The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed former Eastern Michigan quarterback Taylor Powell on Wednesday. In addition, the Ticats released running back Devontae Dean, wide receivers Kendrick Price Jr., Darvin Kidsy, and Neil Pau’u, offensive linemen Gannon Grider and Mojtaba Mehry, defensive lineman Alvin Ward Jr., and defensive backs Lummie Young IV and RJ Rountree.
Taylor Powell is six foot two and weighs 207 pounds. The 24-year-old from Fayetteville, Arkansas, played one season at Eastern Michigan in 2022 completing 174 of 269 passes (65%) for 2,111 yards, 16 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 44 carries for -98 yards, and two touchdowns in nine games for the Eagles.
Before Eastern Michigan, Powell played three seasons at Missouri (2017-19) completing 35 of 76 passes (46%) for 431 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and seven carries for one yard in 15 games for the Tigers.
Then, Powell transferred to Troy in 2021 completing 125 of 189 passes (66%) for 1,251 yards, 7 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 19 carries for -95 yards, and one touchdown in six games for the Trojans.
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.
Kendrick Price Jr is six foot one and weighs 205 pounds. The 25-year-old from Lindale, Texas, attended rookie mini-camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Collegiately, Price Jr. played five seasons at Northwestern State (2017-21) with 60 catches for 868 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one carry for one yard in 37 games for the Demons. In his final season, Price Jr. caught 28 passes for 430 yards and five touchdowns in 11 games.
His eleven touchdowns tied for seventh in school history, second in receiving yards (430), five touchdowns were tied for the team lead, and third in catches (28). He is a two-time Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Darvin Kidsy is six foot and weighs 180 pounds. The 28-year-old from Missouri City, Texas, was with Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Houston Gamblers (USFL) in 2022.
In 2020, Kidsy was on the Seattle Seahawks practice squad for two seasons. Kidsy signed with Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent from Texas Southern. He played five games for the Redskins on both offense and defense. On offense, Kidsy had one catch for eight yards, while on defense made three tackles.
Collegiately, Kidsy played 36 games in three seasons at North Texas (2013-15) with 48 catches for 539 yards, two touchdowns, 18 kick returns for 428 yards, one touchdown, 31 punt returns for 265 yards, and two touchdowns in 36 games for the Mean Green. Then, Kidsy transferred to Texas Southern in 2016, playing 11 games with 38 catches for 519 yards and three touchdowns for the Tigers.
Neil Pau’u is six foot four and weighs 215 pounds. The 27-year-old from Santa Ana, California, signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. He played two preseason games for Buffalo making six catches for 56 yards before being released on August 29th.
Collegiately, Pau’u played five seasons at BYU (2017-21) with 123 catches for 1,484 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 14 carries for 58 yards in 46 games, of which 22 were starts for the Cougars.
Gannon Grider is six foot seven and weighs 308 pounds. The 23-year-old from Highland, Indiana, played five seasons at Benedictine (2018-22). He was a three-year captain for the Eagles and played 42 games at right tackle, of which 35 were consecutive starts.
He is a two-time First Team All NACC Conference and a two-time NCAA D3 All-Region. In addition, he participated in the 2023 College Gridiron Showcase. Grider also placed at the NACC Championships in hot put in track and field.
Mojtaba Mehry is six foot five and weighs 300 pounds. The 25-year-old from Leamington, Ontario, spent two training camps with the Toronto Argonauts in 2021 and 2022.
Collegiately, Mehry played 31 games in four seasons at the University of Toronto (2018-19, 2021-22) playing right tackle along with one catch for three yards, and one touchdown for the Varsity Blues. He was twice named the University of Toronto’s Lineman of the Year.
Alvin Ward Jr is six foot four and weighs 235 pounds. The 26-year-old from Ahoskie, North Carolina, had five tackles in one game for the Mercer Bears in 2021.
Collegiately, Ward Jr. played three seasons at Georgia Southern (2017-19) with eight tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup in 27 games for the Eagles. In 2018, Ward Jr. was named to the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll.
Then, Ward Jr. transferred to Mercer University (2020-21). In 2020, he had 34 tackles, half a sack, and one fumble recovery in eight games. He finished his Mercer career with 39 tackles, half a sack, and one fumble recovery in nine games.
Lummie Young IV is six foot one and weighs 200 pounds. The 23-year-old from Anderson, South Carolina, played one season at Tulane in 2022 with 47 tackles (32 solo, 15 assists), 0.5 tackle for loss, one interception for six yards, and three pass breakups in 13 games for the Green Wave.
Before Tulane, Young played four seasons at Duke University (2018-21) with 144 tackles (31 solo, 33 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions for two yards, ten pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 34 games for the Blue Devils.
RJ Rountree is six foot and weighs 185 pounds. The 25-year-old from Silver Spring, Maryland, had 35 tackles, one interception, seven pass breakups, and two blocked kicks in 11 games for the Panthers in 2022.
Rountree began his collegiate career redshirting at Concord University in 2016. In 2017, he played one game for the Mountain Lions against West Virginia Wesleyan before suffering a season-ending injury.
Then, he transferred to Bowie State University in 2018. In 2019, he made two tackles in six games for the Bulldogs. After Bowie State, Rountree transferred to Virginia Union.
