ONE RAM INVITED TO E-CAMP, PHILLIPS, MCCALLUM AND GRANT EXTENDED

EDMONTON – The Canadian Football League held its first of three regional combines Monday in Edmonton, resulting in four players being invited to the CFL National Combine presented by Reebok in Toronto this coming weekend.

Kahlen Branning, Dexter Janke, Auston Johnson, and Quinn Lawlor were extended an invitation to display their athletic abilities once again in front of CFL scouts, coaches, and management at the National Combine in Toronto, March 27-29.

Branning, a native of Moose Jaw, SK and a defensive back for the Regina Rams, ran the fastest 40-yard dash with a time of 4.55 seconds and the second highest vertical jump of 38”.

Overall, 43 players attended today’s combine in Edmonton and each athlete worked out in front of scouts from all CFL Teams.

The other regional combines will take place this week in Montreal (March 25) and in Toronto (March 26).

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The BC Lions Football Club announced Monday morning that defensive back Ryan Phillips has agreed to a contract extension through the 2016 season and kicker Paul McCallum will return in 2015.

“Both Paul and Ryan remain integral parts of our team as they continue to perform at a high level on the field and play a vital role as respected leaders in the dressing room,” said VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono.

Phillips enters his 11th CFL season and has made 180 consecutive appearances for the club since signing as a free agent in 2005. The Seattle native and four-time CFL All-Star notched a team-high three interceptions last year along with 39 defensive tackles. Ryan’s incredible run of consecutive games is the longest among all active CFL players and his 40 career interceptions place him second in club history behind the great Larry Crawford.

Only the second player in the history of professional football to reach the 3,000-point plateau, kicker Paul McCallum prepares for his 23rd CFL campaign and his 12th as a Lion in 2015. Earning his sixth nod as a West Division All-Star, Paul was good on 38 of 42 field goal attempts in 2014 for a CFL-best 90.5% success rate.

His remarkable career has seen the 45 year-old McCallum appear in 325 regular season games, 151 as a Lion, and establish a success rate of 80.6% on field goals, tops among all kickers with at least 400 attempts along with 18 seasons with at least 100 or more points.

Season tickets for 2015 are on sale now as are flex-packs and 3-game packages with single game tickets going on sale Monday, June 1. BC Lions season ticket holders enjoy savings up to 28% on the price of single game tickets. Click here for the 2015 schedule.

Join the Lions and keynote speaker Jeff Garcia at the 2015 Orange Helmet Awards slated for Wednesday, April 15 at the Westin Bayshore. Now in its 12th year, the Orange Helmet Awards celebrate last season’s championship teams at all levels of amateur football in British Columbia and recognize outstanding coaches and pioneers of the sport in our province. For tickets, click here or call 604.634.1178.

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HAMILTON – The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has re-signed international receiver Bakari Grant.

Grant, a 6-4, 195-pound native of Oakland, California, returns to Hamilton for his fifth season with the Black and Gold in 2015. In 59 games over four seasons with the Ticats, Grant has compiled 207 receptions for 2,535 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Last season, he ranked third among Ticats pass catchers in receiving, hauling in 58 passes for 529 yards and one touchdown, the first-ever touchdown scored at Tim Hortons Field.

“Bakari is a true professional demonstrated by his dedication to hard work and preparation,” said Ticats general manager and head coach Kent Austin. “We are excited to have his physicality and veteran leadership back with our team.”

The former UC-Davis alum saw his best season as a Tiger-Cat during the 2013 campaign when he led the team and set career highs in receptions (69) and receiving yards (947) en route to being named an East Division All-Star.

During his time in Hamilton, Grant has also been highly involved with the Tiger-Cats community initiatives, specifically BeFit, Cops and Cats basketball, Hearts in the Huddle and high school mentorship programs.