B.C. Lions sign former NFL RB Raymond Calais, one other

The B.C. Lions have signed American running back Raymond Calais and American wide receiver Cole Blackman.

Calais was selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was cut by the team in training camp and signed with the Los Angeles Rams, playing four games with the team as a rookie. He returned seven kicks for 152 yards and won a Super Bowl ring in 2021 after spending the year on the practice squad.

The five-foot-nine, 188-pound ball-carrier recorded 236 carries for 1,845 yards and 15 touchdowns over 49 games with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns from 2016 to 2019. He was also an effective returner, bringing back 99 kicks for 2,493 yards and two touchdowns.

As a senior, Calais was named first-team All-Sun Belt (return specialist), third-team All-Sun Belt (running back), third-team All-Sun Belt (all-purpose), and second-team All-Louisiana.

Blackman split his collegiate career between Virginia, Illinois State, and William & Mary.

The six-foot-four, 205-pound target caught 12 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown during William & Mary’s spring season in 2021 and 26 passes for 426 yards and three touchdowns during his senior year in the fall. He also made two receptions for 23 yards during his year at Illinois State.

The Lions will hold their three-day mini-camp at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops starting on Wednesday, May 10.