The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Tuesday that the team has signed six international free agents, including quarterback Jake Waters, wide receivers Michael Preston and Anthony McClung, and offensive linemen Sean Donnelly, Xavier Proctor and Terrael Williams.
Waters, 24, spent time with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars last season. He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jaguars on May 2, 2015. The 6-1, 210-pound native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, led the Kansas State Wildcats to a 17-9 record in 26 starts over two seasons (2013-14), and broke the school’s career records for completion percentage (64.1%), passing efficiency (155.8), total offensive yards per game (260.2) and passing yards per attempt (9.09). In his two-year career with the Wildcats, Waters threw for 5,970 yards, 40 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, and added 796 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns on the ground. He earned Second Team All-Big 12 honours, and was a semi-finalist for the Maxwell Award (nation’s top player) and Davey O’Brien Award (nation’s top quarterback) in 2014.
Preston, 26, was a member of the Tennessee Titans for three seasons (2011-13) and appeared in 11 career NFL games, posting 10 receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He also spent time with the Miami Dolphins in 2015, and had two stints in the Arena Football League with the Utah Blaze (2011) and San Jose SaberCats (2014). The 6-5, 220-pound native of Cleveland, Ohio, played 39 games over four seasons at Heidelberg University, accumulating 167 receptions for 2,748 yards and 27 touchdowns.
McClung, 24, spent time with the Toronto Argonauts in 2015 and attended training camp with the NFL’s Houston Texans in 2014. The 6-0, 177-pound native of Indianapolis, Indiana, played four seasons at the University of Cincinnati from 2010 to 2013. He registered 177 catches for 2,378 yards and 15 touchdowns, and added more than 400 total kick return yards in 47 games played with the Bearcats.
Donnelly, 24, signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s New York Giants on May 7, 2015, attended training camp and was released on September 5. The 6-7, 333-pound native of New York, New York, played 42 games at Tulane from 2011 to 2014, making 12 starts at left tackle in 2012 and 24 starts at right tackle the following two seasons.
Proctor, 25, spent time on the Giants and Detroit Lions practice rosters in the NFL last season. The 6-6, 315-pound native of Morgantown, West Virginia, originally joined the Lions in 2013 and was converted from defensive tackle to offensive tackle in 2015. He played four seasons at North Carolina Central University from 2009 to 2012 at defensive tackle after being redshirted in 2008. Proctor totaled 143 defensive tackles, 10 sacks and one forced fumble in 43 games with the Eagles.
Williams, 27, played four years at Jackson State University, suiting up at right tackle in 2007, left and right guard in 2008, and starting at left tackle in 2009 and 2010. The 6-8, 335-pound native of Dallas, Texas, has spent time in both the Indoor Football League and Arena Football League, including stints with the Omaha Beef and Utah Blaze.