The Ottawa Redblacks have signed six American players, including defensive linemen Vandarius Cowan and Divine Obichere, linebackers Sherrod Greene and Tylar Wiltz, and defensive backs Tareke Lewis and Skyler Thomas. Cowan, Greene, Wiltz, and Thomas spent time on the club’s practice roster this past season, while Lewis was in training camp.
Cowan made 13 total tackles and one forced fumble at the University of Maryland last season. The six-foot-four, 253-pound edge rusher played his first four collegiate seasons at West Virginia where he made 38 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble. The 25-year-old hails from Palm Beach Garden, Fla.
Obichere made 61 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and two pass knockdowns during his collegiate career at Boise State University. The six-foot-two, 277-pound defender from Los Angeles, Calif. originally played at Long Beach City College.
Greene made 214 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, five pass knockdowns, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery over six seasons at the University of South Carolina. The six-foot-one, 233-pound defender signed with the New York Jets after going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft but didn’t make the final roster.
Wiltz made 50 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, four pass knockdowns, one interception, and one forced fumble at the University of Pittsburgh this past season. The native of Lafayette, La. played the previous three seasons at Missouri State where he was named third-team Phil Steele FCS All-American in 2021 after making 106 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles.
Lewis started his collegiate career at Riverside Community College before transferring to the University of Utah in 2018. He played two seasons with the Utes, making 32 tackles, one interception, and nine pass knockdowns in 25 games. The five-foot-ten, 180-pound cover man from St. Augustine, Fla. has since had a stint in the XFL.
Thomas finished his career at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. in 2021 where he recorded 55 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, three pass knockdowns, and one forced fumble over 13 games. He previously played at Washington State where he made 152 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, four pass knockdowns, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble over four seasons.
