Argonauts sign three Americans
CFL.ca
TORONTO -- The Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced on Tuesday that the team has signed American quarterback Luis Perez, American defensive back Yam Banks and American defensive lineman Monkell Goodwine.
Perez most recently played for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL in 2026, throwing for 1,043 yards and four touchdowns in four games. The California native led the UFL in passing yards, completions, attempts, and completion percentage in 2025, and passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer rating in 2024 while with the Arlington/Dallas Renegades. In 2023, Perez led Arlington to an XFL championship and was the championship game MVP when the Renegades upset the DC Defenders 35-26. The pivot began his professional football career in 2018 with the Los Angeles Rams before stops with the Birmingham Iron (AAF), Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL), New York Guardians (XFL), The Spring League, New Jersey Generals (USFL), Los Angeles Rams once again, and Vegas Vipers (XFL) all between 2018 and 2023.
The 32-year-old started his collegiate career at Southwestern College (2013-2014) before a move to Texas A&M Commerce, where he led the Lions to a NAIA National Championship in 2017. Perez was named First Team All-Conference in 2016 and 2017 and was awarded the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2017, given to Division II's best football player, after he threw for over 5,000 yards.
Banks played 11 games at Ole Miss in 2024, tallying 21 tackles and three pass deflections for the Rebels. The Mississippi native suited up for South Alabama from 2020-2023, where he would total 147 tackles, 2.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 23 pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 45 games for the Jaguars. Banks was named All-Sun Belt Third Team in 2023 and First Team in 2022.
Goodwine was signed as an undrafted free agent by Minnesota following this April's NFL Draft but was released in June. The defensive lineman from Maryland played two seasons at South Carolina (2024-2025), where he notched 46 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles in 25 games for the Gamecocks. Goodwine started his college playing days at Alabama (2021-2023), seeing action in five games for the Crimson Tide.