The BC Lions on Wednesday signed American quarterback Jake Dolegala to a 2-year contract as well as American defensive back Ciante Evans to a 1-year contract.
QB Jake Dolegala – Central Connecticut (27 y/o, 6’7, 242 lbs)
Jake Dolegala entered the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022 where he played in 2 games and had 1 start completing 16 of his 35 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown with 2 interceptions.
Dolegala was thrust into the spotlight with the Roughriders this past season with injuries befalling Trevor Harris and Mason Fine. Last season he played in 13 games with 9 starts completing 215 of his 332 passes (64.8%) for 2,656 yards and 11 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. The Roughriders won 2 of the 9 games in which Dolegala started in.
Dolegala played in 44 games with Central Connecticut from 2015 to 2018 where he completed 654 of his 1,136 passes (57.6%) for 8,129 yards and 48 touchdowns with 29 interceptions. He also rushed 233 times for 452 yards and 18 touchdowns.
He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and was waived amid final roster cuts. He would spend time with different NFL systems primarily on practice rosters including the New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, and Miami Dolphins.
DB Ciante Evans – Nebraska (31 y/o, 5’11, 195 lbs)
Ciante Evans played for the Montreal Alouettes this past season where he started in 10 games over the regular season all at halfback and all 3 of Montreal’s playoff games which saw them win the Grey Cup. Evans was part of an elite pass defense over the 2023 regular season with Montreal allowing the second-fewest passing yards over the season at 4,304 trailing only Winnipeg. Montreal’s pass defense held opposing quarterbacks to the lowest yards per pass at 7.6, the fewest 30+ yard completions at 22, and the lowest pass efficiency at 81.2.
Montreal’s pass defense only got better in the playoffs as their opposing quarterbacks combined for 1 touchdown and 7 interceptions over the 3 playoff games.
Evans contributed 25 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 3 interceptions over his 10 regular season games and added 3 tackles over the 3 playoff games.
Evans entered the CFL in 2017 with the Calgary Stampeders in 2016 where he played his first 3 seasons. He played in the Alliance of American Football in 2019 with Salt Lake where he played in 4 games and made 4 tackles. Evans joined Montreal in 2019 following the closure of the AAF. He played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021 and 2022.
Over 7 CFL seasons, Evans has played in 95 CFL regular season games amassing 247 tackles, 17 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles. He was a CFL All-Star in 2017 as well as a West Division All-Star in 2017 and 2018. He has 2 Grey Cups to his name having also won it in 2018 with the Calgary Stampeders.
Evans played for Nebraska from 2010 to 2013 participating in 48 games and contributing 92 solo tackles, 51 assisted tackles, and 5 interceptions. He was named First Team All-Big Ten by the coaches in 2013. In 2012 he was named First-Team All-Big Ten by ESPN and CBS. He attended a rookie minicamp in 2014 with the Chicago Bears although was not offered an NFL contract after college.
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David Tress
February 15, 2024 at 12:58 pm
With Dolegala signing in B.C. it would appear that the Roughriders have an opening at backup qb. They should consider signing Johnny Manziel. He’s still eight years younger than Harris and he was improving in the CFL.
Michael Muldoon
February 18, 2024 at 9:06 am
Give it up on Johnny Manziel. He has thrown 58 passes since 2018, with a 50% completion rate. In his last appearance in “Fan Controlled Football” (whatever the heck that is) in 2022, he went 10 for 23 and was pulled for poor performance. He has also told USA Today that he’s bored of football and no interested in playing anymore. He’s NOT coming back to the CFL. Even if he wanted to, he would still have that little matter of the commissioner not allowing any teams in the league to register a contract for him. So no one is going to sign him no matter how many times you suggest it here. Johnny Manziel is done. Finished. He’s not going to play for Saskatchewan, or B.C., or Winnipeg. or any other CFL team.
David Tress
February 22, 2024 at 10:51 am
I get what you’re saying; Manziel was on cocaine and lost 40 pounds and made a mess of himself. But if Dexter Manley can make a comeback in the CFL so can Johnny Manziel. He just needs to eat something and get back to the gym and start throwing the ball around. He still retired too young.
Michael Muldoon
February 23, 2024 at 11:45 am
Except that Dexter Manley had no seasons off. He played in Tampa Bay in 1991 and then went right to Ottawa in 1992. With the Rough Riders, he was nothing short of terrible. He appeared in 5 games, and it was only because owner Lonie Glieberman forced the coaches to play him that Manley saw any field time at all. Two coaches resigned in protest over Glieberman’s requirement, and the head coach threatened to do so. (And I still recall Manley’s post-game interview from the final game of the 1993 season. Most of it was about how he had FINALLY recorded a stat in the CFL: ONE tackle.) Manziel, on the other hand, hasn’t been on a field in two years and has said more than once he has no interest in playing anymore.