Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com
During the last few weeks of the 2021 CFL season and now the beginning of the Redblacks’ off-season, the Ottawa Redblacks front office has very busy. Led by interim general manager Jeremy Snyder and assistant general manager Jean-Marc Edme, the Redblacks front office has dedicated their time as of recently to lock up their 2022 roster with players that have made a key impact on the Redblacks in 2021 and previous years. Earlier the team had re-signed and extended the contracts of returner DeVonte Dedmon, kicker Lewis Ward, punter Richie Leone, defensive back Justin Howell, linebacker Avery Williams, defensive end Nigel Romick, running back Brendan Gillanders and defensive backs Brandin Dandridge and Sherrod Baltimore. Adding to the list on Wednesday, the Redblacks have now extended the contracts of Kene Onyeka, Marco Dubois and Anthony Gosselin.
Onyeka, a two year defensive end from Carleton University has been a key contributor to the 2021 Ottawa Redblacks, having made 22 tackles, 8 on special teams, two sacks and forced one fumble in 13 of the Redblacks’ 14 games.
Full back Anthony Gosselin, who was drafted by the Redblacks in 2017 mainly found himself on special teams as usual and in the offence on certain packages but continues to make his impact for the team. In 2021’s season he played in 12 of the 14 games, making 4 special teams tackles and catching 4 of 5 targets on offence for 20 yards. He’s been extended through the 2022 CFL season, and so has Marco Dubois, a 6-foot-4 full back and slot back out of Laval.
The Laval product has now played in 48 games since being drafted by Ottawa in 2018 and has been a huge piece to the Redblacks special teams unit, however he also can be a playmaker on offence if given the opportunity. Over his career thus far he’s caught 9 of 13 targets on offence for 74 yards, while even scoring a touchdown in the 2018 East Final from Trevor Harris on an 11 yard completion, one of Harris’ 6 touchdowns that day which broke the record for most passing touchdowns in a CFL playoff game. This season Dubois has 4 special teams tackles and has been key player on a number off DeVonte Dedmon returns, including a couple of his touchdown run backs.
This Canadian trio will be back with the Ottawa Redblacks for the 2022 CFL season, and may see a larger role on the team moving forward depending what the front office continues to do as we approach the remainder of the off-season.
JZ MEDIA 