As CFL teams prepare for the start of free agency in less than a month, they are using this time of year to re-sign their own players before they officially become free agents. In addition, they are making decisions about whether to bring back specific players who are due to become free agents, and they are signing players with athletic potential to make an impact on their teams during training camp. Defensively, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have re-signed defensive end Julian Howsare, cornerback Jamal Peters, and safety Stavros Katsantonis.
In addition to re-signing these veteran standouts, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats continue to stockpile potential defensive playmakers to evaluate during rookie mini-camp. The most recent players added to the Tiger-Cats training camp roster for evaluation are American defensive end Brian Ugwu and defensive back Kaleb Hayes.
If Ugwu and Hayes can demonstrate that they have what it takes to contribute on the field for the Tiger-Cats then there is a great chance that both players can fit into a role on Hamilton’s depth chart. Ugwu could become a rotational pass rusher for the Tiger-Cats to help complement the pass rush ability to Tiger-Cats defensive ends Howsare and Philip Ossai. Hayes comes to Hamilton with multiple years of experience in the NFL and the UFL, and he could fit in as a great special teams player or he could work into the Tiger-Cats defensive backfield which is already one of the best in the CFL.
Brian Ugwu is a 6’3″, 256-pound defensive end that played college football at Rutgers University and Miami University of Ohio. Ugwu played in 3 games for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights from 2019 until 2021, and during those three games he only produced 1 assisted tackle. Ugwu then transferred to Miami of Ohio in 2022 until 2024, and he played in 41 games for the Redhawks recording 74 solo tackles, 90 assists, and 20.5 quarterback sacks.
Kaleb Hayes is a 6’0″, 195-pound defensive back who played college football at Oregon State University (2017-2020) and Brigham Young University (2021-2022). While playing at Oregon State, Hayes appeared in 17 games and registered 32 solo tackles and 14 assists. In 2021, Hayes transferred to BYU, where he played in 25 games and recorded 47 solo tackles and 29 assists.
Hayes also has several years of experience in the NFL and UFL that he is bringing to the CFL. During his time in the NFL, Hayes bounced around from one practice squad to another, starting with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023, the New York Giants and Denver Broncos in 2024, and the Chicago Bears for a portion of the 2025 NFL season. In 2025, Hayes also spent time with the Michigan Panthers in the UFL.
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