B.C. Lions
The B.C. Lions signed wide receiver Hergy Mayala and defensive linemen Anthony Bennett and Celestin Haba to the practice squad on Monday.
Hergy Mayala is six foot one and weighs 208 pounds. The 29-year-old from Congo, who later grew up in Montreal, Quebec, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on February 11, 2025. In 2025, Mayala made three catches for 40 yards in seven games. The Argonauts released him on August 7, 2025.
The Calgary Stampeders drafted Mayala in the first round (8th pick) of the 2019 CFL Draft. In his rookie season, Mayala caught 38 passes for 562 yards and five touchdowns for the Stampeders. In 2021, Mayala caught 29 passes for 284 yards and three tackles in 13 games. He became a free agent after the 2021 season. The Montreal Alouettes signed him on February 8, 2022.
In 2022, Mayala made 33 catches for 409 yards and two touchdowns in 18 games for the Alouettes before he was released. He signed with the New Orleans Breakers on February 15, 2023, but was released on April 10, 2023.
The Montreal Alouettes re-signed Mayala on May 4, 2023. In 2023, he made seven catches for 118 yards in ten games. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Mayala as a free agent on October 6, 2023. He made two tackles on special teams in two games.
The Edmonton Elks signed Mayala on April 9, 2024. In 2024, he made 41 catches for 503 yards, five touchdowns, and one tackle in 12 games. He missed most of the season with a calf injury.
Collegiately, Mayala played four seasons at the University of Connecticut (2015-18) making 113 catches for 1,352 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) in 43 games for the Huskies.
Anthony Bennett is six foot three and weighs 230 pounds. The 28-year-old from Weston, Florida, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on February 18, 2025. He attended training camp and was released on May 10, 2025. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Bennett on June 17, 2025. In 2025, he made two tackles on special teams in two games. The Redblacks released him on July 16, 2025.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers drafted Bennett in the first round (8th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft. He signed with the Blue Bombers on May 5, 2023. In 2023, he made eight tackles and three tackles on special teams in 18 games. The Blue Bombers released him on May 12, 2024.
Bennett played two seasons at the University of Regina (2021-22) making 63 tackles (39 solos, 24 assists), 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one interception for 28 yards, one touchdown, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 14 games.
In 2022, Bennett made 38 tackles (22 solos, 16 assists), 12.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one interception for 28 yards, one touchdown, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in nine games. He was named U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star in 2022.
Celestin Haba is six foot two and weighs 250 pounds. The 25-year-old from Columbia, South Carolina, signed with the Toronto Argonauts on February 11, 2025. In 2025, Haba made one tackle in two preseason games. In the regular season, Haba made three tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble in three games. The Argonauts released him on August 6, 2025.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Haba on May 30, 2023. In 2023, Haba made 12 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble in eight games. In 2024, he made six tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble in 10 games. He missed most of the season with a knee injury.
Collegiately, Haba played one season at Scottsdale Community College in 2018 making 81 tackles (54 solos, 27 assists), 27.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and 11 pass breakups in ten games for the Artichokes. In 2019, he transferred to Western Kentucky but did not record any stats.
Then, Haba transferred to Texas A&M-Commerce (2021-22) making 39 tackles (15 solos, 24 assists), 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one interception for 41 yards, one touchdown, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 16 games for the Lions. He was named First Team All-Southland Conference in 2022.