Saskatchewan Roughriders running back William Powell (29) runs past the Elks defence during the second half of CFL football action in Regina on Saturday, November 13, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kayle Neis
OTTAWA - Veteran American running back William Powell is back with the Ottawa Redblacks.
Powell, 33, re-signed with Ottawa as a free agent Tuesday. He began his CFL career with the Redblacks (2015-18) before spending the last two seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Powell ran 168 times for 733 yards (4.4-yard average) and three touchdowns in 2021. That broke his streak of three straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons, including a career-high 1,362 yards in 2018.
Ottawa also signed receiver Darvin Adams, defensive linemen Kwaku Boateng and Lorenzo Mauldin IV, and defensive back Ty Cranston. Boateng and Cranston are Canadians.
The six-foot-two, 257-pound Boateng registered 25 sacks in four seasons with the Edmonton Elks, including a career-best nine sacks in 2018.
Maudlin IV, a former third-round pick of the NFL’s New York Jets, spent the last two seasons with Hamilton. He registered 13 tackles, 12 special-teams tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble in 17 regular-season CFL games.
Cranston, 27, spent the last three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes. He recorded 38 tackles, 24 special-teams tackles and an interception in 34 regular-season CFL games.
Adams spent the last six seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after starting his CFL career with Toronto (2013-14). In 91 career CFL regular-season games, he has 343 catches for 4,928 yards and 40 TDs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2022.