The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed American defensive linemen McKinley Williams and Alvin Ward Jr., the club announced on Wednesday.
Williams played 61 games over six seasons at Syracuse University from 2016 to 2021, recording 122 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, four sacks, and one fumble recovery. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts as after going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft but was released by the team before appearing in a regular season game.
The six-foot-four, 285-pound defender played one game as a member of the Ticats this past season and recorded one defensive tackle.
Ward Jr. most recently played nine games over two seasons at Mercer University from 2020 to 2021 and made 39 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. The six-foot-four, 235-pound native of Ahoskie, N.C. originally played at Georgia Southern University where he made eight total tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup over three seasons.