During the 2024 CFL season, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats had a problem that they had not encountered during recent seasons. Their offence, led by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, was firing on all cylinders and having the most consistent success they have had in several seasons. On the defensive side of the ball, things could not have been more different.
The Tiger-Cats defensive front seven struggled to stop their opponent’s run game, and they were also consistent when trying to pressure opposing quarterbacks. Those struggles led to many changes this off-season, including acquiring Ted Goveia as the Tiger-Cats general manager and hiring Brent Monson as the new defensive coordinator for the Tiger-Cats. Goveia spent much of the off-season adding players to the Tiger-Cats roster that he had worked with while working in the front office of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Tiger-Cat’s latest addition to their roster demonstrates that Monson is also attempting to bring in familiar faces from the Calgary Stampeders.
According to the CFL Transactions list, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed American defensive back Branden Dozier. Dozier is joining a Tiger-Cats secondary that is one of the most talented in the CFL, and his versatility and experience should allow him to find an active role during the 2025 season. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are the fourth CFL team that Dozier has played for since 2017.
Dozier started his CFL career in 2017 with the Montreal Alouettes, and he played in 35 games for Montreal during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. While playing for the Alouettes, Dozier recorded 151 tackles and two quarterback sacks, and in 2018, Dozier intercepted five passes. In 2019, Dozier moved on to play one season with the BC Lions, where he played 16 games and registered 70 tackles and one interception.
In 2021, Dozier joined the Calgary Stampeders roster, and he successfully played four seasons with the Stampeders’ defence. During his time in Calgary, Dozier worked with Brent Monson, now Hamilton, DC. While playing for the Stampeders, Dozier played in 51 games and recorded 184 tackles, two quarterback sacks, and two interceptions.
The 5’10”, 200-pound Dozier played college football at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2014 and 2015. During the 2014 season, UNC-Charlotte played an NCAA FCS schedule, playing 11 games. During that time, Dozier posted 52 solo tackles, 34 assisted tackles, and intercepted one pass that he returned for a defensive touchdown. In 2015, the Charlotte 49ers stepped up to an FBS schedule, and Dozier, in 12 games, added 28 solo tackles, 18 assists, and one interception to his collegiate career stats.
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