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Micah Awe is back with the B.C. Lions.

The veteran American linebacker signed a two-year deal with the Lions on Tuesday, the first day of CFL free agency. Awe returns to B.C. after spending the last two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders.

In 2023, Awe was a CFL all-star after registering career highs in tackles (134) and interceptions (three) along with two sacks and a forced fumble. Awe, 31, had 78 defensive plays in 2024 (69 tackles, four special-teams tackles, five pass knockdowns).

This will mark Awe's fourth stint with B.C.

He spent the '17 season with the Lions before signing with the NFL's New York Jets. He returned to the Lions in August 2018 then spent the '19 and '21 campaigns with Toronto and Ottawa, respectively. 

Awe began the '22 season B.C., but after being released he joined the Montreal Alouettes. Awe then headed to Calgary in 2023.

Linebacker Adam Konar and offensive lineman David Foucault, both ºÚÁϳԹÏÍøs, return for a second tenure with B.C., after signing one-year deals. Konar, a Vancouver native who spent last year with Calgary, previously played for the Lions in 2019 and '21.

The six-foot-eight, 323-pound Foucault, of LaSalle, Que., spent the last three seasons with Edmonton. He began his pro career with the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2014-16) before joining the Lions (2017-19).

B.C. also signed veteran American quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to a one-year deal. Masoli, 36 spent the last three seasons with Ottawa but injuries limited him to just 17 appearances (eight starts).

The Calgary Stampeders shored up their defence by signing defensive back Damon Webb and linebackers Derrick Moncrief and Fraser Sopik. The five-foot-11, 195-pound Webb was a CFL all-star last season with Ottawa, finishing second overall in tackles for a loss (eight) and third for third in interceptions (five), returning two for touchdowns.

Moncrief, an American entering his eighth CFL season, was a '19 league all-star and Edmonton's 2022 outstanding defensive player nominee. Sopik, a six-foot, 209-pound Toronto native, earned a Grey Cup ring with the Argos last season but returns to Calgary, where he played in 2019, 2021-22.

With Webb gone and the off-season release of cornerback Brandin Dandridge, Ottawa signed veteran CFL defensive backs Tunde Adeleke, Nafees Lyon and Amari Henderson. Adeleke is a former Carleton star who grew up in Ottawa while Lyon and Henderson are both Americans.

Adeleke is a two-time Grey Cup champion after helping Toronto win it all in 2024 and has previous CFL experience with Calgary (2017-18) and Hamilton (2019, 2021-23). Lyon has spent the last three seasons with Montreal (winning a Grey Cup in '23) while Henderson heads to the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø capital following three years with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Ottawa also added ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø offensive lineman Peter Godber and American quarterback Matt Shiltz.

The Toronto Argonauts signed ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø receiver Hergy Mayala, defensive backs Darrius Bratton and Will Sutherland and defensive lineman Celestin Haba (all Americans). But their biggest move was re-signing American running Ka'Deem Carey, the CFL's third-leading rusher with 1,060 yards last season, his first with the Grey Cup champions.

The Roughriders added American quarterback Tommy Stevens. He was used primarily in short-yardage situations by Calgary last season and tied with Winnipeg quarterback Chris Streveler for the league lead with 10 rushing touchdowns.

Winnipeg made the day's first move, coming to terms with ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø receiver Gavin Cobb on a one-year deal just 14 minutes into the free-agent period. The Bombers also reached a two-year agreement with running back/kick-return Peyton Logan, who spent the previous three seasons with Calgary.

The Bombers also came to terms with American receivers Reggie White Jr. and Jerreth Sterns and ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø defensive Josh Hagerty on one-year deals. Before the start of free agency, the defending West Division champs re-signed veteran ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø long-snapper Mike Benson to a one-year extension.

But Winnipeg lost defensive lineman Miles Fox and linebacker Brian Cole II — both Americans — to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Fox had three tackles in three regular-season appearances in 2024 while Cole recorded 28 total tackles (24 on defence), an interception and forced fumble in 11 regular-season contests.

Hamilton also re-signed ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø receiver Brendan O'Leary-Orange and bolstered its secondary by adding veteran defensive back DaShaun Amos, a three-time Grey Cup champion ('18 with Calgary, 2022 and '24 with Toronto). Amos, 30, recorded a career-tying five interceptions last season and has 16 picks in 76 regular-season CFL games.

This report by ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø was first published Feb. 11, 2025.