. He dressed for three regular season games but did not see any action.
Collegiately, Terrell played four seasons at Barton University (2020-23) with 969 carries for 5,487 yards, 44 touchdowns, 39 catches for 320 yards, and two touchdowns in 37 games for the Bulldogs. In 2023, Terrell had 268 carries for 1,732 yards, 11 touchdowns, 16 catches for 191 yards, and one touchdown in 11 games for the Bulldogs in 2023. Terrell was 22 yards shy of the Division II single-season record.
Ezechiel Tieide is six foot two and weighs 202 pounds. The 25-year-old from Lachine, Quebec, Tieide was drafted by the B.C. Lions in the second round (19th pick) in the 2024 CFL Draft. In 2024, Tieide dressed for eight games but did not see any action.
Collegiately, Tieide started at Boston College (2020-21) as a defensive back making two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in 12 games for the Eagles. In his final season, he converted into a wide receiver. Then, he transferred to Toledo in 2022 making two catches for six yards in seven games for the Rockets. In 2023, Tieide transferred to Concordia University making 28 catches for 471 yards, six touchdowns, completed one pass for 18 yards, four kick returns for 55 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 8 games for the Stingers.
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. The B.C. Lions signed Bernhardt on September 23, 2024, and spent over a month on the practice squad.
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.
Kieren Poissant is six foot and weighs 175 pounds. The 23-year-old from Victoria, British Columbia, signed with the B.C. Lions on November 22, 2023. In 2024, Poissant made seven catches for 58 yards in 11 games.
Poissant played for the Westshore Rebels (2021-23) making 21 carries for 146 yards, one touchdown, 146 catches for 2,314 yards, 25 touchdowns, and three kick returns for 50 yards in 29 games.
Juliano Falaniko is six foot four and weighs 245 pounds. The 25-year-old from Pago Pago, American Samoa, signed with the B.C. Lions on November 27, 2024. In 2024, Falaniko made four tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble in five games.
Collegiately, Falaniko played five seasons at USC (2017-21) with 21 tackles (13 solo, 8 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, and one fumble recovery in 37 games for the Trojans. Then, he transferred to Idaho in 2022 with 38 tackles (14 solo, 24 assists), 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, one pass breakup, and 1 forced fumble in 11 games for the Vandals.
Mike Smith Jr. is six foot one and weighs 231 pounds. The 23-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. The B.C. Lions signed Smith Jr. on September 23, 2024. He spent over a month on the practice squad.
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.
Jordan Perryman is six foot and weighs 198 pounds. The 25-year-old from Hanford, California, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2023 but did not play in the preseason due to an undisclosed injury.
The B.C. Lions signed Perryman on February 26, 2024. In 2024, he made seven tackles, six tackles on special teams, and one forced fumble in 10 games.
Collegiately, Perryman played five seasons at the University of California-Davis (2017-21) making 140 tackles (117 solo, 23 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions for 21 yards, 23 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three kick returns for 35 yards in 42 games for the Aggies. He was named First Team All-Big Sky Conference and Third Team All-American by Phil Steele in 2021.
Then, Perryman transferred to Washington in 2022 making 37 tackles (25 solo, 12 assists) and one pass breakup in ten games for the Huskies.
Charlie Ringland is six foot one and weighs 198 pounds. The 24-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was drafted by the B.C. Lions in the fifth round (43rd pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft. He missed the entire 2023 season after tearing his ACL during the CFL Combine. In 2024, Ringland appeared in two preseason games making one tackle. He spent the regular season on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Ringland played four seasons at the University of Saskatchewan (2018-22) with 97 tackles (86 solo, 25 assists), 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 4 interceptions for 9 yards, 15 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery in 38 games for the Huskies. In the 2022 Hardy Cup, Ringland made three interceptions in a win over Manitoba. In addition, he was named a Canada West All-Star in 2022.
Amechi (A.J.) Uzodinma II 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 II 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 II 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.
Tyler Coyle is six foot one and weighs 209 pounds. The 25-year-old from Windsor, Connecticut, signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. He played three regular-season games in two seasons for the Cowboys with eight tackles (5 solo, 3 assists).
In 2023, Coyle made nine tackles (6 solo, 3 assists) in three preseason games. The Cowboys released him on August 29, 2023. Next, Coyle signed with the Houston Gamblers (USFL) on December 8, 2023. However, due to the merger between the USFL and XFL that formed the United Football League (UFL), Coyle became a free agent.
Then, Coyle signed with the Green Bay Packers on January 1, 2024. He played one preseason game against the Cleveland Browns making three tackles (2 solo, 1 assist). The Packers released him on August 14, 2024, and he signed with the Cleveland Browns on August 16, 2024.
He played two preseason games making four tackles (4 solo). The Browns released him on August 26, 2024. The B.C. Lions signed Coyle on October 8, 2024, and spent several weeks on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Coyle played three seasons at Connecticut (2017-19) making 260 tackles (161 solo, 99 assists), 7.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions for 86 yards, two touchdowns, 18 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 35 games for the Huskies.
Then, Coyle transferred to Purdue in 2020 making 13 tackles (10 solo, 3 assists) and one pass breakup in four games for the Boilermakers.
Carl Meyer is six foot three and weighs 231 pounds. The 33-year-old from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, was drafted by the B.C. Lions in the first round (6th pick) in the 2024 CFL Global Draft. In 2024, Meyer played two preseason games 2 of 2 field goals (100%) with a long of 42 yards, and punted the ball 11 times for 531 yards (48.3 AVG). He spent the regular season on the practice squad.
Meyer played for the Jacksonville Sharks (NAL) in 2023. In 2024, Meyer took part in the CFL Kicking Showcase in San Diego. Meyer played 64 games for the Dragons RFC of the Welsh Rugby Union from 2014-18 and later played for the New Orleans Gold (MLR) in 2020.
