THE CANADIAN PRESS
Eskimos Moves
The Edmonton Eskimos dipped into the CFL free-agent pool to sign defensive lineman Odell Willis on Friday.
The six-foot-two, 265-pound Willis had 23 tackles and six sacks last year with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Willis enjoyed his best CFL season in 2011 with Winnipeg when he was a league all-star after registering 27 tackles and 13 sacks.
The former University of West Georgia star began his CFL career in 2009 with Calgary and had six sacks his first nine games before being dealt to Winnipeg.
The Bombers traded Willis to Saskatchewan on March 22, 2012 for a second- and fourth-round pick in the 2012 CFL draft.
Lions Moves
The B.C. Lions signed receiver Paris Jackson and defensive back Korey Banks to contract extensions Friday.
Both were set to enter the option year of their previous deals.
"Paris and Korey provide unique veteran leadership qualities that are a big part of our success on the field," vice-president of football operations and GM Wally Buono said in a statement. "These are important contract extensions that keep the core of our team intact and provide opportunities for individuals to help us win a championship."
Jackson has spent 10 seasons with B.C. He had 10 catches for 127 yards last year but over his career has registered 410 receptions for 5,660 yards with 31 TDs.
Banks is a five-time league all-star who had 50 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery last season. He has missed just one game in seven seasons with the Lions and has appeared in 102 straight contests.
Offensive tackle Jovan Olafioye re-signed with the B.C. Lions on Friday.
Olafioye, the CFL’s top lineman last year, had been exploring options south of the border but opted to return to the Lions.
"Having Jovan under contract is an extremely important step forward for our team in 2013," GM Wally Buono said in a statement. "Protecting the quarterback is a top priority and Jovan’s presence on our line is a big part of our offensive success."
Olafioye appeared in all 18 regular-season games last season with B.C. and was a league all-star for the second straight year. He helped anchor a Lions offence line that allowed a league-low 30 sacks in 2012.
Stampeders Moves
Offensive lineman Stanley Bryant re-signed with the Calgary Stampeders on Friday, avoiding CFL free agency.
Bryant was eligible to become a free agent at noon ET on Friday.
The 27-year-old American has spent the last three seasons with Calgary. He appeared in 13 regular-season games last year and was a member of the Stampeders’ West Division-winning squad.
Bryant was Calgary’s nominee for the CFL’s outstanding lineman award in 2011.
Tiger-Cats Moves
Shomari Williams is on the move.
The six-foot-one, 232-pound linebacker/defensive end said Friday he signed a three-year deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats shortly after becoming a free agent.
Williams, 27, spent the last three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and was the team’s second-leading tackler in 2012 with 59.
"I would’ve like to stay in Saskatchewan but going to Hamilton is a good fit for me," Williams said. "It’s a lot closer to home and I’m going to a very good team."
Saskatchewan selected Williams first overall in the 2010 CFL draft out of Queen’s.
The Toronto native capped his university career by helping Queen’s capture the Vanier Cup in 2009.
Williams began his college career at the University of Houston.
The Ticats also signed free-agent defensive tackle Brian Bulcke, who spent last season with Calgary. The native of Windsor, Ont., who played his college football at Stanford, had three sacks and 29 tackles in 22 career regular-season games with the Stampeders.
Blue Bombers Moves
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-signed defensive tackle Bryant Turner and slotback Clarence Denmark on Friday.
Winnipeg signed Turner and Denmark before both were scheduled to become free agents at noon ET.
The six-foot-two, 276-pound Turner has spent the last two seasons with Winnipeg. Had he not re-signed with the Bombers, Turner would’ve been able to join any CFL team after the league’s free-agent deadline of noon ET on Friday.
Turner had six sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 14 games with Winnipeg last season.
"I’m really excited to get this deal done prior to free agency and stay with the organization that gave me an opportunity," Bryant said in a statement. "I really feel that we are on the road to great things in Winnipeg and I cannot wait to play in the new Investors Group Field, in front of the best fans in the CFL."
Denmark had 54 catches for 620 yards and one touchdown in 2011, his second with Winnipeg. In 2010, he was the Bombers’ nominee for the CFL’s top rookie honour after recording 65 receptions for 818 yards and five TDs.
"Clarence is a solid contributor to our offence and a player who has excellent speed and still great potential," Bombers GM Joe Mack said. "He’s a quiet guy who leads by example, and we are pleased to have him continue his career in Winnipeg."
Roughriders Moves
The Saskatchewan Roughriders re-signed linebacker Tyron Brackenridge and signed free-agent defensive back Dwight Anderson on Friday.
Brackenridge has spent the last two seasons with Saskatchewan. He started all 18 regular-season games last year, posting a team-high 77 tackles and two interceptions.
Anderson joins the Riders after two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes. A 2008 Grey Cup champion with Calgary, Anderson had 47 tackles and two interceptions with the Als in 2012.