From the start of the new year to the start of free agency in February, CFL teams look for talent at an economical price that could impact their roster. For the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, this time of year is an opportunity to load up on potential playmakers before they spend large amounts of money on free agents that may or may not make an impact in 2025. So far in January, the Tiger-Cats have loaded up on available talent on their defensive line and backfield. Still, they have added a few players with potential upside on running back and wide receiver, like Griffin Hebert, who the Tiger-Cats signed a few weeks ago.
This week, the Tiger-Cats signed another American wide receiver who had seen success previously in the UFL and USFL. The CFL Transactions list shows that the Tiger-Cats have signed former Birmingham Stallions wide receiver Isaiah Zuber to their roster. For Zuber, coming to Hamilton is an opportunity to prove that he can be a playmaker after playing a limited role with the Stallions in the spring of 2024 as Birmingham won their third straight spring football championship when they won the UFL championship.
During that 2024 UFL season, Zuber played three games for the Birmingham Stallions and caught two passes for six yards. While those stats are not impressive, Zuber is the touchdown reception leader for the Houston Gamblers during the 2022 USFL season with five touchdown catches. Zuber played in seven games for the Gamblers during the 2022 and 2023 USFL seasons and caught 36 passes for 425 yards during those games.
In addition to Zuber’s UFL and USFL experiences, the 6’0″, 190-pound wide receiver from Stone Mountain, Georgia, has also spent time with several NFL teams. During the 2020 and 2021 NFL seasons, Zuber spent time with the New England Patriots, and Zuber played in 4 games for the Patriots, catching two passes for 29 yards and running the ball two times for 21 yards. In 2021, the Patriots released Zuber, and he spent short stints with the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets on their practice squad rosters.
After Zuber’s success with the Houston Gamblers in 2022, he was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders and spent the 2022 and 2023 NFL seasons with the Raiders. The story of Zuber’s career is that many teams have seen his potential, but he has yet to consistently live up to those expectations. Coming to a veteran-heavy wide receiver unit in Hamilton may help him discover the playmaking ability that he flashed in college.
Zuber started his college football career at Kansas State, where he played in 37 games for the Wildcats from 2015 until 2018. While at Kansas State, Zuber caught 127 passes for 1,321 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also showed some potential as a kickoff and punt returner, recording 329 kickoff return yards on 19 returns and 178 punt return yards on 10 returns, and returning a punt for a touchdown.
In 2019, Zuber transferred to Mississippi State, where he played in 13 games for the Bulldogs. While playing for the Bulldogs, he caught 14 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns. Zuber also had 12 kickoff returns for 189 yards.
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