Ottawa Redblacks sign four, release four

Photo courtesy: Sacramento State

The Ottawa Redblacks have signed four players, including American quarterback Jake Dunniway, Canadian receiver Zakariya Karim, American defensive lineman Nelson Mbanasor, and Canadian long snapper Tanner Doll.

Dunniway was named third-team All-Big Sky in both of the past two seasons at Sacramento State. The six-foot-one, 211-pound passer threw for 5,575 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions over 33 games along with 74 carries for 68 yards. He originally started his collegiate career at San Diego Mesa Junior College.

Karim caught 51 passes for 740 yards and three touchdowns over 21 career games at St. Francis Xavier. The five-foot-ten, 178-pound native of Ottawa ran a 4.74-second forty-yard dash at the 2023 CFL Combine after qualifying for the event through the CFL Invitational Combine.

Mbanasor made 39 total tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, three pass knockdowns, and one fumble recovery over four seasons at Texas Tech (2018-21). The six-foot-three, 275-pound defender transferred to Texas State for his final year of NCAA eligibility in 2022 and made 34 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Doll has played 76 career CFL games as a member of the Redblacks, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and B.C. Lions. He won a Grey Cup with Ottawa during his rookie season and was initially a fourth-round pick in the University of Calgary in the 2015 CFL Draft.

The Redblacks also released four players, including American receiver Tyrice Richie, Canadian defensive lineman Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal, American linebacker Emmanuel Beal, and Canadian long snapper Blaise Barber.