The Ottawa Redblacks signed offensive lineman Cooper Hamilton and released running back Jared Chisari on Tuesday.
Cooper Hamilton is six foot seven and weighs 310 pounds. The 24-year-old from Innisfil, Ontario, went undrafted in the 2024 CFL Draft. Hamilton participated in the U Sports East-West Bowl and the FCS National Bowl.
At the 2024 CFL Combine, Hamilton made 20 reps of 225 bench presses, ran a 5.47 in the 40-yard dash, a vertical jump of 28.5, a broad jump of 8’ 8 7/8”, an 8.09 in the 3-cone drill, and a 5.08 in the shuttle drill.
Collegiately, Hamilton played four seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University (2019, 2021-23) playing left tackle in 24 games, of which 22 were starts. He is a two-time Second Team OUA All-Star.
Jared Chisari is five foot eleven and weighs 203 pounds. A native of Fryeburg, Maine, Chisari participated in the CFL Combine in Winnipeg running a 4.71 in the 40-yard dash, 31.5 in vertical, a 9’ 8 ¼” in the broad jump, 7.07 in the 3-cone drill, and a 4.41 in the shuttle. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Chisari as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2024.
Collegiately, Chisari started at Bowdoin College (2019-19) but did not play for the Polar Bears. Next, he transferred to the University of Massachusetts (2020-21) with 19 carries for 117 yards, two touchdowns, three catches for one yard, and one tackle (1 assist) in 13 games for the Minutemen.
Then, Chisari transferred to Queen’s University (2022-23) with 260 carries for 2,023 yards, 12 touchdowns, four catches for 44 yards, and two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in 18 games for the Gaels. In 2023, Chisari had 186 carries for 1,379 yards, 8 touchdowns, and two catches for 20 yards in 10 games. He was named Queen’s University Outstanding Performance of the Year.
In addition, Chisari broke Queen’s Football’s single-season rushing yards record, surpassing Mike Giffin’s 1,157 yards from the 2007 season.
