The Calgary Stampeders released defensive lineman Hamilcar Rashed Jr. and defensive back Demerio Houston on Wednesday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Hamilcar Rashed Jr. is six foot two and weighs 251 pounds. The 27-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona, signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2021.
He played one game in his rookie season making one tackle (1 assist). Rashed Jr. also had stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Seattle Seahawks.
The Calgary Stampeders signed Rashed Jr. on May 20, 2024. He appeared in two preseason games recording no stats and spent most of the 2024 season on the practice squad before being transferred to the suspended list on August 19, 2024.
Collegiately, Rashed Jr. played four seasons at Oregon State (2017-20) making 143 tackles (91 solo, 52 assists), 36 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, six pass breakups, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick in 43 games for the Beavers. He was named Second Team All-PAC 12 Conference in 2019.
Demerio Houston is five foot ten and weighs 173 pounds. The 28-year-old from Shelby, North Carolina, signed with the Calgary Stampeders on February 6, 2024. In 2024, he made 74 tackles, one sack, five interceptions, and one forced fumble in 15 games. According to 3DownNation, Houston was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Houston as a free agent on October 22, 2019. He played three seasons with 84 tackles, three tackles on special teams, nine interceptions, and one touchdown in 30 games. In 2023, he made 50 tackles, seven interceptions, and one touchdown in 15 games. He was named a CFL West All-Star and CFL All-Star after the season.
Collegiately, Houston played four seasons at Southern University (2015-18) making 114 tackles (77 solos, 37 assists), five interceptions for 142 yards, seven punt returns for 206 yards, and one touchdown in 43 games for the Jaguars.
