The Hamilton Tiger-Cats released punter Blake Hayes and defensive lineman McKinley Williams on Tuesday.
Blake Hayes is six foot six and weighs 225 pounds. The 24-year-old from Melbourne, Australia, was on the Ticats practice squad. Hayes played two preseason games with six punts for 315 yards (52.5%) with a long of 58 yards.
The Ticats drafted Hayes in the second round (10th pick) in the 2022 CFL Global Draft. Hayes played one game for Hamilton in 2022 with six punts for 278 yards (46.3 AVG) with a long of 51 yards.
Collegiately, Hayes played five seasons at the University of Illinois (2017-21) with 326 punts for 14,275 yards (43.8 AVG) with a long of 80 yards, 12 touchbacks, 71 fair catches, 125 from inside the 20-yard line, 71 from 50+ yards, one kickoff for 53 yards, and three carries for 34 yards in 57 games for the Fighting Illini.
Hayes is Illinois’ all-time record holder in season punts inside the 20, season punts inside the 20 percentage, season 50+ yard punts, career punting average, career punt yards, career punts inside the 20, and career 50+ yard punts. Hayes was named Big Ten Punter of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten in 2019.
McKinley Williams is six foot four and weighs 285 pounds. The 25-year-old from Miramar, Florida, re-signed with the Ticats on May 21, 2023, but was placed on the six-game suspended list. In 2022, Williams spent most of the season on the Ticats’ practice squad before playing one game against the Ottawa Redblacks with one tackle. Before signing with Hamilton, Williams attended training camp for the Indianapolis Colts.
Collegiately, Williams played six seasons at Syracuse (2016-21) with 122 tackles (70 solo, 52 assists), 21 tackles for loss, four sacks, and one fumble recovery in 61 games. In his senior year, Williams had 23 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 11 games for the Orange.
