Photo courtesy: Dustin Bowidge/B.C. Lions
The B.C. Lions have re-signed a quintet of CFL Draft prospects, including offensive lineman Alex Berwick.
The six-foot-two, 306-pound blocker saw action in six games this season before finishing the year on the practice roster. The native of Ottawa, Ont., was selected 59th overall in the seventh round of the 2025 CFL Draft after a four-year stint at Western University. He was named a first-team OUA all-star and a second-team U Sports All-Canadian in 2024.
Also returning to the Lions are long snapper Cam Foran, Global kicker Ross Bolger, offensive lineman Connor Klassen, and linebacker Chase Tataryn.
Foran signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent and began the season on the practice roster before being released. He later returned to the team and played one game on special teams, albeit not in a snapping capacity. The native of Port Williams, N.S., suited up at Acadia from 2021-24, recording 7.5 tackles.
Bolger spent the entirety of this season on the practice roster after being selected fourth overall in the 2025 CFL Global Draft. The former Gaelic Football player from Ireland moved to North America in 2023 to play at Idaho State for 33 games across two seasons. He finished 13th in the nation in net punting in 2024 and earned an invitation to the NFL International Pathway program.
Klassen was selected 37th overall in the fourth round of the 2025 CFL Draft but was released in training camp due to an injury. The product of Big River, Sask., was a two-time Prairie Conference All-Star selection with the Regina Thunder before moving on to the Regina Rams, where he started 19 games at right tackle across two seasons.
Tataryn was taken 50th overall in the sixth round of the CFL Draft and was released following training camp, returning to the University of Alberta. In eight games with the Golden Bears this season, he notched 55 total tackles, a pair of pass breakups, one sack, one interception and a fumble recovery. The five-foot-11, 212-pound native of Saskatoon, Sask., has amassed 194 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, four pass breakups, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one interception in his U Sports career.
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.