The BC Lions Football Club is pleased to announce that national fullback Nate O’Halloran along with receivers Shaq Johnson and Brett Blaszko have signed for the 2017 season. All three were selected in the 2016 CFL Draft and finished the year on the team’s practice roster.
O’Halloran saw action in six games last season notching a special teams tackle, while Johnson was on the active roster for a pair of games in the final weeks of the 2016 season. Blaszko spent the entire year on the practice roster.
“From their first days in training camp, we saw plenty of development by all three players through to the end of the season,” said Neil McEvoy, the club’s director or player personnel. “The expectation level for all three obviously goes up heading into next season and we look forward to having them come in and compete for spots on our roster.”
The Lions also announced that they have re-signed international defensive linemen Darius Allen and Andrew Hudson along with linebacker Dyshawn Davis and offensive tackle Kelvin Palmer. “Each one of these players was a valuable addition in 2016 and our coaching staff is eager to have them back with the team next year,” added McEvoy.
Allen saw the most significant action among the four newcomers last season with 11 appearances recording four defensive tackles and a sack. Hudson saw game action four times in 2016 and recorded his first CFL sack in a victory at Montreal on August 4th. Davis made his pro debut in Week 1 against Calgary and Palmer recorded his only game as a Lion on October 8 in Winnipeg.