The day after the Tiger-Cats announced the signing of five new American players, including wide receiver Cameron Batson, Kaylon Geiger, and offensive lineman Brendan Bordner, Hamilton continued to sign players who have taken a unique path to Hamilton. The newest player signed by the Tiger-Cats, according to the CFL Transactions list, tight end Jevoni Robinson, has followed the most unusual path to the Tiger-Cats. Unlike the other recently signed players, Robinson is a Global player and did not play college football.
Robinson is a 31-year-old, 6’8″, 225-pound tight end originally from Jamaica. While Robinson is from Jamaica, he did play high school football at Independence High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. Coming out of high school, Robinson decided to play basketball at North Carolina State; on the transactions list, Berry College is his listed college, but Robinson went to NCAA Division II Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. While at Barry, he played basketball, and the university did not have a football team. He then chose to play one season of professional basketball in Italy.
Robinson’s unlike professional football career began in 2018 when the Houston Texans were intrigued by his size and athleticism. Texans’ head coach at the time, Bill O’Brien, showed enough interest in Robinson’s potential to bring him into the Texans’ rookie minicamp. The Texans signed Robinson to their practice squad because of his upside and athleticism.
Since leaving the Texans, Robinson has explored several opportunities in multiple alt-football leagues. Robinson has played with the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF in 2019, the Sea Lions of the Spring League in 2021, the Saint Louis Battlehawks of the XFl in 2021, and he signed with the BC Lions in the spring of 2023. Robinson’s verifiable stats show he had three receptions for 19 yards with the Sea Lions in 2021.
Robinson’s next opportunity to make his mark in professional football is with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Up to this point, Robinson has been a raw athlete with elite size, but teams have yet to be able to help him find a path to live up to his physical potential. In 2024, the Tiger-Cats will be the next team to have an opportunity to turn the Jamaican tight end into a player who can play up to his potential.
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