The Ottawa Redblacks signed offensive lineman Darta Lee and defensive back C.J. Caldon to future contracts starting in 2025 on Monday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Darta Lee is six foot three and weighs 313 pounds. The 26-year-old from Alief, Texas, spent time with the Arlington Renegades (XFL), and later signed with the Memphis Showboats (USFL) on May 9, 2023, and appeared in one game before spending the rest of the season on injured reserve.
The Toronto Argonauts signed Lee on April 24, 2024. He played left tackle in two preseason games before the Argonauts released him on June 2, 2024. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Lee on September 18, 2024, and spent two months on the practice squad. The Redblacks released him on November 1, 2024.
Collegiately, Lee played one season at Illinois in 2016 playing guard in six games for the Fighting Illini. He was the first Illini true freshman to start on the offensive line in the season opener in at least 20 seasons. Next, Lee transferred to Kilgore College in 2017 finishing the season averaging 368.1 yards per game, 268.4 rushing yards per game, 199.7 passing yards per game, and 26.2 points per game.
Then, Lee transferred to UTEP (2018-20) playing left tackle in 30 games for Miners. In 2020, UTEP’s offensive line helped pave the way for a rushing attack that scored 16 touchdowns and surpassed 1,000 yards on the season.
C.J. Coldon is five foot ten and weighs 186 pounds. The 26-year-old from Belleville, Illinois, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on January 29, 2024. He played in two preseason games making three tackles and one tackle on special teams.
The Roughriders released him on June 1, 2024. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Coldon on September 3, 2024, and spent over a month on the practice squad. The Redblacks released him on November 3, 2024.
The Minnesota Vikings signed Coldon as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and was placed on the practice squad. He made two tackles (2 solo) and one pass breakup for the Minnesota Vikings against the Arizona Cardinals in a preseason game in 2023.
Collegiately, Coldon played four seasons at Wyoming (2018-21) with 112 tackles (78 solo, 34 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 17 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 24 games for the Cowboys.
Then, he transferred to Oklahoma in 2022 with 43 tackles (25 solo, 18 assists), two tackles for loss, four interceptions for 32 yards, and ten pass breakups in 12 games for the Sooners. He was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after the season.
