The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are set to sign defensive end Nick Usher to a one-year contract through the 2024 season on Friday according to The Canadian Press’s Dan Ralph. In addition, the Ticats re-signed linebacker Enoch Penney-Laryea.
Nick Usher is six foot four and weighs 256 pounds. The 29-year-old from Los Angeles, California, was on the B.C. Lions practice squad in 2023. The Lions signed Usher as a free agent on August 13, 2023. In addition, Usher made six tackles and one sack in nine games for the Montreal Alouettes in 2023.
Before B.C., Usher signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Then, he signed with the New England Patriots shortly after Seattle released him. He played one preseason game for New England but was released at the end of training camp.
After New England, Usher signed with the Edmonton Eskimos. He played two seasons in Edmonton with 43 tackles, three tackles on special teams, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles in 26 games, of which 16 were starts.
He was released by Edmonton to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 but he suffered an injury during training camp and was released.
Then, the Alouettes signed Usher as a free agent on February 9, 2021. In his first season, he made 35 tackles, five sacks, and one forced fumble in 14 games. In 2022, Usher made 29 tackles and three sacks in 13 games for Montreal. He played three seasons in Montreal with 70 tackles and eight sacks.
Collegiately, Usher played four seasons at the University of Texas-El Paso (2013-16) with 179 tackles (89 solo, 90 assists), 23.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and two blocks in 49 games for the Miners. He was an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention in 2015.
Enoch Penney-Laryea is six foot one and weighs 230 pounds. The 26-year-old from Tuckahoe, New York, made two tackles on special teams in two games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023. The Ticats signed Penney-Laryea as a free agent on August 1, 2023.
Before Hamilton, the Toronto Argonauts drafted Penney-Laryea in the third round (26th pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft. In 2022, Penney-Laryea made two tackles on special teams, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown in 15 games for the Toronto Argonauts in 2022 helping them win the 109th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Collegiately, Penney-Laryea played two seasons at Union College (2015-16) as a running back with 17 carries for 90 yards, and two kick returns for 20 yards in eight games for the Dutchmen. In 2016, he earned the Liberty League All-Academic Team.
Then, he transferred to McMaster University (2018-19, 2021) and switched to positions playing linebacker and defensive lineman with 55 tackles (38 solo, 34 assists), 15.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, and two pass breakups in 21 games for the Marauders.
