The Montreal Alouettes signed offensive lineman Des Holmes and released defensive back Tysen-Otis Copeland on Thursday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Des Holmes is six foot five and weighs 307 pounds. The 25-year-old from Norristown, Pennsylvania, attended Ottawa’s training camp in 2023 but was released on May 17, 2023. The Redblacks re-signed Holmes on January 23, 2024. In 2024, Holmes played two preseason games and was released on May 15, 2024.
Collegiately, Holmes played four seasons at Penn State (2018-21) playing left tackle in 21 games for the Nittany Lions. In 2020, Penn State averaged 29.78 points per game, 174.3 rushing yards per game, 256 passing yards per game, 430.3 total yards per game, 34 touchdowns, and allowed 28 sacks finishing 4-5 for the season.
Then, he transferred to Arizona State in 2022 playing left tackle in ten games for the Sun Devils. In 2022, Arizona State averaged 26.08 points per game, 135.3 rushing yards per game, 251.92 passing yards per game, 387.2 total yards per game, 40 touchdowns, and allowed 28 sacks finishing 3-9 for the season.
Tysen-Otis Copeland is six foot one and weighs 203 pounds. The 26-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, played one preseason game for the Montreal Alouettes in 2024 recording no stats. In 2024, he played two games in the regular season recording no stats.
The Montreal Alouettes drafted Copeland in the fourth round (33rd pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft. He attended training camp before the Alouettes released him on June 5, 2022. Montreal re-signed Copeland on May 10, 2023. In 2023, he made six tackles on special teams in nine games.
Copeland played for the John Abbott Islanders from 2015 to 2017. Collegiately, Copeland played three seasons at the University of Montreal (2018-19, 2021) making 36 tackles (31 solos, 5 assists), two forced fumbles, three interceptions for 26 yards, and four pass breakups in 20 games for the Carabins.
