The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed defensive back Patrick Burke Jr., fourth round (29th pick), offensive lineman Dayton Black, first round (6th pick), defensive lineman Josh Hyer, eighth round (64th pick), offensive lineman Ben Koczwara, and running back Devontae Dean. In addition, Hamilton released offensive lineman Alex Fontana.
Patrick Burke Jr. is six foot two and weighs 195 pounds. The 23-year-old from Etobicoke, Ontario, played three seasons at Wilfrid Laurier (2018-22) with 43.5 tackles (33 solo, 21 assists), two tackles for loss, half a sack, four interceptions for 94 yards, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 22 games for the Golden Hawks. He was named OUA Men’s Football Second-Team All-Star.
Dayton Black is six foot six and weighs 295 pounds. The 23-year-old from Brandon, Manitoba, played 30 games in three seasons at the University of Saskatchewan (2018-22). He was named a Canada West All-Star (2022). He began his career as a defensive lineman before switching to the offensive line in 2021.
Josh Hyer is six foot four and weighs 258 pounds. The 23-year-old from Vernon, British Columbia, played five seasons at the University of Calgary (2017-22) with 49 tackles (42 solo, 18 assists), 14 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 32 games for the Dinos. He helped the Dinos win the 2019 Vanier Cup.
Ben Koczwara is six foot three and weighs 305 pounds. The 26-year-old from London, Ontario, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2022.
Before Winnipeg, Koczwara tried out for the Toronto Argonauts in 2021. He played 32 games in five seasons (2014-18) at the University of Waterloo. The Blue Bombers drafted Koczwara in the eighth round (67th pick) in the 2018 CFL Draft. In 2017, he participated the U Sports East-West Bowl. In addition, he played professionally in Mexico for the Saltillo Dinos.
Devontae Dean is six foot and weighs 225 pounds. The 23-year-old from West Memphis, Arkansas, played one season at Arkansas Tech University in 2022 with 116 carries for 750 yards, three touchdowns, and nine catches for 81 yards in 10 games for the Wonder Boys.
Before Arkansas Tech, Dean played three seasons at the University of Arkansas-Monticello (2018-21) with 336 carries for 1,384 yards, 11 touchdowns, 15 catches for 69 yards, and five kick returns for 112 yards in 24 games for the Boll Weevils.
Alex Fontana is six foot two and weighs 300 pounds. The 28-year-old from Toronto, Ontario, played seven games for the Ticats in 2022. Before Hamilton, the Ottawa Redblacks selected him in the first round (7th pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft.
He played 18 games for the Redblacks as a backup in his rookie season. Collegiately, Fontana played 27 games in four seasons at Kansas (2018), Houston (2016-17), and the New Mexico Military Institute (2014-15).
