Hamilton Tiger-Cats agree to terms with Canadian DE Kwaku Boateng

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have agreed to terms with pending free agent defensive end Kwaku Boateng, per sources.

3DownNation has independently confirmed that the Canadian pass rusher will be brought in on a one-year deal, as first reported by TSN’s Farhan Lalji.

Boateng missed all of last season with a torn Achilles suffered in training camp with the Ottawa Redblacks. He is expected to be paired with Mason Bennett to create a Canadian rotation at one defensive end spot for the Ticats.

A former fifth-round pick out of Wilfrid Laurier, Boateng spent the first four seasons of his career with the Edmonton Elks. He had a down year in 2021, recording 15 tackles, four sacks, and a forced fumble in 12 games due to COVID. However, the six-foot-two, 260-pounder has proven to be one of the CFL’s best pass rushers in recent years.

As a rookie, Boateng displayed the ability to get to opposing quarterbacks even as a rotational player. During his sophomore season, Boateng earned a starting role while 16 games and recorded nine sacks to earn team Most Outstanding Canadian honours. He followed that up with eight sacks in 2019.

Over the past four seasons, the soon-to-be 28-year-old has made 83 total tackles, 25 sacks and one forced fumble in 64 career games.

Prior to his CFL career, Boateng was a two-time U Sports All-Canadian and played an integral role in Laurier’s 2016 Yates Cup championship, the program’s first since 2005. Boateng is the Golden Hawks’ career sack leader (20.5) and proved his ability to rush the passer at the university level. He was a two-time academic All-Canadian as well.