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June 22, 2017

Five New Faces to Watch

There’s always turnover from year-to-year in the CFL and that’s particularly true after a championship run. The downside is, of course, saying goodbye to players that have been a fixture at TD Place.

The upside, however, is that word gets out about what it’s like to play in Ottawa…From there, a whole new group of fan favourites are born, joining a returning core made up of players like Trevor Harris, Brad Sinopoli, Greg Ellingson, Jerrell Gavins, Zack Evans, Antoine Pruneau, Jon Gott and SirVincent Rogers.

Here’s a look at some of the new faces you will want to keep an eye on as the 2017 season gets underway. 

Kenny Shaw, WR (2016 team: Toronto Argonauts)
After saying goodbye to receivers Ernest Jackson and Chris Williams to free agency, the REDBLACKS didn’t miss a beat filling those spots with new talent like Kenny Shaw. The former Argo joins an Ottawa team that has had the same four receivers hit 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons coming off a 1,000-yard campaign off his own with Toronto.

Ron Omara, LB (2016 team : Hamilton Tiger-Cats)
After spending the first two years of his CFL career in Hamilton, the REDBLACKS brought Ron Omara home for the 2017 season when they signed the Aylmer native. Omara had eight special teams tackles over the two seasons in he spent in Hamilton after the club drafted him following a collegiate career at St. Francis Xavier.

Brett Maher, K, (2016 team : Hamilton Tiger-Cats)
Technically not a new face to REDBLACKS fans, Brett Maher returns to Ottawa after spending his rookie season with the club in 2014. Maher suited up for all 18 games for the expansion REDBLACKS that year on punt and field goal duty. After an injury-shortened 2015 campaign with Ottawa, Maher joined the Tiger-Cats in 2016 and had a breakout year, hitting 41 of 50 field goal attempts (82 %).

Khalil Bass, LB (2016 team : Winnipeg Blue Bombers)
The REDBLACKS added a major defensive weapon during the off-season when they signed free agent linebacker Kahlil Bass, who spent the past two seasons in Winnipeg. Bass was a force for the Bombers – he had 99 defensive tackles, five sacks, an interception, forced fumble and touchdown in 2015 and followed that up with 82 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a touchdown last year.

Evan Johnson, OL (2016 team : University of Saskatchewan Huskies)
The REDBLACKS continued their tradition of drafting offensive linemen in the first round of the CFL Draft when they selected Evan Johnson with the ninth-overall pick in this year’s draft. The 6-4, 280-lb Saskatchewan native played in all eight games in each of the last four seasons with the Huskies. He joins an Ottawa offensive line corps that features former first-round selects Jason Lauzon-Seguin (7th overall, 2016) and Alex Mateas (1st overall, 2015).