Photo courtesy: Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca
The B.C. Lions have signed American defensive back Dionte Ruffin.
Ruffin played eight games in 2025 with the Montreal Alouettes, starting five of them and recording 11 defensive tackles. He was released by the Alouettes on January 5 ahead of the expiration of his contract.
The 27-year-old first joined Montreal in 2023 and started all 29 games he played over the next two seasons. He previously suited up in nine games for the Calgary Stampeders in 2022 and has amassed 129 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, a forced fumble, six interceptions, and a defensive touchdown in his CFL career.
The five-foot-11, 183-pound halfback attended training camp with the Chicago Bears in 2021 as an undrafted free agent, but failed to make the roster. Collegiately, he played at Western Kentucky from 2017 to 2020, recording 78 total tackles, 25 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one interception and a fumble recovery. He earned All-Conference USA second team honours in his senior season with the Hilltoppers.
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.