For the last several weeks, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have made several investments in improving their defensive front seven. Please make no mistake: the defensive front seven was a problem in 2024, and they need to do as much as they can to improve that area on the defensive side of the ball. While attempting to fix a problem like a poor-performing defensive front seven, it can be easy to develop tunnel vision, but the Tiger-Cats have avoided that pitfall so far.
The Tiger-Cat’s most recent addition to their roster demonstrates that while GM Ted Goveia focuses on upgrading the defensive line and linebacking units, he also keeps an eye open for potentially transformative players. According to the CFL Transactions list, the Tiger-Cats have signed American defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight. A significant intangible quality that separates Knight from other free agents is his belief that he has not received a fair chance to make a team in the NFL.
The 6’0″, 199-pound Knight is a native of Gretna, Florida, and he comes to the CFL with significant experience from working with NFL teams. In 2022, the San Francisco 49ers signed Knight as an undrafted free agent. Knight spent the 2022 and some of the 2023 NFL seasons with the 49ers before San Francisco released him.
After being released by the 49ers, Knight was signed by the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. NFL records show that he played in 6 games but did not generate any stats with the Cardinals. Other reports state that he was only on the Cardinal practice squad. Despite the inconsistency, the NFL experience should provide Knight with tools to find success in the CFL.
While at the University of Maryland, Knight played in 27 games and recorded 33 solo tackles and 12 assists. Next, Knight transferred to Kent State and played in 11 more games. He added 46 solo tackles, 28 assists, and 1.5 quarterback sacks to his career stats. In 2020, Knight transferred again to UCLA, where he played in 19 games and registered 76 solo tackles, 30 assists, and five quarterback sacks.
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