The B.C. Lions signed offensive lineman Tyler Smith and linebacker Devin Richardson on Friday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Tyler Smith is six foot eight and weighs 210 pounds. The 25-year-old from Laurinburg, North Carolina, signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2024.
The Chargers released him on May 23, 2024. The Carolina Panthers signed Smith on August 11, 2024. In 2024, he appeared in two preseason games. The Panthers released him on August 27, 2024.
Collegiately, Smith played six seasons at Western Carolina (2018-23) playing left tackle in 58 games, of which 54 were starts for the Catamounts. In 2023, Western Carolina averaged 37.55 points per game, 182.9 rushing yards per game, 321.18 passing yards per game, 504.1 total yards per game, and 53 touchdowns finishing 7-4 in the season.
In 2022, Western Carolina’s offense set a single-season school record of 5,339 total yards. Smith was named First Team All-Southern Conference (2023), Second Team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Second Team All-Southern Conference (2022), and a HERO Sports Freshman All-America team in 2019.
Devin Richardson is six foot two and weighs 229 pounds. The 25-year-old from Klein, Texas, signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2024. In 2024, Richardson made three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) in two preseason games. The Seahawks released him on October 8, 2024.
Collegiately, Richardson played three seasons at New Mexico State (2018-20) making 78 tackles (28 solos, 50 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one pass breakup, and three forced fumbles in 15 games for the Aggies. He was named the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American in 2019, making him the 18th Aggie player in history to receive All-American honors.
Next, he transferred to Texas (2021-22) making 15 tackles (8 solos, 7 assists), and 1.5 tackles for loss in 20 games for the Longhorns. He was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2022. Then, he transferred to Washington State in 2023 making 62 tackles (31 solos, 31 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble in 12 games for the Cougars.
