Graphic courtesy: 3DownNation
The Ottawa Redblacks have released Canadian defensive lineman Deionte Knight and American defensive back Gavin Heslop.
Knight played in three games for the Redblacks last season, registering one defensive tackle. The Ajax, Ont., native won the J.P. Metras Trophy in 2021 as a member of the Western Mustangs and was originally selected by the Toronto Argonauts with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 CFL Draft. He has since appeared in 36 games over four CFL seasons with the Redblacks, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Argos, registering 24 defensive tackles, two quarterback sacks and one forced fumble.
Heslop also dressed for three games as a rookie with Ottawa, notching four defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, and one punt block. He previously spent time with the Cleveland Browns in 2023, New York Giants in 2022, and Seattle Seahawks in 2021, suiting up for three games and posting a tackle. In four years at Stony Brook University (2016-2019), the six-foot, 195-pound cover man registered 196 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 30 pass knockdowns, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 45 games.
The Ottawa Redblacks 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.