A brief summary of every offensive player on the Montreal Alouettes roster to open the 2023 season.
Montreal’s depth chart to open the season against Ottawa on June 10:
The Montreal Alouettes kick off the season by hosting the Ottawa Redblacks on June 10 at 7 pm Eastern. To celebrate the season opener here is a brief summary of every offensive player on the roster.
Quick links:
Quarterbacks
QB1 – Cody Fajardo
Cody Fajardo is a dual-threat quarterback who can beat teams in the air or on the ground. Fajardo comes to Montreal after a down year in Saskatchewan that was hampered by injuries. He is already familiar with Montreal’s head coach, Jason Maas, who was Saskatchewan’s offensive coordinator for the last 2 seasons.
Despite playing through injuries last year, Fajardo did still manage to throw 3,360 passing yards last year in his 15 starts finishing 5th in the league. Fajardo had a completion percentage of 70.3 and threw for 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also added the second-most rushing yards of all quarterbacks last year with 354 yards and 8 touchdowns. Impressive rushing numbers for a quarterback that had lingering knee injuries throughout the season.
In 2021 Fajardo was first in rushing yards by a quarterback at 468 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was also 3rd in passing yards in the shortened 13-game season putting up 2,970 yards, 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, and completed 69.6% of his passes.
In 2019 Cody Fajardo led the league in passing yards at 4,302 adding 18 TDs
to 8 interceptions and throwing for a 71.5 completion percentage. Fajardo’s Roughriders finished first in the West but lost in the West final to the Blue Bombers by 7.Cody Fajardo is a quarterback who can be very dangerous. It will be very interesting to see what kind of season he will put together for the Alouettes as he is now healthy and playing with a stronger offensive line.Â
QB2 – Caleb Evans
Caleb Evans is entering his 3rd season in the CFL. Started 7l games for Ottawa last year following the Jeremiah Masoli injury. Over those 7 games, he completed 111 of 178 (62.3%) for 4 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He’s a very fast quarterback who also added 354 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, many of which were QB sneaks on the goal line.
The 24-year-old had moments last year that were very impressive and indicat
ed that he is a player of high potential.QB3 – Davis Alexander
Davis Alexander is the only returning Alouette in the quarterback room this year. He is entering his second year in the CFL. He appeared during a portion of 1 game last year against Toronto during which he completed 8 of 13 passes for 89 yards and an interception. He also rushed for 22 yards and a touchdown.
Alexander completed 18 of 26 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown and added 22 yards rushing on 2 carries in the preseason. Last year he appeared in 2 preseason games during which he threw for 20 of 26 passes and 233 yards.
Running Backs
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RB1 – William Stanback (A)
Started 7 games for the Alouettes last year including playoffs. Missed 13 games due to a broken ankle. He rushed for 303 yards and 2 touchdowns averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He added 80 yards receiving and a touchdown on 11 receptions.
RB2/ 1 Game Injured List – Walter Fletcher (A)
Walter Fletcher was brought in to backup Jeshrun Antwi following the William Stanback injury in week 1. Midway through the season was moved above Antwi in the depth chart positionings. He started in 6 games and played 10 as a 2nd string.
Fletcher finished 10th in the league in rushing yards in the regular season
with 486. Including the playoff games, Fletcher contributed 571 yards and 2 touchdowns averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He also added 378 receiving yards and a touchdown with 33 receptions.RB2 – Jeshrun Antwi (N)
Jeshrun Antwi played in every game last year for the Alouettes. The Canadian national played 6 games as a starter, 8 games as a 2nd string, and played the final 6 games as a third string.
Antwi finished the season 5th in the league in rushing yards with 106 carries for 5.7 yards per carry totaling 600 yards. He also added 30 receptions for 200 yards.
Wide Receivers
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WR1 – Austin Mack #81 (A), 6’2, 215 lbs, 25 y/o, Ohio State
Mack was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants following the 2020 NFL draft. In 11 games he contributed 7 receptions for 91 yards. Mack also spent time briefly with the Titans and 49ers in 2021 and 2022 but did not appear in any games with those teams.
He played in 43 games over his 4 season career at OSUÂ starting in 27 games. He totaled 79 receptions for 1,050 yards and 6 touchdowns.
SB1 – Keshunn Abram #80 (A), 6’2, 193 lbs, 24 y/o, Kent State
Was signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets in 2022 but was released after 1 preseason game.
In his senior year, he had 699 yards in 14 games and 3 touchdowns.
SB1 – Cole Spieker #17 (A), 6’2, 215 lbs, 26 y/o, Wisconsin-La Crosse
Only started 2 games in his rookie season and appeared in 3. In his second CFL game and first start with Montreal, he had 6 catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. In his other start, he contributed 4 catches for 66 yards in the playoff loss to Toronto.
WR1 – Hergy Mayala #1 (N), 6’1, 208 lbs, 27 y/o, Connecticut
Started every game for the Alouettes last year at wide receiver, except for the 2nd playoff game which he missed due to injury. Was signed briefly in the offseason with the New Orleans Breakers in the USFL. Contributed 33 receptions last year for 409 yards and 2 touchdowns.
WR1 – Kaion Julien-Grant #11 (N), 6’2, 212, 26 y/o, St. Francis-Xavier
Started every game for Montreal last year. Contributed 36 receptions for 517 yards and 3 touchdowns.
WR2 – Regis Cibasu #83 (N), 6’3, 232 lbs, 29 y/o, Montreal
Played as a backup in 19 games for Montreal last year missing 1 due to injury. Caught 2 passes for 8 yards. Was an East Division All-Star in 2022 as a Special Teams player.
WR2 – Chandler Worthy #30 (A), 5’8, 177 lbs, 29 y/o, Troy
Played in 11 games listed as a backup who also returned punts and kickoffs. Caught 4 passes for 32 yards.
WR – 1-Game Injured List Jake Harty (N), 6’2, 210 lbs, 32 y/o, Calgary
Jake Harty dressed every game he was healthy for Saskatchewan last year. He played 3 games as a starter and 6 in a backup capacity. In Saskatchewan, he played under offensive Coordinator Jason Maas who is now Montreal’s head coach.
WR – 6-Game Injured List – Greg Ellingson (A), 6’3, 211 lbs, 34 y/o, Florida International
Missed significant time in each of the last 2 seasons but would have been on pace for 1,200-yard seasons in a full 18-game season. Had 5 seasons in a row catching over 1,000 yards prior to the last 2 years. Joins Montreal after playing for Winnipeg last year. Ellingson is a 4-time division all-star, 2017 CFL All-Star, and 2016 Grey Cup Champion.
WR – 6-Game Injured List – Tyson Philpot (N), 6’1, 195 lbs, Calgary
Tyson Philpot was a first-round pick for Montreal in 2022. Improved continuously through the season. Contributed 459 yards and 2 touchdowns. Finished the year with 8 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown in Montreal’s playoff loss to Toronto.Â
WR – 6-Game Injured List – Reggie White Jr. (A), 6’3, 210 lbs, Monmouth
Started every game last year he was healthy and contributed 53 receptions for 722 yards and 2 touchdowns in 15 games.
WR – Practice Squad – Quartney Davis (A), 6’1, 200 lbs, 25 y/o, Texas A&M
Signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2020 as an unrestricted free agent but was released during final roster cuts. Was 2nd in receiving for Texas A&M in 2019 catching 54 passes for 616 yards and four touchdowns.
In the CFL preseason, Davis caught 9 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown m
aking him 6th among all receivers in receiving yards and third in receptions.WR – Practice Squad – Shedler Fervius (N), 6’1, 190 lbs, 24 y/o, Saint Mary’s
5th round draft pick for Montreal in 2023 (41st overall). Was academically ineligible in 2022 to play for Saint Mary’s. In 2021 had 19 receptions for 142 yards at the U Sports level. In 2019 had 31 catches for 428 yards and a touchdown over 8 games.
WR – Practice Squad – Kevin Kaya (G). 6’3, 195 lbs, 28 y/o, Montreal
Spent most of the year on the practice squad. Played in 5 games as a backup catching 2 passes for 25 yards.
WR – Practice Squad – James Letcher Jr. (A), 5’8, 175lbs, 23 y/o, Washburn
Returned punts and kickoffs this past preseason for Montreal. During his career at Washburn, he returned 3 kick-offs and 2 punts for touchdowns. In 48 games he caught 228 passes for 2,992 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also added 366 rushing yards on 60 carries and 2 touchdowns.
WR – Practice Squad – Tyler Snead (A), 5’7, 174 lbs, 23 y/o, East Carolina
Signed with the Pittsburgh Stealers in 2022 as an undrafted free agent. Played in 3 preseason games catching 5 passes for 27 yards and a touchdown before being released.Â
He caught 201 passes for 2,385 yards and 18 touchdowns in 37 games and East Carolina. Also added 2 kick return touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown, and 3 passing touchdowns.
Fullbacks
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FB1 – James Tuck #40 (N), 6’0, 230 lbs, 32 y/o, York
James Tuck started all 15 games that he played last season while playing for Saskatchewan. He had 4 receptions for 38 yards and 3 special teams tackles. Tuck is entering his 10th season in the CFL. In his first 3 seasons, he was a member of the Alouettes.
FB2 – Alexandre Gagné #34 (N), 6’1, 230 lbs, 31 y/o, Sherbrooke
Alexandre Gagné played every game last year for the Alouettes. He was a second string in the first 10 games and started the final 10 games. Also contributed 16 special teams tackles. He is entering his 3rd year playing for Montreal and 6th season in the CFL.
FB3 – David Dallaire #39 (N), 6’3, 217 lbs, 23 y/o, Laval
David Dallaire was a 2nd round pick (13th overall) for Montreal in 2023. He was an RSEQ All-Star in 2022 and 2021. He rushed for 86 yards and 5 touchdowns on 22 carries (3.9 yards per carry) in 2022. He had 3 rushing touchdowns in Laval’s 4 post-season games as well as 10 receptions for 112 yards and a receiving touchdown that came in their Vanier Cup win against Saskatchewan.
Dallaire had 3 receptions for 25 yards in this year’s preseason.
Offensive Line
LT1 – Nick Callender LT1 #62 (A), 6’6, 321 lbs, 28 y/o, Colorado State
Nick Callender started 18 games at left tackle and missed 2 to injury. He signed a contract extension through 2024 this offseason.
LG1 – Pier-Olivier Lestage LG1 #68 (N), 6’3, 310 lbs, 25 y/o, Montreal
Pier-Olivier Lestage was brought in part way into the season. He played his first 5 games as the second-string left guard and then started the last 8 games at left guard.
Lestage was drafted in the second round, 10th overall, by the Alouettes in 2021. He spent time on the Seattle Seahawks practice roster in 2021.
LG2 – Jesse Gibbon #67 (N), 6’3, 300 lbs, 26 y/o, Waterloo
Jesse Gibbon was acquired by the Montreal Alouettes via trade from Edmonton in February in exchange for a 2024 second-round CFL Draft pick. He played 7 games last year for Edmonton. He was drafted by Hamilton 2nd overall in 2019 and participated in the Pittsburgh Steelers minicamp that year. In 3 seasons for Hamilton, he notably played in 2 Grey Cups in addition to 42 regular season gamesÂ
Jesse is clearly an important part of the Alouettes future given the draft capital recently spent to acquire him.
C1 – Justin Lawrence #54 (N), 6’1, 300 lbs, 27 y/o, Alberta
Justin Lawrence played every game last year for Toronto at center and was a part of their Grey Cup-winning season. He was a starter in 19 games and listed as a backup in 1. He is entering his first season as an Alouette and 5th in the CFL.
RG1 – Kristian Matte #51 (N), 6’4, 296 lbs, 37 y/o, Concordia
Kristian Matte started all 19 games he played in at right guard for the Alouettes last year. He missed 1 game due to injury. He is entering his 12th season with Montreal after being a 7th overall CFL draft selection in 2010.
RG2 – Phillippe Gagnon #53 (N), 6’4, 311 lbs, 30 y/o, Laval
Phillippe Gagnon started the first 12 games at left guard before being moved behind Pier-Olivier Lestage on the depth chart. He played in 1 game after that point starting at right guard and 5 as a backup to right and left guard. He is entering his 6th season with Montreal and 7th in the CFL. Gagnon was a 2nd overall draft pick by Montreal in 2016.
RT1 – Landon Rice #55 (N), 6’6, 317 lbs, 35 y/o, Manitoba
Landon Rice played every game at right tackle for the Alouettes, 19 as a starter and 1 as a backup. He is entering his 5th season in Montreal and 10th season in the CFL. He joined Montreal via trade after 5 seasons in Hamilton. Was an East Division All-Star in 2022.
C/ 6-Game Injured List – Sean Jamieson #64 (N), 6’3, 317 lbs, 28 y/o, Western (6 Game Injured List)
Sean Jamieson is entering his 6th season with Montreal. Last season he started in all 12 of the games that he played in at center but missed 8 due to injury. Jamieson was drafted 20th overall by the Alouettes in the 2016 CFL draft. He is currently on the 6-game injured list.
C/ 6-Game Injured List – David Brown #66 (N), 6’5, 300 lbs, 28 y/o, Western
David Brown played every game last year for the Alouettes at center starting in 8 games and in a backup capacity in 12 games. He is entering his 4th season in the CFL and third as an Alouette. He was drafted by Calgary in the fourth round, 28th overall, in 2018.
OL – 1 Game Injured List – Patrick Davis #60 (N), 6’5, 312 lbs, 27 y/o, Syracuse
Patrick Davis is returning for his 3rd season as an Alouette. Last season he played in 15 games primarily listed as a backup left guard. He missed 4 games due to injury and was a practice roster player for 1 game. He was a 4th-round pick, 28th overall in 2021 by Montreal.
OL – Practice Roster – Jamar McGloster OL #61 (A), 6’7, 308 lbs, 27 y/o, Syracuse
Jamar McGloster joined the Alouettes last year on the practice squad after the first 5 regular season games were completed. He started 5 games at right tackle for Ottawa in 2021. In 2018 he spent time on practice squads with the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Chargers. He played 30 games for Syracuse and had 24 starts at right tackle.
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