The Hamilton Tiger-Cats made a flurry of roster moves on Thursday, signing seven players and extending versatile Canadian fullback Bailey Feltmate.
The 25-year-old was originally selected in the second round of the 2020 CFL Draft by the Ticats, suiting up in 43 games for the team while amassing 35 special teams tackles and four defensive tackles in three seasons. The six-foot-two, 240-pound native of Moncton, N.B. converted from linebacker to fullback in training camp in 2023, notching 15 special teams tackles in 16 games.
Also receiving new contracts were five members of the 2023 CFL Draft class, including defensive back Patrick Burke Jr., defensive lineman Reece Martin, defensive back Robert Panabaker, linebacker Dyton Blackett and receiver Jacob Patten.
Burke was selected in the fourth round, 29th overall, by the Ticats in 2023, seeing action in 14 games as a rookie before finishing the year on the practice roster. The six-foot-two, 200-pound product of Wilfrid Laurier University registered eight defensive tackles and four special teams tackles.
Martin was selected two picks later, also in the fourth round, but returned to Mount Allison University for his fifth season. The six-foot-five, 285-pound defensive tackle has posted 89 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his collegiate career, earning first-team All-Canadian honours in 2021.
Panabaker was chosen with the 40th overall pick in the fifth round and was sent back to Western University after training camp. The six-foot, 190-pound defender has racked up 112 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, seven interceptions, two forced fumbles and 23 pass breakups in 44 career games for the powerhouse Mustangs.
Blackett went undrafted in 2023 before attending training camp with Hamilton as a free agent. He returned to St. FX upon his release, finishing his five-year career with the X-Men with 85.5 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and three interceptions in 30 games.
Patten joins the team as an undrafted free agent following a three-year absence from football. The 24-year-old began his collegiate career at UBC, racking up 51 receptions for 751 yards and five touchdowns during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The six-foot, 190-pound pass catcher fell silent until 2023 when he resurfaced with McMaster University, posting 26 catches for 298 yards and three touchdowns in five games.
Also joining the team are a pair of American receivers who have previously spent time with the organization, Chris Coleman and Justin McGriff.
Coleman joined the team in September and finished the year on the practice roster. The five-foot-11, 192-pound pass catcher made 48 receptions for 702 yards and five touchdowns over two seasons at Cal Poly University, prior to a training camp stint with the Miami Dolphins in 2023.
McGriff was a training camp standout with the Tiger-Cats in 2023 but suffered a season-ending injury in May, resulting in his release. The six-foot-six, 215-pound mismatch played 33 games at Utah State University, posting 80 receptions for 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns.
