The Hamilton Tiger-Cats made several announcements on Wednesday. First, National linebacker Jordan Williams has decided to retire. Additionally, the team has signed seven players from its 2024 Draft class, and American receiver Dev Holmes.
Williams, aged 29, joined the Ticats on January 29, following a season with the Toronto Argonauts. He was the top pick in the 2020 CFL Draft and earned the Most Outstanding Rookie title in 2021 by setting a record for the highest number of defensive tackles (92) by a Canadian rookie. Prior to his time with the Argos, he played for the BC Lions in 2021 and 2022. During his stint in Toronto, Williams played 14 games with 13 starts, tallying 52 total tackles, including five tackles for loss and one pass knockdown. Throughout his CFL career, spanning three seasons with the Argonauts (2023) and the BC Lions (2021-2022), he accumulated 245 total tackles, along with 16 special teams tackles, one quarterback sack, one interception, and three forced fumbles.
The departure of Williams impacts the Ticats’ ratio flexibility, but the recent signing of Enock Makonzo, a former Edmonton Elk and 2022 fourth-overall pick, will help mitigate this loss. Additionally, the organization is counting on the development of its younger talent.
To bolster their roster, the Ticats have signed seven players from the 2024 Draft class, including offensive lineman Nathaniel Dumoulin Duguay, defensive back Daniel Bell, running back Matthew Peterson, linebacker Ryan Baker, defensive back Jonathan Giustini, offensive lineman John Kourtis, and linebacker Mitchell Townsend.
Lastly, Holmes, aged 24, brings collegiate experience from the University of New Haven, where he played 34 games over three seasons, amassing 126 receptions for 2,257 yards and 29 touchdowns. He earned Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team honors in 2022. Holmes began his college career at the University of Albany, where he played 11 games and recorded 50 receptions for 734 yards and five touchdowns.
