The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced today that they have signed import defensive end Steve Josue, import wide receiver Sulecio Sanford, import linebacker Mickey Donovan and import defensive back Walter Williams.
Josue, Donovan and Sanford all signed one-year (and an option) contracts, while Williams signed for two-years (plus an option).
“These players add a lot of depth to our team,” said GM Rob Katz. “Any time you can sign players like Steve, Sulecio, Walter and Mickey it's definitely going to make us more competitive going into camp, we know the skills they possess and we're expecting to see these players compete.”
Josue, a 6-2, 235-pound Miami Florida native, previously played for the NFL's Green Bay Packers. In the four games he played with the team, he recorded a total of seven tackles. Josue played his entire four-year collegiate career at Carson-Newman. In 2002, he recorded 48 tackles, seven sacks and two-fumble recoveries, including 13 tackles for losses and a team-leading 19 hits on the quarterback. During his junior year, he was selected as a first team All-SAC selection and a finalist for conference Defensive Player of the Year.
In 2004, Sanford, a 5-11, 190-pound Milledgeville, Georgia native, played for the Calgary Stampeders where he recorded 45 catches for 577 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games. In 1999, Sanford was drafted by the NFL's Chicago Bears where he spent two season before playing with NFL Europe's Scottish Claymores. Despite only playing two seasons for the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, Sulecio ranks sixth on the school's reception list with 81 catches averaging over 13 yards per catch over his two-year collegiate career.
Williams, a 6-0, 175-pound native of Miami, Florida played four seasons (2001-04) with Fayetteville State University Broncos. He was a standout for the victorious East squad in the 2005 Whataburger Cactus Bowl in Kingsville, Texas for the NCAA Division 2 all-stars and was named the team's defensive MVP after chalking up one tackle, two interceptions and one pass break-up in their 18-15 come-from-behind win over the West.
Last season, Donovan played for the Ticats in the CFL's pre-season Touchdown Atlantic game in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 2005, Donovan attended the Ticats training camp after being picked up during the team's free agent camp. The 6-1, 230-pound Laconia, New Hampshire native came north for his collegiate career where he attended Concordia University.
