The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have announced their recent signings from the last week, and the recent trend of adding American skills players continues with the signing of Johnny King and David Vereen. Along with King and Vereen, the Tiger-Cats officially announced the additions of wide receiver Shemar Bridges, running back Calvin Tyler Jr., defensive back Destin Talbert, and alt-football journeyman Jamaican tight end Jevoni Robinson.
The Tiger-Cat’s most recent additions to their roster have shown their effort to add depth to their offensive and defensive skills positions before the CFL free agency period begins on February 13th. Vereen returns to Hamilton after playing one game for the Tiger-Cats during the 2023 season. King is making his first move to the CFL after spending time with NFL teams in 2023.
Johnny King is a 6’5″, 209-pound wide receiver from Lauderdale Lake, Florida. In 2023, King spent limited time with the practice squads for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Indianapolis Colts. Before getting NFL opportunities and signing with the Tiger-Cats, King experienced various college football opportunities.
King started his college football career at Arizona Western Junior College in 2018, where he played in 10 games and had 21 catches for 245 yards and six touchdowns. In 2019, he played at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, where he played in five games and had 18 catches for 198 yards and a touchdown. The Florida native then finished his college football career at Southeast Missouri State from 2020 until 2022. King played in 31 games at Southeast Missouri State; during his three-year career with the Redhawks, he caught 124 passes for 1,638 yards and 13 touchdowns.
David Vereen is a 5’9″, 188-pound defensive back from Florence, South Carolina. During the 2023 CFL season, Vereen played one game for the Tiger-Cats and recorded four defensive tackles. The Philadelphia Stars of the USFL also drafted Vereen in the fall of 2023, but he was not selected by any former USFL or XFL teams when the two leagues merged to create the UFL. In 2022, the Baltimore Ravens signed Vereen as an undrafted free agent, and he also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 and 2023.
Vereen played football at NCAA Division II Newberry College from 2017 until 2021. While at Newberry, Vereen played in 38 games. During those 38 games, he registered 112 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and five interceptions, including one for a touchdown, and he deflected 40 passes.
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