Hamilton Tiger-Cats add defensive back with kick return experience
Published April 28, 2022 at 6:40 pm
Defensive back Lawrence Woods III has entered the chat about who could bolster the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ return game.
The Tiger-Cats announced Thursday that they have signed Woods, a 24-year-old who most recently spent training camp with the National Football League’s New Orleans Saints in 2021. The five-foot-nine, 180-pound St. Louis native was a standout returner during his three seasons at NCAA Division II Truman State, where he had 17 kickoff returns for 869 yards and five kick return touchdowns in his career.
As a cornerback on defence, Woods recorded 79 total tackles, three tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks and five interceptions across 25 career games at Truman State.
Last season, scoring in the Canaidan Football League dropped to a more than 40-year low. The lack of exhibition games before the pandemic-shortened 14-game regular season likely did not help offences, but earlier this week the league announced a suite of rule changes aimed at increasing scoring.
In the special teams phase, all no-yard penalties will now be 15 yards. Previously, teams were penalized five yards if a punt hit the ground first and 15 yards if they infringed upon the five-yard area around a returner while the ball was still in the air. Also, punts that go out of bounds before reaching an opponent’s 15-yard line will result in a penalty rather than only those that go out before the 20-yard line.
Kickoffs after a touchdown or to begin a half will be from the 30-yard line, instead of the 35. And kickoffs after a safety will be from the 20-yard line, instead of the 25.
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Frankie Williams has given Hamilton a solid return threat in recent seasons. Last season, Williams gained 922 yards fielding kickoffs and punts, with respective averages of 23.1 and 10.2 yards and one return touchdown. Wide receivers David Ungerer III and Papi White also saw return duty.
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