The B.C. Lions have signed two American receivers, Demetric Felton and Bryan Thompson.
Felton was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, 211th overall, by the Cleveland Browns. He appeared in 15 games that season, making 18 receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns. He added 24 yards on seven carries, returned 32 punts for 227 yards, and nine kickoffs for 172 yards to be named to the PFWAA’s All-Rookie team.
The five-foot-10, 200-pound athlete dressed in eight more games for the Browns in 2022, making a pair of catches for eight yards to go along with 53 combined return yards. After being waived at the start of the 2023 season, he spent time on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad before stops with the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears in 2024. He most recently was under contract with the Washington Commanders, but was released following training camp in 2025.
Collegiately, Felton played in 42 games for UCLA from 2016 to 2020, where he was listed as a running back. Along with recording 1,101 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 233 carries, the native of Temecula, Cal., hauled in 99 receptions for 958 yards and eight more majors, while returning 26 kickoffs for 615 yards and a score. As a senior, he earned first-team All-PAC 12 recognition as an all-purpose player from the Associated Press and as a running back from Pro Football Focus.
Thompson concluded his collegiate career at Arizona State University, where he caught 38 passes for 507 yards in 22 games. The six-foot-one, 195-pound target transferred from the University of Utah, where he made 33 receptions for 756 yards and four touchdowns in 33 games.
The 26-year-old went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft but signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent, spending the year on the practice roster. He was waived with an injury during training camp in 2024.
The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.
The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.
