The Ottawa Redblacks signed wide receivers Jeremy Murphy and Darius Simmons, offensive lineman Cooper Hamilton, and defensive lineman Deionte Knight on Tuesday.
Jeremy Murphy is six foot and weighs 195 pounds. The 25-year-old from St. Bruno, Quebec, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the third round (26th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft. In 2023, Murphy dressed for two games and spent the season on the practice squad.
In 2024, Murphy made one catch for 10 yards in two preseason games. He dressed for one game and spent the rest of the season on the practice squad. The Blue Bombers released him on November 18, 2024. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Murphy on December 6, 2024.
Murphy played three seasons at Concordia University (2019, 2021-22) making 86 catches for 1,387 yards, ten touchdowns, seven carries for 17 yards, three kick returns for 50 yards, and one punt return for one yard in 18 games.
In 2021, Murphy played three games with 23 catches for 307 yards, and four touchdowns before tearing his hamstring and missed the rest of the season. In 2022, Murphy made 29 catches for 589 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for seven yards in seven games for the Stingers. He was named U SPORTS First All-Canadian team in 2022, the second national award of his collegiate career.
Darius Simmons is six foot and weighs 192 pounds. The 25-year-old from Lachine, Quebec, went undrafted in the 2024 CFL Draft. At the 2024 CFL Combine, Simmons had 14 bench presses, ran a 4.69 in the 40-yard dash, 30.5 in the vertical jump, 9′ 6 1/4″ in the broad jump, 7.19 in the 3-cone drills, and a 4.27 in the shuttle drills. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Simmons on November 27, 2024.
Collegiately, Simmons played four seasons at McGill University (2021-24) making 147 catches for 2,419 yards, eight touchdowns, two carries for 8 yards, completing one pass for 28 yards, one touchdown, two kick returns for 32 yards, and three tackles (1 solo, 2 assists) in 28 games for the Redbirds.
In 2024, Simmons made 29 catches for 611 yards, two touchdowns, and one tackle (1 assist) in nine games. He was named a two-time Second Team All-Canadian, two-time RSEQ All-Conference, and a First Team All-Canadian. Simmons also played for the John Abbott College Islanders (2017-18) where he was named a two-time RSEQ Div. 2 All-Star.
Cooper Hamilton is six foot seven and weighs 310 pounds. The 24-year-old from Innisfil, Ontario, went undrafted in the 2024 CFL Draft. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Hamilton on May 21, 2024. In 2024, he played in two preseason games for the Redblacks. Ottawa released him on June 2, 2024, and he returned to Wilfrid Laurier for his final collegiate season. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Hamilton on November 27, 2024.
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 five seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University (2019, 2021-24) playing left tackle in 35 games, of which 33 were starts. He is a two-time Second Team OUA All-Star and a Second Team OUA Football All-Star in 2022. Hamilton participated in the U Sports East-West Bowl and the FCS National Bowl.
In 2024, Wilfrid Laurier’s offense averaged 508.6 yards per game, 334.3 passing yards per game, 174.4 rushing yards per game, and 36 touchdowns going 8-0 in the season on their way to winning the Yates Cup and the Uteck Bowl.
Deionte Knight is six foot three and weighs 290 pounds. The 25-year-old from Ajax, Ontario, was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in the second round (10th pick) of the 2022 CFL Draft. He played four games in his rookie season making two tackles as the Argonauts won the 109th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In 2023, Knight made 17 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble in 17 games. In the 2024 preseason, Knight made one tackle against the Montreal Alouettes. In 2024, Knight played two games recording no stats. The Argonauts released him on July 3, 2024.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats signed Knight on July 3, 2024. He made four tackles in 12 games for the Ticats. The Ticats released him on October 26, 2024. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Knight on December 6, 2024.
Collegiately, Knight played four seasons at Western University (2018-21) making 96 tackles (34 solos, 62 assists), 17 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 28 games for the Mustangs.
In 2021, Knight made 52 tackles (17 solos, 35 assists), 13 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one pass breakup, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown in 11 games helping the Mustangs win the Vanier Cup. He won the J. P. Metras Trophy after the season.
