The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that the team has re-signed national defensive linemen Everett Ellefsen and Stephen Mawa, and national offensive lineman Everton Williams. The Tiger-Cats also announced that national defensive lineman Ricky Osei-Kusi and national linebacker Geoff Hughes have signed contracts with the club.
Ellefsen, a 6-3, 233-pound, native of Madisonville, Louisiana appeared in three games with the Tiger-Cats in 2015, including his CFL debut on August 21 at Edmonton. He was selected by Hamilton in the sixth round, 51st overall, in the 2015 CFL Draft. Ellefsen appeared in 35 games from 2010 to 2014 at McNeese State and finished his NCAA career with 111 total tackles, 10 quarterback sacks, 21 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and an interception. He was named All-Louisiana First Team and All-SCL First Team Defensive Line in 2013.
Mawa, selected by the Tiger-Cats in the sixth round, 53rd overall, in the 2014 CFL Draft, spent the 2015 season on Hamilton’s practice roster. The 6-4, 275-pound native of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia played two seasons (2013-14) at UBC after transferring from Santa Rosa Junior College, accumulating a total of 27.5 tackles (21 solo, 13 assisted), eight quarterback sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Williams, a 6-6, 285-pound converted offensive lineman also spent last season on Hamilton’s practice roster. The native of Toronto played 27 games over four seasons (2011-14) at the University of Toronto at defensive end. He recorded 64.5 defensive tackles (56 solo, 17 assisted), nine tackles for loss, 4.5 quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a blocked kick. Williams was originally signed as a free agent by the Tiger-Cats on April 21, 2015.
Osei-Kusi, a 2014 OUA First Team All-Star and CIS Second Team All-Canadian, played in six games with the Western Mustangs in 2015, registering 20 tackles (13 solo, 14 assisted), seven sacks, nine tackles for loss and two pass knock downs. In 35 games over five seasons (2011-2015) at Western, the 6-1, 228-pound native of Brampton, Ontario posted 102 tackles (78 solo, 48 assisted), 20 sacks, 33.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 13 pass knock downs.
Hughes, a 6-1, 210-pound native of Regina, Saskatchewan suited up in 27 games over five seasons for the University of Saskatchewan from 2011 to 2015. He posted career stats of 88 tackles (62 solo, 52 assisted), 3.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and six pass knock downs with the Huskies, while being named an Academic All-Canadian in every season.