RedBlacks' first three official player signings

Yesterday, the RedBlacks announced their first official player signing, and they did not include Jerrell Gavins (yet).

OTTAWA - The Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League have engraved another chapter in Ottawa's rich sporting legacy with the signing of the first players in team history.

As per team policy, terms of contract agreements are not disclosed.

The team signed the following players (lists position, name, height, weight, college and hometown):

    Wide receiver Fred Rouse, 6-4, 200, Concordia Selma (Tallahassee, Florida)
    Defensive back / safety Nick Turnbull, 6-2, 222, Florida International (Miami)
    Defensive end DiMetrio Tyson, 6-2, 275, Jacksonville State (Elba, Alabama)

Rouse began his collegiate career with Florida State in 2005 and started in the 2006 Orange Bowl for the Seminoles against Penn State. He transferred to the University of Texas-El Paso (UTEP) before completing his collegiate career with Concordia-Selma in Alabama. He has CFL experience on practice rosters with the Calgary Stampeders and has also played for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.

Turnbull's final year of college football was in 2005 with Florida International where he led the defence, starting every game at free safety and cornerback. He had 16 career interceptions at Florida International. In 2006, Turnbull played one regular-season game for the Chicago Bears and two games for the Atlanta Falcons.

Nick Turnbull, credit to the FIU website

Tyson started 11 games on the Gamecocks' defensive line in 2012, recording 29 tackles and three sacks. He was named an All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team all-star on defence. His most recent professional experience was with the San Jose SaberCats of the Arena Football League.

"We recognize the historic significance of these signings and it's an important first step for our franchise," said REDBLACKS general manager Marcel Desjardins. "Having said that, we're continuing the work of building a competitive football team for Ottawa and REDBLACKS fans.

"These players will have an opportunity to make our roster once we get onto the field for camp in the spring."

Desjardins and the REDBLACKS' football operations staff continue to assemble the pre-season roster, with the CFL Expansion Draft the next major milestone on December 16. The team will select 24 players from the eight other CFL clubs, including eight import players and 16 non-imports.

The team will hold the first training camp in club history during the spring of 2014. Dates and location of camp are to be determined.

Rouse actually announced himself on Twitter on Tuesday.  He has since been very interactive with a number of Ottawa fans and seems positively ecstatic at the opportunity.

The Ottawa Sun article about this signing focused on a 90-day jail term for one of the players.  I won't copy that here.  By all accounts the player in question appears to have learned from his mistakes.  He's done his time and shouldn't have to answer for it for the rest of his life, especially during what should be a happy occasion for him.

Something not mentioned in the above release: Turnbull is 32 years old, Rouse turns 28 next month and Tyson turned 24 in October.