January 22, 2019

Ticats sign Rashad Lawrence; three others

Geoff Robins/CFL.ca

HAMILTON — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed four international players on offence, including wide receivers Rashad Lawrence and Cam Echols-Luper, quarterback DeVante Kincade and running back Ray Lawry, the team announced on Tuesday.

Lawrence, 26, played 10 regular season games with the Tiger-Cats in his first Canadian Football League season in 2018, registering 17 receptions for 131 yards and returning six kickoffs for 101 yards (16.8 average). The 6-2, 190-pound native of Orlando, Florida appeared in 13 National Football League preseason games over four seasons with the Miami Dolphins (2017), New Orleans Saints (2017), Jacksonville Jaguars (2016), Chicago Bears (2014) and Washington Redskins (2014). Prior to turning pro, Lawrence registered 96 receptions for 1,165 yards and two touchdowns in 51 games over four seasons at Northwestern University (2010-13).

Echols-Luper, 23, spent time on the Tiger-Cats practice roster last season after attending minicamp with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. The 6-0, 195-pound wide receiver split his collegiate career between Western Kentucky University (2017), Arkansas State University (2016) and Texas Christian University (2013-14). In 10 games with the Hilltoppers in 2017, the Ennis, Texas native registered 42 receptions for 473 yards and four touchdowns, while adding two carries for six yards.

Kincade, 24, signed with the Tiger-Cats and spent time on the team’s practice roster in September 2018. The 6-1, 190-pound native of Dallas, Texas led Grambling State University to an 11-2 record and their second-consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship in 2017, completing 217-of-368 passes for 2,905 yards with 23 touchdowns and four interceptions. In two seasons with the Tigers (2016-17), Kincade threw for 6,011 yards with 56 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions, rushed for 811 yards on 228 carries with 12 rushing touchdowns, and earned SWAC Offensive Player of the Year honours both years. He also played two seasons at the University of Mississippi (2014-15) before transferring to Grambling State.

Lawry, 22, spent time in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, playing in one preseason game for each team. The 5-10, 205-pound running back is the Old Dominion University football all-time leading rusher, compiling 4,080 yards on 660 carries over four seasons (2014-17). A native of Logan Township, New Jersey, Lawry ended his college career as the all-time FBS leader in rushing in the state of Virginia, and his 45 career rushing touchdowns tied for the third-best total in Conference USA history. The four-time Conference USA postseason honoree (Freshman of the Year – 2014, Second Team – 2015, and two-time Honorable Mention – 2016-17) added 60 receptions for 496 yards and three receiving touchdowns during his four seasons with the Monarchs.