The BC Lions announced on Monday the signing of 3 American Defensive Players. Defensive Back Lawrence Woods III, linebacker Jake Carlock, and defensive lineman Janathian Turner.

DB Lawrence Woods III – Truman State (25 y/o, 5’9, 180 lbs)

(Truman State University Athletics: Kara Mackenzie)

Woods played in 21 games in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats over the past 2 seasons. He contributed 23 tackles and 11 special teams tackles. He has also returned 56 kickoffs averaging 22.6 yards per return and scored a kick return touchdown in 2022.

Woods III was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He was waived on August 2nd, signed again on August 13, and then waived a final time on August 18 2021 by the Saints.

Woods III played in 25 games for Truman State between 2017-19 contributing 79 tackles (49 solo, 30 assisted), 27 pass knockdowns, 5 interceptions, and 2 sacks. Woods was also highly dangerous on special teams and was named a Division II All-American in 2018 during which he was also the Great Lakes Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Year.  He returned 18 kickoffs total over his 25 games with Truman State scoring 5 touchdowns and averaging 48.3 yards per return.

LB Jake Carlock – Long Island University (27 y/o, 6’3, 225 lbs)

(Long Island University)

Jake Carlock initially signed with the Lions before the 2021 season but announced his retirement before training camp.

Carlock spent time on 3 different NFL practice rosters from 2019 to 2020. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2019 by the New York Giants. In the preseason he tipped a pass and returned it over 55 yards for a pick-six. In September he was signed to their practice squad. He was released from the Giants in late October and signed 2 weeks later to the Miami Dolphins practice squad where he spent the remainder of the 2019 season. The Dolphins waived him in April of 2020 and later signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad in mid-November of 2020 but was released 5 days later.

Carlock played his last 2 seasons of collegiate football for Long Island University where he was the NE10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. He played in 21 games for Long Island contributing 131 total tackles (81 solo, 50 assisted), 17 tackles for a loss, 19 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries.

Carlock played in 19 games for Stony Brook University from 2014-16 contributing 23 total tackles (14 solo, 9 assisted_, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, and a forced fumble.

https://www.giants.com/video/giants-rookie-lb-jake-carlock-delivers-sensational-pick-six

DL Janathian Turner – Gardner-Webb (23 y/o, 6’3, 306 lbs)

(Gardner-Webb University: Jeff Sochko)

Turner played in 51 games over 5 seasons for Gardner-Webb contributing 195 tackles (74 solo, 121 assisted), 7.5 sacks, 22.5 tackles for a loss, and 1 pass knockdown. At his pro day, he ran a 5.08 40-yard dash.

Turner was All-Big South Conference Second Team in 2022 in his final season during which he had 47 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, and a pass defended. 

Based on his highlights, Turner is a defensive tackle with good strength and quickness with a good ability to reach out and make tackles.

Jonathan Clink on Twitter
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