Ottawa Redblacks sign former all-star DB Cariel Brooks

Photo: Bob Butrym/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

The Ottawa Redblacks have signed American defensive back Cariel Brooks ahead of the opening of free agency.

Brooks was released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday. He was coming off a season in which he played 12 games and recorded 35 tackles but was held without an interception for the first time in his career.

Brooks was named a CFL All-Star in 2021 after racking up 23 tackles, a sack, and a career-high five interceptions a year ago. In five seasons with Hamilton, he has recorded 205 tackles, two sacks, 14 interceptions and four forced fumbles, also earning East Division All-Star status in 2018.

The Adams State product played three games with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2015, notching one tackle. He began his CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017 but was cut following training camp, landing in Hamilton.