The Montreal Alouettes have signed former all-star receiver Alexander Hollins to a one-year contract extension and released veteran defensive back Dionte Ruffin.
Hollins was signed by the Alouettes in July after being released in training camp by the Edmonton Elks. In five games for Montreal, the 29-year-old recorded eight receptions for 163 yards — 132 yards of which came in Week 12.
The six-foot, 170-pound target recorded 61 receptions for 937 yards with six touchdowns with the B.C. Lions in 2024. He was released ahead of an offseason roster bonus, but the CFL Players’ Association filed a grievance on his behalf, eventually resulting in Hollins being awarded the $75,000 bonus.
Over 43 career CFL games, Hollins has registered 160 receptions for 2,390 yards with 16 touchdowns. He was named All-West Division in 2023.
Ruffin played eight games in 2025, starting five of them and recording 11 defensive tackles. He was slated to hit free agency on February 10, but has been granted an early release.
The 26-year-old first joined the Alouettes in 2023 and started all 29 games he played over the next two seasons. He previously suited up in nine games for the Calgary Stampeders in 2022 and has amassed 129 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, a forced fumble, six interceptions, and a defensive touchdown in his CFL career.
Montreal has also signed American running back Quali Conley to an entry-level contract.
The five-foot-10, 211-pound ball carrier finished his collegiate career at the University of Arizona in 2024, where he carried the ball 150 times for 745 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, while adding 39 receptions for 245 receiving yards and another score.
The 23-year-old transferred from San Jose State University, where he rushed 131 times for 842 yards and nine majors in 13 games as a junior in 2023, adding 27 catches for 269 more yards. Conley began his career at Utah Tech University, posting 338 carries for 1,758 yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with 50 receptions for 447 yards and three scores over three seasons.
Conley was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2025. He rushed seven times for 28 yards and one touchdown in two preseason games before being released.
The Montreal Alouettes finished second in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 10-8 record and beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Final before losing the 112th Grey Cup to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Davis Alexander went 7-0 as a starter during the regular-season, though he missed 11 games due to a hamstring injury.
The Alouettes ranked eighth in net offence, first in net defence, and third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Stevie Scott III with 418 yards, the leading receiver was Tyler Snead with 1,129 yards, and the leading tackler was Darnell Sankey with 103 tackles. Montreal finished sixth in attendance with average crowds of 21,132, which was a 0.8 percent decrease from the previous year.
