Mario Villamizar

Villamizar was drafted 51st overall, in the sixth round, by the BC Lions in the 2019 CFL draft and signed with the team on May 16, 2019.^[3] He made the team's active roster following 2019 training camp and played in his first professional game on June 15, 2019, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.^[2] He made his first career reception late in the season on October 5, 2022, against the Toronto Argonauts, and finished the year having played in all 18 regular season games with two catches for 13 yards.^[2]

Villamizar did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season. During off-season workouts in preparation for the 2021 season, he suffered an Achilles injury and began the year on the retired list.^[4][5] He re-signed with the team on October 8, 2021, and played in the team's final five games of the season.^[5]

On December 14, 2021, it was announced that Villamizar had signed a contract extension with the Lions.^[6] He again made the team's active roster following training camp in 2022.^[2] He played in 17 regular season games where he had one kickoff return for seven yards. Villamizar became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 14, 2023.^[7]

On the first day of free agency, on February 14, 2023, it was announced that Villamizar had signed with the Toronto Argonauts.^[7][8] However, he was part of the final cuts and was released on June 2, 2023.^[9]

Villamizar was added to the Edmonton Elks practice roster on June 26, 2023.^[10] He was promoted to the active roster on June 28, placed on injured reserve on July 28, and released on August 6, 2023.^[11]

• Edmonton Elks bio
• Media related to Mario Villamizar at Wikimedia Commons