The Hamilton Tiger-Cats brought back offensive lineman Alex Fontana and signed former Texas Tech kicker Jonathan Garibay on Monday.
Alex Fontana is six foot two and weighs 300 pounds. The 28-year-old from Toronto, Ontario, was released by the Ticats on May 9th. Fontana 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).
Jonathan Garibay is six foot one and weighs 215 pounds. The 23-year-old from Rubidoux, California, attended the Dallas Cowboys rookie minicamp in 2023. In his final season, Garibay converted 15 of 16 field goals (93%) with a long of 62 yards, converted 49 extra points (94 points), one kickoff for 65 yards, and one touchback in 12 games for the Red Raiders.
He was named All-Big 12 first team by the conference coaches in 2021 and became the first Red Raider kicker to be tabbed to the first team since Clayton Hatfield in 2018. He joined Hatfield and Alex Trilica (2007) as the only kickers in the Big 12 era to garner First Team accolades receiving votes for Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year.
Garibay played two seasons at Texas Tech (2020-21) converting 23 of 27 field goals (85.2%), with a long of 62 yards, six punts for 287 yards with a long of 56 yards, made 55 extra points (124 points) one fair catch, one from inside the 20-yard line, three from 50-plus yards, 24 kickoffs for 1,391 yards, eight touchbacks, and two kicks out of bounds in 17 games.
Before Texas Tech, Garibay played two seasons at Riverside City College (2017-18) converting 15 of 20 field goals (75%) with a long of 47 yards, and was 106 of 112 in extra points, and 99 punts for 3,929 yards with a long of 64 yards, 37 from inside the 20-yard line, 21 fair catches, and four touchbacks in 24 games for the Tigers.
In addition, the Ticats placed quarterback Jamie Newman on the suspended list.
Jamie Newman is six foot four and weighs 230 pounds. The 25-year-old from Graham, North Carolina, completed 16 of 27 passes (59.3%) for 175 yards, one interception, 20 carries for 83 yards, and five touchdowns in 12 games for the Ticats in 2022.
Before Hamilton, Newman signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Then, he signed with Hamilton on February, 6th, 2022.
Collegiately, Newman played three seasons at Wake Forest (2017-19) completing 306 of 506 passes (60%) for 3,959 yards, 35 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 245 carries for 826 yards, and ten touchdowns in 21 games for the Demon Decans. Newman transferred to Georgia in 2020 but opted out due to COVID-19 and never played a game for the Bulldogs.
