TIGER-CATS ADD EIGHT DEFENSIVE BACKS

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Friday that the team has signed eight international free agent defensive backs, including Mike Harris, Chase Minnifield, Quinton Pointer, Latarrius Thomas, Darnell Burks, Mike Reives, Chris Davis and Travis Lee.

Harris, 27, has appeared in 36 career NFL games, including nine starts, since 2012 with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2012-13) and New York Giants (2014), posting 113 defensive tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and 10 passes defended. The 5-10, 188-pound native of Miami, Florida, also had a stint on the Detroit Lions practice roster in 2014. He was drafted out of Florida State University by the Jaguars in the sixth round, 176th overall, in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Minnifield, 27, played seven games, including one start, with the NFL’s Washington Redskins in 2014, notching four defensive tackles. He has also served a few stints on the Redskins practice roster since being signed as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2012. The 6-0, 185-pound native of Lexington, Kentucky, played four seasons at Virginia from 2008 to 2011, serving as the team’s main kick/punt returner for the first-three seasons, and starting at cornerback for the final two.

Pointer, 28, appeared in eight NFL games with the St. Louis Rams over two seasons (2012-13), registering six defensive tackles. He has also spent time in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014 and, most recently, the Baltimore Ravens last season. The 5-9, 186-pound native of Fort Myers, Florida, played four years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) from 2007 to 2010.

Thomas, 28, suited up in four games for the Arena Football League’s Pittsburgh Power in 2014. He attended the Indianapolis Colts training camp in 2012 after signing as an undrafted free agent. The 6-1, 210-pound native of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, played three seasons at Louisville (2006-08) and two at Eastern Michigan (2010-11) during his collegiate career.

Burks, 26, played his college ball at Fort Valley State. The 5-11, 190-pound native of Shellman, Georgia, has spent time in the Arena Football League and Indoor Football League with numerous teams since 2010, including the Milwaukee Mustangs, Chicago Rush and Nebraska Danger.

Reives, 22, is a 6-0, 185-pound safety from Sanford, North Carolina. He played four seasons at Averett University from 2012 to 2015, posting 185 defensive tackles, three interceptions, two sacks, four forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries in 34 games.

Davis, 23, is a 6-0, 175-pound cornerback from Atlanta, Georgia. He played one season at Southern Illinois in 2013 after two seasons at El Camino Community College.

Lee attended the Cleveland Browns rookie mini-camp in 2015. The 6-0, 180-pound native of Atlanta, Georgia, began his collegiate career at Tuskegee University before transferring to Miles College in 2014. He had nine interceptions and 13 pass break ups overall.