The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed American defensive back Lawrence Woods III and Canadian strong-side linebacker Enock Makonzo.
Woods signed with the B.C. Lions in December after finishing last season on Hamilton’s practice roster. He was released by B.C. at the end of last week, making him a free agent.
The five-foot-nine, 180-pound defender made 23 defensive tackles and 21 special teams tackles over two seasons with the Tiger-Cats. He also saw the field as a return specialist, bringing back 56 kickoffs for 1,267 yards and one touchdown.
The native of St. Louis, Mo. made 79 total tackles, 27 pass knockdowns, five interceptions, and two sacks over three collegiate seasons at Truman State before attending training camp with the New Orleans Saints in 2021.
Makonzo was released by the Edmonton Elks this past week. The 27-year-old played only five games due to injury in 2023, recording 11 tackles and one forced fumble.
The five-foot-eleven, 195-pound native of Lachine, Que. was the fourth overall pick in the 2022 CFL Draft out of Coastal Carolina University. He dressed for 16 games as a rookie and made 10 starts at strong-side linebacker, recording 57 total tackles and two sacks.
The Ticats will open their 2024 regular season by visiting the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium on Friday, June 7.
