Ticats, Masoli sign new deal through 2019

CFL.ca Staff

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

The deal comes one day after the team traded Zach Collaros to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in exchange for a second round pick (10th overall) in the 2018 CFL Draft.

Masoli started 10 games for the Ticats, winning six of them, after taking over as the starting quarterback on Labour Day.

“Jeremiah is a proven dual-threat quarterback who’s outstanding work ethic, competitive nature and resilience is infectious to his teammates and everyone on our staff,” said June Jones, head coach of the Tiger-Cats. “We’re very excited to have him back in Hamilton for the next two seasons as he continues to elevate his game to new levels.”

Masoli was due to become a free agent on Feb. 13.

Masoli, 29, appeared in all 18 regular season games for the Ticats in 2017, registering 249 completions on 391 pass attempts (63.7%) for 3,177 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, while adding 70 carries for 446 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

After being named Hamilton’s starting quarterback on Sept. 4, Masoli led the Canadian Football League the rest of the season in passing yards (3,032) and rushing yards by a quarterback (384), was tied for second in passing touchdowns (15), and had the second-least interceptions (4) among starting quarterbacks over that span.

He also earned Shaw Top Performer honours twice (Week 12 and Week 16) and was named a Shaw Top Performer of the Month in October.

Masoli finished the season with five straight games of 300 or more passing yards.

In five seasons with the Tiger-Cats (2013-17), the native of San Francisco, Calif. has passed for 6,325 yards, rushed for 771 yards and posted 45 touchdowns (33 passing, 12 rushing). Eighteen of his 19 career CFL regular season starts have come in the last two seasons.

Masoli was acquired by Hamilton on February 5, 2013 from Edmonton along with linebacker Simoni Lawrence and offensive lineman Greg Wojt in exchange for linebacker Nathan Kanya and offensive lineman Carson Rockhill.

It was initially reported on Wednesday that the Ticats were close to a deal with both Masoli and pending free agent receiver Brandon Banks.

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