From the Roughnecks to the Redblacks another 2024 UFL player heads north to finish the season. The Redblacks have opted to sign 2024 UFL Edge rusher Ronheem Bingham, also adding former BC Lion Percy Agyei-Obese.
The Redblacks are currently 8-3-1 and sitting in sole possession of the second-best record in the CFL. Due to an injury to 2023 sack leader Bryce Carter, that landed him on the 6-game injured list, the Redblacks opted to add extra depth on the defensive line.
Signing Ronheen Bingham gives the Redblacks another speed rusher with CFL experience although he has spent the last two seasons in the USFL/UFL. Bingham finished his college career by attending Arkansas where he spent two seasons, which followed two seasons at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.
Playing in 25 games for Arkansas, Bingham proved he could be a highly productive pass rusher. He produced 87 tackles, including 27 for a loss. He racked up 14 sacks, 5 batted passes, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 recovery. At Hutchinson, he had similar numbers with 110 tackles, 26 for a loss, 7.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 3 fumble recoveries, and 1 touchdown.
After his collegiate career, Bingham didn’t receive the NFL interest he had hoped for and instead fell undrafted. A late knee injury in college hurt his stock, but Bingham would not see his first regular-season snaps until 2022 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Ronheen Bingham Finds his Chance to Start
In 2023 he jumped to the USFL joining a revamped Houston Gamblers defensive line that had lost multiple members to the XFL or NFL. In 2023 Ronheen Bingham made PFF.com’s list of highest-graded Houston Gamblers in weeks 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9. He played in all ten games that season seeing 390 defensive snaps and adding 59 snaps on various special teams units.
The highly productive pass rusher collected 39 pressures, including 26 hurries, 7 QB Hits, and 6 sacks. He added 25 tackles. Not bad for his first season as a starter since graduating college 5 years before.
In 2024 he returned, playing 393 defensive snaps, and another 59 on special teams. He added 29 pressures, 18 hurries, 9 QB hits, and 2 sacks. He also logged 1 pass deflection. Although statistically he fell off slightly in 2024, as a rotational pass rusher he can be a force for the Redblacks the rest of this season, and perhaps beyond.
What intrigues me about Bingham is he is a great scheme fit for Ottawa. They like leaner, faster pass rushers that can get around the edge. Traditionally their edge rushers weigh 260 pounds or less and in this case, they pull in a player who has experience playing linebacker, standing up, and rushing in college and the UFL. Now he gets to transition to being a full-time pass rusher, we could see him develop into a valuable contributor quickly.
Percy Agyei-Obese, Running Back
Agyei-Obese is one of the most productive running backs in James Madison University’s history. He finished his career second in carries, and rushing touchdowns, third in rushing yards, and total touchdowns, and fourth in scoring.
Agyei-Obese was not immediately the starter for his program, instead starting his college career as a rotational piece in the backfield. In his first two seasons, he compiled 66 carries for 441 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. During this stretch he also showed his value on special teams logging 10 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 recovery, he also had 1 kick return for 16 yards. This could be his way onto the active roster for Ottawa.
Break Out Season for Percy Agyei-Obese
In his third season with the school, he exploded on the scene with a season for the record books:
259 carries, 1,216 yards, and 19 touchdowns on the ground, adding 3 receptions for 19 yards, and 2 tackles. This would end up being the best season of his college career. After playing 16 games in 2019, his next three seasons with JMU, he played in just 21 games.
During the last three seasons of his career at JMU, he would not top 1,000 yards or 10 touchdowns again. He would collect 1,846 rushing yards during this stretch adding 18 touchdowns on 369 carries. He saw a slight uptick in passing game usage, catching 12 passes for 53 yards.
After his collegiate career, Agyei-Obese had to rehab a late injury that caused him to turn down multiple NFL try-outs according to an interview he did with Daily News Record. He knew there were other opportunities to continue his career, but he needed to be 100 percent ready to perform if he was going to pursue professional football. After a year away from the game, he returned to sign a contract with the BC Lions early in 2024.
BC would end up releasing Agyei-Obese in June of 2024, and he would sit on the open market until yesterday when Ottawa decided to bring him in to compete. This season Ottawa has cycled through running backs trying to find the right combination in their backfield. This included replacing their starter Ryquell Armstead, as well as signing Levante Bellamy, Jared Chisari, Ronnie Brown, Tj Hammonds, Khalan Laborn, Jamal Morrow, Kylin Hill, Amlicar Polk, and Tyler Hoosman.
They have watched two backs retire and moved on from many more backs. It will not be an easy path to the roster, but Agyei-Obese has all the requisite talent to make it in the CFL, he just needs to find his way on the field. Step one was finding a spot on a practice roster so he could learn the offense, and prepare for when he may, or may not be needed this season.
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