Larry Rountree III earns Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ starting RB job to open 2026 CFL season

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

Larry Rountree III came in and ran away with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ starting running back job entering the 2026 Canadian Football League campaign.

After East Division all-star Greg Bell signed with the Ottawa Redblacks in the offseason, the Ticats needed someone to step up during training camp and earn the lead role.

“Running back was the biggest issue coming into camp,” head coach Scott Milanovich told the media. “Tree [sic] has done a good job, we’re looking forward to seeing him. There’s still plenty of room for improvement. He doesn’t know the offence inside and out yet, but that’s to be expected at this point. We won’t ask him to do too much and just ask him to play football.”

The 27-year-old ball-carrier beat out Americans Shane Watts, Avery Morrow, Trent Battle, and Nahree Biggins for the starting job. Watts, Morrow, and Battle were each cut, while Biggins has been moved to the practice roster. Veteran Canadians Johnny Augustine and Ante Milanovic-Litre will round out the backfield.

The Raleigh, N.C. native rushed nine times for 86 yards in Hamilton’s first preseason game, including a 46-yard burst in the pouring rain. That ability with the ball in his hands was one part that factored into his success in winning the RB1 role. The other was his pass protection skills.

Milanovich liked Rountree III enough to not play him in the Tiger-Cats’ second preseason game at the University of Guelph. He prepared for his CFL opportunity by dropping 30 pounds entering his first CFL training camp after playing four-down football at 235 pounds, reporting to McMaster University at 205 pounds.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-0) will host the Montreal Alouettes (0-0) at Hamilton Stadium on Thursday, June 4 with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT. The Alouettes are coming off a Grey Cup loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, while the Tiger-Cats lost last year’s East Final to Montreal.

The weather forecast in Hamilton calls for a high of 26 degrees and a mix of sun and cloud. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 690 in Montreal and Ticats Audio Network in Hamilton.