Who’re the highest 4 newcomers to the B.C. Lions?

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It’s one sport into the CFL season for the B.C. Lions. Lengthy sufficient to see this workforce has some expertise, however not lengthy sufficient to know who they’re.

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Listed below are the highest 5 newcomers — and kind of newcomers — to observe for when the Lions tackle the Edmonton Elks in Saturday’s home-opener at B.C. Place. (4 p.m., TSN, AM730):

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Working again Taquan (Smoke) Mizzell

He was gifted the identify ‘Smoke’ by his highschool coach, as a result of when he was used as a tackling dummy in Grade 9 for the varsity workforce, none of them may sort out him. It was, “like attempting to seize smoke together with your hand.”

The identical may very well be stated of his soccer profession, which has been a protracted, arduous street to his new house with the Lions. His sport is constructed on explosiveness and a capability to show a seam into an open door, which he did on the College of Virginia, the place he was the one participant in ACC historical past to amass 1,500 yards in each speeding and receiving.

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He’s made for the pass-happy CFL sport with its wider area — or the CFL sport was made for him, should you ought to ask him.

“It undoubtedly is. On daily basis it’s simply been enjoyable,” he stated. “I’m nonetheless getting used to the sector being so enormous. I really feel like every week I’m gonna get better-and-better, and also you’ll be capable to see that.

“(The bigger area) offers me extra room when I’ve to run East-West … However I don’t need individuals to stereotype me. ‘Oh, he’s simply an East-West kind of man.’ I would like to have the ability to present that I’m gonna block, run downhill, however when it’s time to run East-West, I’m gonna be capable to do it.”

“He’s executed a fantastic job in coaching camp, nice job studying the offence and the CFL sport,” stated offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic. “So simply to see his rise from a rookie to what he’s doing now and the way comfy he’s with the system and CFL defences at this level, he undoubtedly checks that (standout newcomer) field.”

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Defensive finish Amir Siddiq

As a child in Detroit, Siddiq performed soccer till racking up a couple of too many purple playing cards made him notice he was destined for a extra bodily sport.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder was one the seemingly limitless stream of nameless pre-training camp free agent signings in Might, however separated himself from the pack.

The rookie out of Central Michigan and UNC-Charlotte busted out the shovel celebration after planting Calgary Stampeders quarterback Chris Reynolds within the B.C. Place turf throughout their pre-season sport, proper in step with his hard-working, excessive power enjoying fashion.

“I truthfully assume that the sleeper of everyone, futuristically, is gonna be Siddiq,” stated defensive coordinator Ryan Phillips. “He’s a defensive finish, enjoying particular groups now, however when you begin seeing him get a bit of bit extra concerned in defence, I feel he’s gonna take a helpful step for us. He presents a special dynamic; he’s that hybrid kind of defensive finish that you simply want within the CFL, a man that may run like a linebacker … however has the pedigree and the load of a defensive finish.”

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Large-receiver Justin McInnis

A complementary function participant throughout his time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he had his greatest profession sport — and first landing — towards the Lions. Now he hopes to have the perfect performances with the Leos.

Final August he had six catches for 111 yards and a landing towards B.C., undoubtedly placing him on their radar when he turned a free agent in February.

After coming to B.C., he had a two-TD sport towards the Stamps within the pre-season, then made the most important catch of the sport late in final week’s regular-season matchup, a dynamic first-down snag that moved the chains and allowed B.C. to expire the clock.

With Keon Hatcher on the six-game injured record, he’ll be pressed into beginning service once more this week.

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“Justin’s been enormous,” stated Maksymic. “We informed him in free company that we needed him to be a Swiss Military Knife, and that’s what he’s. Day 1 of coaching camp, he got here in and he realized the entire offence.

“We moved him into numerous positions, every kind of stuff across the field with run stuff and safety stuff. He’s comfy there. We cut up him out to Hatch’s place, and he is usually a productive receiver making vital catches at vital instances like that Calgary sport.”

The offensive line’s left facet

Andrew Peirson, Jarrell Broxton and Michael Couture

The Lions needed to reshape their entrance 5 when Joel Figueroa and Peter Godber left in free company, to Hamilton and Saskatchewan, respectively.

Peirson, who’s spent all 5 years of his CFL profession in B.C., has all the time been a serviceable stand-in, however has stepped up right into a starter’s function at left guard this 12 months.

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Broxton, 30, began at each left sort out and left guard within the playoffs final season, and had what offensive strains’ coach Kelly Bates stated was his greatest season in 2022. He’ll fill Fig’s spot.

Each began final week, when B.C. was the one workforce not to surrender a quarterback sack.

“They’re not newcomers by any means,” stated Maksymic. “The best way that they’ve labored into these roles … they’re simply super-solid over there. They graded out nicely and so they had been simply actually reliable.”

Maksymic additionally added that Couture, whom they picked up in free company from Winnipeg, has been precisely what they need in a veteran centre.

“He’s stepped into the function as a captain of that offensive line and executed every thing we want. He’s a stable veteran there, mentally and bodily.”

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