Hamilton Tiger-Cats release former first overall CFL draft pick Jake Burt

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

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have released Canadian fullback Jake Burt, who was the first overall pick in the 2021 CFL Draft.

The 26-year-old played 10 games this past season and recorded four receptions for 40 yards. He was the first college tight end taken with the first overall pick in the CFL draft since Gerald Wilcox was selected by Ottawa Rough Riders out of Weber State University in 1989.

The six-foot-three, 230-pounder missed his entire rookie season due to a quad injury. He was placed on the one-game injured list for Hamilton’s first seven regular season games before being moved to the six-game injured list for the latter half of the season.

Burt spent the 2020 season on the practice roster with the New England Patriots before being a late addition to the 2021 CFL Draft class. Though he was born in Regina, Burt was primarily raised in Boston and attended Boston College (2015-19) where he caught 23 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns.

Hamilton also signed American running back Devontae Dean, American offensive lineman Jordan Boatman, Canadian offensive lineman Ben Koczwara, Global linebacker Penei Pavihi, and American kicker Ethan Ratke.

Dean played 10 games with Arkansas State University last season, recording 116 carries for 750 yards and three touchdowns. The six-foot, 225-pound native of West Memphis, Ark. started his collegiate career at the University of Arkansas at Monticello where he made 336 carries for 1,384 yards and 11 touchdowns over 24 games.

Boatman played for Sam Houston State University this past season, dressing for seven games. The six-foot-six, 310-pound blocker started his collegiate career at the University of Houston where he played 26 games over four seasons primarily at right tackle.

Ratke played 58 games over five seasons at James Madison University (2017-21) where he connected on 101-of-117 career field goal attempts (86.3 percent) with a career long of 48 yards. The native of Mechanicsville, Va. is the NCAA’s all-time leader in career field goals (101) and scoring by a kicker (542 points).

Koczwara has previously been a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2019, 2022), Toronto Argonauts (2021), and Mexico’s LFA (2020). The six-foot-three, 305-pound native of London, Ont. played 36 games over five seasons at the University of Waterloo (2014-19). He also spent time coaching with the Warriors in 2019 and 2021.

Pavihi was the fourth overall selection in the 2023 CFL Global Draft after making 233 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, six pass knockdowns, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and two interceptions over 60 games with the University of Hawaii.

The club also confirmed the release of receiver Bralon Addison and Canadian defensive back Zach Herzog.