The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed defensive linemen Nick Usher and Jamal Davis II to one-year contract extensions through the 2024 season on Thursday.
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.
Jamal Davis II is six foot four and weighs 250 pounds. The 28-year-old from Canton, Ohio, made five tackles, one tackle on special teams, and two sacks in four games for the Ticats in 2023. The Ticats signed Davis II as a free agent on September 27, 2023.
In addition, Davis II made 22 tackles, one tackle on special teams, and three sacks in 14 games for the Alouettes in 2023. The Alouettes re-signed Davis II to a two-year contract on September 16, 2022.
Before Montreal, Davis II signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2019. After being released by Houston, Davis II signed with the Indianapolis Colts and was placed on the practice squad. Later, Davis II signed with the Miami Dolphins and played three regular season games. In 2020, he had stints with the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns.
The Alouettes signed Davis II in 2021. He played two seasons in Montreal with 27 tackles and six sacks in 15 games, of which 14 were starts. In 2022, Davis II signed with the Los Angeles Chargers but would later return to Montreal.
Collegiately, Davis II played two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh (2014-15) with one tackle in ten games for the Panthers. Then, he transferred to Akron (2017-18) with 149 tackles (86 solo, 63 assists), 31.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, and six pass breakups in 26 games for the Zips. He was named First-Team All-MAC in 2018.
