The BC Lions added a trio of American players to their roster on Thursday, including veteran NFL running back Buddy Howell Jr.
The six-foot-one, 218-pound ball carrier originally signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2018, eventually joining the Houston Texans to start the regular season. He played three seasons with the team before signing with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, earning a Super Bowl ring while on injured reserve.
Howell dressed for 55 NFL games with the Texans and Rams, carrying the ball 26 times for 85 yards. He was an impactful contributor on special teams, amassing 18 career tackles.
The native of Coconut Grove played collegiately at Florida Atlantic from 2014 to 2017. He recorded 2,419 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns on 462 total carries while adding 10 receptions for 96 yards in 39 games.
In addition to Howell, the Lions also signed receivers Jake Lampman and Ron Hunt.
Lampman signed with the New Orleans Saints after going unselected in the 2016 NFL Draft, dressing for six games as a rookie. He made six special teams tackles but was waived the following year, spending two seasons on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad. He briefly joined the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers in 2020, before returning to the Saints for a stint on the practice roster.
The six-foot, 205-pound pass catcher played 48 games over five seasons at Ferris State, recording 153 receptions for 2,320 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 28 carries for 198 yards.
Hunt played 45 games at North Carolina A&T over six seasons, hauling in 61 receptions for 982 yards and six touchdowns. As a super senior in 2021, the six-foot-three, 190-pound target posted 22 catches for 405 yards and three majors, earning an undrafted free agent contract with the New York Jets.