Hamilton Tiger-Cats add three players, cut nine ahead of training camp
Published June 29, 2021 at 11:17 am
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced the CFL club has signed three American players: defensive tackle Lee Autry and defensive backs Reggie Cole and Adonis Davis.
Autry, 24, most recently spent time in the National Football League on the practice roster of the Las Vegas Raiders (2020) after stints with the Los Angeles Chargers (2020) and Chicago Bears (2020). The 6-2, 305 pound native of Albemarle, North Carolina began his collegiate career at Itawamba Community College (2015-16) before transferring to Mississippi State in 2017.
He was redshirted in 2017 before playing 18 games, including five starts, over his next two seasons (2018-19), registering 23 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and 0.5 quarterback sacks. He is the brother of Tennessee Titans’ defensive end, Denico Autry.
Cole, 24, most recently spent time in The Spring League with The Linemen (2021), winning a Mega Bowl championship on June 19. He previously spent time with the XFL’s DC Defenders (2019-20) after being selected in the sixth round of the 2019 XFL Draft.
The 6-2, 185 pound native of Houston, Texas spent his collegiate career at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor(2015-18), where he played 51 games, including 20 starts, over four seasons for the Crusaders, registering 93 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Davis, 23, played 41 games over four seasons at Abilene Christian University (2016-19), registering 146 total tackles, seven interceptions and 26 pass breakups. The 5-10, 181 pound native of Bastrop, Texas was given 2019 Southland Conference Second Team All-Conference Defense honours after being named an honourable mention in 2018.
The Tiger-Cats also announced a series of other player transactions.
- USA – DE – Yurik Bethune
- USA – WR – Dontez Byrd
- USA – DE – Koron Crump
- USA – DB – Qudarius Ford
- NAT – WR – Brian Jones
- USA – WR – Damoun Patterson
- USA – DT – Johnny Robinson
- USA – DB – Herb Waters
- USA – QB – David Watford
- USA – DB – Brandon Bryant
- USA – QB – Hayden Moore
- USA – WR – Justin Sumpter
- USA – DB – Ronald Zamort
CFL training camps are scheduled to open on July 10, 2021.
The 2021 season will kick off with a rematch of the 2019 Grey Cup when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Ticats on Thursday, Aug. 5 at 8:30 p.m.
Hamilton’s home opener is set for Monday, Sept. 6 at 1 p.m. against the Toronto Argonauts in the Labour Day Classic. The Ticats will also face the Argos in a Thanksgiving Classic on Monday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. at Tim Hortons Field.
In total, the Tiger-Cats have afternoon kickoffs in five of their seven home games this season.