The BC Lions announced on Tuesday they have extended linebacker Josh Woods and defensive tackle Tibo Dabaillie who were previously going to become free agents on February 13 had a contract not been signed. The Lions also announced the signing of defensive end Tipa Galeai.
LB Josh Woods – UCLA (26 y/o, 6’2, 234 lbs)
Josh Woods played for UCLA from 2015 to 2019 appearing in 32 games with 24 starts. He recorded 69 solo tackles and 42 assisted tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and an interception. He was highly impactful in 2019 starting in 12 games over which he contributed 28 solo tackles, 23 assisted tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, a team-leading 4.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, and an interception. He won the Rose Gilbert Courage and Character Award in 2019.
Woods has played in 37 regular season CFL games since joining the BC Lions in 2021 and has contributed 69 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 interceptions over that span.
Woods saw his first starts this past season at the CFL level as he started in 4 of the final 6 regular season games as well as both playoff games. He had 21 tackles and an interception over his 4 regular season starts. Earlier in the season he had a pick 6 against Hamilton.
Woods was tied with Montreal’s Reggie Stubblefield for most tackles over the CFL playoffs. In the Western Semi-Final win over Calgary he contributed 11 tackles, 4 stops against short pass plays, 2 QB hurries, had a run stop, and a pass defended. In the Western Final loss to Winnipeg, he made 12 tackles, 4 run stops, 2 run stop assists, and a stop against a short passing play. Woods led the Lions in tackles in both playoff games.
Woods was named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week in weeks 11,13, and the Semi-Finals week.
DT Tibo Debaillie – Towson (26 y/o, 6’2, 285 lbs)
Tibo Dabaillie played for Towson from 2017 to 2019 appearing in 22 games with 8 starts. His 2018 season was cut short due to an injury limiting him to 2 games and his senior season in 2020 was canceled due to covid. He recorded 11 solo tackles, 18 assisted tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks with Towson.
Debaillie played his first CFL season with Edmonton in 2021 mostly on the practice roster appearing in 3 games and generating 1 tackles. He has played in 36 regular season games with BC over the last 2 seasons. Over the regular season as a Lion, he has 34 tackles and 4 sacks.
Debaillie added 3 tackles in 2 playoff games in 2022. In 2023’s 2 playoff games, he had 2 tackles which were both run stops, and 2 QB hurries.
Debaillie was an effective run-stopper for the Lions this past season. He was named to the PFF Team of the Week in weeks 4, 15, and 18 this past season.
DE Tipa Galeai – Utah State (26 y/o, 6’5, 235 lbs)
Tipa Galeai played for Texas Christian in 2015 and 2016 appearing in 17 games. At TCU he contributed 13 solo tackles, 18 assisted tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries.
Galeai played for Utah State in 2018 and 2019 playing in 25 games with 24 starts. At Utah State, he made 60 solo tackles, 59 assisted tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, 15.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, and a touchdown. He made Second Team All-Mountain West in 2018 and 2019.
Galeai signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He spent 3 seasons with Green Bay appearing in 13 games and contributing 9 solo tackles, 7 assisted tackles, and a sack. In 2022 he was placed on injured reserve in mid-October and was later released in late December.
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Jonathan ClinkReporter
Jonathan Clink joined CFL News Hub in early April of 2023. His primary responsibilities are covering the BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes.
He self awarded himself the CFL Rookie Journalist of the Year in 2023 following the 2023 CFL season. He also proclaims himself to be a "really cool guy". He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and lived a large portion of his childhood in Northwest Ontario. He currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan and misses being being able to have 4 months of skating every winter.
Clink has written over 240 articles for CFL News Hub. He was the publication's boots on the ground at the 2023 Grey Cup in Hamilton.
Clink has always had an obsession for sport and has a background in other sports as well having played hockey all his life and soccer, basketball, and lacrosse in high school. As a young child he used to log his hockey statistics after every game which is either an indication that he was destined for the role or perhaps and indication that he is rather strange.
