Photo courtesy: All Pro Photography/Dale Sparks/West Virginia Athletics
The Ottawa Redblacks have signed five Americans, including receiver Daniel Jackson, defensive linemen T.J. Jackson II, Anton Juncaj, and Josh Pearcy, and defensive back Jeremy Lucien.
Daniel Jackson played 54 games over five seasons for the University of Minnesota, registering 208 receptions for 2,685 yards and 18 touchdowns. The five-foot-11, 195-pound target was named second-team All-Big Ten in 2023. He went unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft and later signed with the Houston Texans, but did not make the final roster.
T.J. Jackson II wrapped up his collegiate career at the University of West Virginia, posting 31 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 quarterback sacks, and one fumble recovery in 11 games with the Mountaineers to earn first-team All-Big 12 recognition. The six-foot-one, 285-pound defensive tackle transferred after three productive seasons at Troy University, where he amassed 94 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 36 games. He received first-team All-Sun Belt recognition with the Trojans in 2022 and earned second-team honours in 2023. The native of Millbrook, Al., signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2025, but was released following training camp.
Juncaj spent his final collegiate season at the University of Arkansas, making 19 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one quarterback sack in 11 games. The six-foot-three, 272-pound pass rusher transferred after two outstanding campaigns at the University of Albany, where he racked up 84 total tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 quarterback sacks and five forced fumbles in 24 games, earning first-team FCS All-American recognition and finishing fifth in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award as the nation’s top defensive player. The Port Jervis, N.Y., native began his collegiate career at Southern Connecticut State in 2019, before a stint at Nassau Community College.
Pearcy played 54 games over five seasons at Rice University, racking up 210 total tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery with the Owls. The six-foot-two, 245-pound edge rusher was a three-time team captain in college. After going unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent but did not make the final roster.
Lucien last saw action with the Calgary Stampeders in 2025, attending training camp with the team before being released. The six-foot-one, 197-pound cornerback originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and spent the season on the practice squad. The native of Moore Township, Penn., finished his college career at Vanderbilt in 2022, recording 48 tackles, two tackles for loss, and five pass breakups in 12 games. Prior to joining the Commodores, he spent three seasons at Connecticut and made 57 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and 12 pass breakups in 29 appearances.
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.