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As the Hamilton Tiger-Cats progress through training camp, head coach Scott Milanovich and his coaching staff are evaluating players and making decisions about their futures. Along the way, the Tiger-Cats are also working to secure commitments from their last remaining draft picks and add depth to key positions. Therefore, this week the Hamilton roster is in flux, with players being released and added simultaneously.
The latest additions to the Tiger-Cats roster are 2026 CFL Global draft pick Mitch McCarthy, who will compete as a punter, and American linebacker Jordan Crook, who is expected to add depth to the linebacker unit.
Known for his pinpoint accuracy, Australian punter Mitch McCarthy now joins the Tiger-Cats after Hamilton selected him in the 2nd round of the 2026 CFL Global Draft. McCarthy recently capped a standout year as Indiana’s punter, helping the Hoosiers win the FBS National Championship. Tiger-Cats fans are already abuzz with excitement about his collegiate success and the impact he could bring to Hamilton. At Indiana, he appeared in 14 games and punted 37 times, averaging 41.6 yards per attempt. He pinned offenses inside their 20-yard line 15 times. Prior to Indiana, McCarthy spent three seasons at Central Florida, playing in 37 games from 2022 to 2024. With the Golden Knights, he punted 117 times for 43.0-yard average and pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 39 times.
During his college football career, McCarthy has developed a reputation for placing the ball where he wants to control field position, thanks to his directional accuracy and precision. In addition, McCarthy has demonstrated elite operating speed, averaging 1.3 seconds from snap to kick. McCarthy can punt the ball in a traditional style, as well as execute rugby-style punts.
American linebacker Jordan Crook comes to Hamilton with hopes of earning a spot on the Tiger-Cats' defensive front seven as a Will linebacker. The 5'11", 220-pound Crook is a native of Duncanville, Texas, and he played college football at the University of Arkansas (2022-2023) and Arizona State University (2024-2025). While playing for the Razorbacks, Crook played in 25 games and recorded 16 solo tackles, 24 assists, and 1.0 quarterback sacks. In 2024, Crook transferred to Arizona State, where he played in 24 additional games, and he registered 80 solo tackles, 78 assists, 2.0 quarterback sacks, and 2 interceptions.
Crook has developed a reputation as an elite run defender despite being a smaller linebacker by traditional standards. In addition, Crook has demonstrated outstanding play recognition and is relentless in pursuing ball carriers. While Crook sometimes struggles when making tackles or dropping into pass coverage, he is excellent when playing inside the box and dropping into short zones.
Complete List of the Next Round of Roster Cuts for Hamilton
Along with adding McCarthy and Crook to the training camp roster, the Tiger-Cats have announced another round of cuts. Offensively, they have released American wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi, American offensive lineman Quinn Carroll, National wide receiver Keaton Bruggeling, and Global punter Fraser Masin. On defense, cuts include American linebacker Jayden McDonald, American defensive ends Dawson Scott and Maalik Hall, National defensive lineman Kail Dava, and American defensive backs Gabe Jeudy-Lally and Josiah Scott.
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