The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed four American players, including quarterback Kevin Thomson, linebacker Jimmy Phillips Jr., and defensive linemen Adam Plant Jr. and Kelle Sanders.
Thomson most recently played for the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL in 2023, though he attempted only two passes as a member of the club.
The 28-year-old spent two seasons with the B.C. Lions in 2021 and 2022, though he did not register any regular season statistics. He suffered a controversial late-game hit from Titus Wall during a preseason game in 2022, which caused an injury.
The six-foot-one, 220-pound passer attended rookie mini-camp with the Carolina Panthers in 2021 but did not sign with the team. He played four collegiate seasons at Sacramento State University where he threw for 6,424 yards, 52 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions over 27 career games. He also recorded 257 carries for 1,247 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Thomson is one of three quarterbacks Hamilton has under contract for the 2024 season alongside Bo Levi Mitchell and Taylor Powell as Matthew Shiltz and Kai Locksley remain pending free agents.
Phillips Jr. most recently spent time with the Green Bay Packers. The 23-year-old native of Mesquite, Texas played 60 collegiate games over five seasons at Southern Methodist University, registering 179 total tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions.
Plant Jr. was a member of the Las Vegas Raiders after going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, though he didn’t make the team’s final roster after training camp. The six-foot-five, 263-pound defender made 139 total tackles, 15 sacks, and four forced fumbles over 28 collegiate games over three seasons at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Sanders was in training camp with the Baltimore Ravens this season, though he was waived upon its conclusion. The six-foot-four, 246-pound edge rusher from Lacey, Wash. played 29 collegiate games over three seasons at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, recording 69 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two pass knockdowns, and one fumble recovery.
