As the first week of training camp in 2024 concludes for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, it’s evident that head coach Scott Milanovich is poised to leave a significant imprint during his inaugural season in Hamilton. This week, the Tiger-Cats have executed a series of personnel moves, each a testament to Milanovich’s strategic vision and determination to restructure Hamilton’s key position groups. These areas include the defensive lineup, the wide receiver position, and the offensive line and backfield, all changing to enhance performance and competitiveness.
Defensively, the Tiger-Cats have made several moves to get younger talent in key defensive positions and give those new additions opportunities to make explosive plays. On offence, Milanovich released wide receiver Terry Godwin and explained that Hamilton made a move because Milanovich wanted to get taller and more physical players on the perimeter. Along the offensive line, many familiar faces are leading to more continuity among the group of linemen compared to previous seasons in which offensive linemen have been a patchwork group due to many injuries.
For the passionate Tiger-Cats fans, the eagerly awaited opportunity to witness the Team’s new look in action will be the Black and Gold game at McMaster University on Sunday, May 19th, at 7 pm. This game marks the first Black and Gold game since 2013 and serves as a platform for the Team to showcase the adjustments made during the first week of training camp. As the week draws to a close, the Tiger-Cats have bolstered their roster with the addition of National linebacker Trevor Hoyte and National defensive lineman Curtis Woodmansey, further fueling the anticipation for the game.
Newest Additions to the Tiger=Cats Roster
Linebacker Trevor Hoyte is a 6’2″, 220-pound native of Gatineau, Ontario. Hoyte played U Sports football at Carleton, and the Toronto Argonauts drafted Hoyte in the 4th round of the 2021 CFL Draft. From 2021 until 2023, Hoyte played in 49 games for the Argonauts, recording 66 total tackles, including 31 special teams tackles; during the 2023 season, Hoyte played in 18 games, registering 18 total tackles for Toronto.
Defensive lineman Curtis Woodmansey joins his brother Coulter Woodmansey on the Tiger-Cats roster and is looking to compete for a spot on Hamilton’s 2024 roster. Woodmansey is a 6’3″, 290-pound native of Toronto, Ontario, and he played four seasons of U Sports football at the University of Guelph. During his last season at Guelph, he played in nine games and had 11 tackles and a quarterback sack.
Early Exits from Training Camp
Earlier this week, the Tiger-Cats cut several players during the first and second phases of roster cuts in training camp. They have also signed several of their 2024 draft picks, but they have also struggled with injuries early in training camp. Recently signed National linebacker Enock Makonzo has been added to the Six-Game injured list, and the Tiger-Cats have released wide receiver Justin McGriff after he suffered a torn ACL this week. The Tiger-Cats also announced that they have suspended American linebacker DQ Thomas.
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