Earlier this week, the Tiger-Cats made roster additions to add much-needed reinforcements to their defensive line. Those additions included adding American defensive end Julian Howsare and signing defensive lineman Phillip Ossai. Howsare returns to the Tiger-Cats after spending two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders.
For teams to win in the CFL, having a strong defensive line and a strong defensive secondary is critical. Howsare and Ossai should help improve the defensive line, and today, the CFL Transactions list shows that the Tiger-Cats have signed American defensive back DJ Daniel. Daniel brings experience from the USFL and the UFL, and he has the potential to be an essential part of the Tiger-Cats’ defensive backfield, potentially as a cornerback.
Daniel comes to the CFL after starting his professional football career with the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2021 NFL season. The 6’0″, 185-pound cornerback moved onto his first stint in a spring football league while playing for the New Jersey Generals in the USFL in 2022 and 2023. While playing for the Generals, Daniel played in 10 games, intercepted three passes, recorded 27 solo tackles and three assists, and achieved All-USFL status in 2023.
In 2024, Daniel spent another season playing spring football with the Memphis Showboats in the UFL. Daniel played in six games for the Showboats and ended the season with 14 solo tackles, one assist, and one interception. Experience playing in the USFL and UFL should translate well to the CFL, and similar to Ossai, Daniel could be a significant diamond in the rough candidate for the Tiger-Cats.
Before starting his professional football journey, Daniel played college football at the University of Georgia in 2019 and 2020. Daniel played in 21 games for the Bulldogs and ended his career at Georgia with 44 solo tackles and seven assists. Before playing at Georgia, Daniel played two seasons at Georgia Military College; he played in 19 games and intercepted five passes, registering 32 solo tackles and four assists.
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