The Ottawa Redblacks have found their replacement for Chizu Umanakwe. Signing Sherrod Greene, as announced by his agency Pro Level Sports. Greene was previously signed by the New York Jets as an un-drafted free agent.
He has signed a multi-year deal which will keep him with the Redblacks into the 2024 season, with an option for 2025. Currently he is on the practice roster, but things can change quickly with Ottawa where several players have been called up over the past two seasons only to perform well when called upon. Tyrie Adams, Dustin Crum, and DeMontre Tuggle all come to mind as recent examples.
Sherrod Greene
Sherrod Greene attended South Carolina where he played primarily linebacker for the Gamecocks. He also saw time aligned as a defensive back. At 6’1 217 pounds the sixth year senior had his best season heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. After five seasons with the Gamecocks he had played in 39 games with 27 starts.
He had played well despite injuries that limited him to just 3 games in the 2020 and 2021 seasons combined. He collected 138 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, .5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 3 tipped passes, 1 interception and 1 touchdown. However nothing compared to his 2022-2023 season.
Bouncing back from back-to-back season ending injuries, he would start 11 of 12 games he played in. He logged career highs in tackles (77), sacks (2.5) his second most tackles for a loss (3.5), and snagged his second career interception as well. He also pressured the quarterback 13 times, with 7 hurries. He was credited with 11 missed tackles or a 12.4% miss rate.
He was hampered by his pro-day performance due to an ankle injury suffered on the day. He didn’t light up the charts like teams want to see but he also didn’t have any numbers that stuck out as unacceptable despite the injury. He managed a 4.78 40-yard dash, a 1.68 10-yard split, a 31.5-inch vertical, 13 reps on the bench press. Respectable numbers that likely would be much better if he had been 100%. His game should translate well to the CFL, especially given his experience playing in the secondary for South Carolina early on.
Fit with Ottawa
Greene is known for his ability to set the edge playing outside linebacker, and showed up often in the run game throughout his time with South Carolina. Per PFF.com, Greene was a respectable player in coverage and run defense but was rarely used as a pass rusher which is likely very similar to the role he will find in the CFL with Ottawa. He is a smaller linebacker at just 217 pounds, but his quick first step, and experience should help aid his transition into the Canadian Game. I could see him being a contributor later this season.
