Photo courtesy: Abby Kainiz/Toledo Athletics
The Ottawa Redblacks have signed four players to their training camp roster, adding American running back Jacquez Stuart, American receivers Cade McDonald and Mathew Sexton, and Global offensive lineman Nouredin Nouili.
Stuart played 58 games over six seasons at the University of Toledo, registering 1,904 yards on 365 carries with 13 touchdowns, while adding 50 receptions for 463 yards and one touchdown. The five-foot-nine, 175-pound speedster was a two-time all-conference selection as a kick returner, fielding 75 kickoffs for 1,945 yards and three touchdowns. He attended rookie mini-camps with the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills in 2025, but was not signed to a contract.
McDonald concluded his college career at Miami University in Ohio, where he suited up in 25 games over his two seasons with the Redhawks. He registered 80 receptions for 986 yards and six touchdowns, while also adding 32 punt returns for 311 yards and earning second-team all-conference honours as a returner in 2023. The five-foot-10, 195-pound target transferred from Michigan State, where he notched five receptions for 46 yards in 20 appearances. The native of Naperville, Ill., attended training camp with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2025, but did not make the roster.
Sexton played at Eastern Michigan University, where he caught 100 passes for 1,335 yards and nine touchdowns in 43 games, adding 21 kick returns for 353 yards and two punt returns for 77 yards and a touchdown. The five-foot-10, 175-pound speedster went unselected in the 2020 NFL Draft and initially played in The Spring League, but has since spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins. The native of Clinton, Mich., also played in the XFL for the Vegas Vipers in 2023, making 23 catches for 364 yards and returning 13 punts for 101 yards. He last saw action with the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in 2025, notching three receptions for 15 yards in three games while returning eight punts for 154 yards and a touchdown.
Nouili has spent the past two seasons on the practice roster of the Montreal Alouettes after being selected with the final pick in the second round of the 2024 CFL Global Draft. The native of Frankfurt, Germany, was previously under contract with the New Orleans Saints, but has yet to play a professional game. The six-foot-three, 321-pound blocker attended Colorado State before transferring to the University of Nebraska, where he made 18 starts at guard in 23 appearances.
Ottawa finished fourth in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 4-14 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Dru Brown went 2-7 over nine starts at quarterback, throwing for 2,389 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Dustin Crum went 2-4 over six starts, throwing for 1,771 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The Redblacks ranked sixth in net offence, fifth in net defence, and ninth with a turnover differential of minus-16. The club’s leading rusher was William Stanback with 698 yards, the leading receiver was Justin Hardy with 1,019 yards, and the leading tackler was Adarius Pickett with 84 tackles. Ottawa finished eighth in attendance with average crowds of 18,136, which was a 4.2 percent decrease from the previous year.