Howsare, Hamilton Tiger-Cats looking to finish what they started last season

HAMILTON — Julian Howsare was a one-man wrecking crew last season.

The veteran American defensive end was the East Division’s top defensive player with a career-high 13 sacks. But after securing first in the standings, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ promising season ended with a 19-16 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the conference final.

So this year, Howsare wants the Ticats to finish what they started in 2025.

“As a group we didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish so that’s the main goal,” he said. “Just try to build off of last year and keep it going.”

The six-foot-three, 255-pound Howsare registered 43 tackles, an interception and two forced fumbles in all 18 regular-season games. Howsare can expect to receive plenty of attention from opposing offensive co-ordinators this season.

But the 33-year-old, who’s entering his sixth season in Hamilton and eighth in the CFL, said there are many others on the Ticats defence capable of taking advantage of the resulting one-on-one matchups.

“The good thing is we have a great defence and great defensive line,” he said. “So at the end of the day they can focus on me but we have 11 other guys who can make plays and make things happen.”

Hamilton head Scott Milanovich agrees.

“Howse gets it, he understands the scheme, he’s a talented player,” Milanovich said. “We’ve got a talented defensive line, I think, across the board.

“I think our defensive staff knows our personnel better than we did at this time a year ago and knows how to utilize them better.”

Brent Monson enters his second season as Hamilton’s defensive co-ordinator but Howsare is very familiar with Monson’s schemes. He spent two seasons playing for Calgary (2023-24) under Monson as the defensive co-ordinator.

Howsare and Philip Ossai are projected as Hamilton’s starting defensive ends with Miles Fox and Mario Kendricks Jr. expected to line up at tackle.

The six-foot, 258-pound Ossai had 39 tackles and eight sacks in 12 games last season while the six-foot, 294-pound Kendricks added five sacks. Fox, at six foot one and 300 pounds, enters his fifth CFL campaign and second with Hamilton.

There will be a new but familiar face in the middle of Hamilton’s defence. Wynton McManis, who helped the rival Toronto Argonauts win two Grey Cups during his four seasons there, joined the Ticats in the off-season.

He replaces Canadian Devin Veresuk (NFL’s Indianapolis Colts). Veteran Reggie Stubblefield returns for a second season in Hamilton while Braxton Hill, who appeared in eight games last season, could see more time at weakside linebacker.

All-star cornerback Jamal Peters, halfback Destin Talbert and veteran Canadian safety Stavros Katsantonis anchor a Hamilton secondary that’s minus veterans DaShaun Amos (Toronto) and Jonathan Moxey (Winnipeg). Quavian White and Zamari Walton, both entering their second CFL seasons, are projected to start at field halfback and cornerback, respectively.

Canadian kicker Marc Liegghio comes off a stellar ’25 season that saw him make 52-of-56 field goals (92.9 per cent) and 46-of-48 converts while also handling kickoff duties. Returner Isaiah Wooden Sr. is also back after signing in the off-season with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.

Hamilton will have a new punter in Australian rookie Mitch McCarthy, who replaces countryman Nik Constantinou (Cleveland, NFL) and will also serve as Liegghio’s holder.

Veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell returns for a fourth season in Hamilton. The 36-year-old Texan was the East’s outstanding player for a second straight year after leading the CFL in passing (5,296 yards) and TDs (career-best 36).

But Hamilton will be minus Greg Bell (1,038 rushing yards last season), who’s now with the Ottawa Redblacks.

Veteran Kenny Lawler was stellar last season, his first in Hamilton. The six-foot-one, 180-pound receiver had 86 catches for 1,443 yards and 14 TDs and earned a three-year extension this off-season reportedly worth $1-million.

Lawler anchors a solid receiving corps that returns Canadians Kiondre Smith (86 catches, 1,126 yards, five TDs) and David Ungerer III (53 catches, 653 yards, two TDs) and American Shemar Bridges (83 catches, 933 yards, four TDs in ’24). Hamilton also added Canadian Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (62 catches, 777 yards, four TDs) and American Keric Wheatfall (42 catches, 655 yards, four TDs) in free agency

Veteran Canadian guard Brandon Revenberg, four times the East Division’s top lineman and a five-time league all-star, enters his 11th season in Hamilton. The Ticats did lose Canadian offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey and Brendan Bordner (both Edmonton) in free agency but added Canadian centre Chris Kolankowski after he was released by Winnipeg.

SEASON SNAPSHOT

2025 record — 11-7, first, East Division

Did you know?: The franchise last won the Grey Cup in 1999 when Hamilton downed Calgary 32-21 in Vancouver. This stands as the CFL’s longest championship drought.

Key additions: LB Wynton McManis (Toronto), QB Tre Ford (Edmonton) and WRs Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (Edmonton) and Keric Wheatfall (Winnipeg).

Key losses: LB Devin Veresuk (Indianapolis, NFL), QB Taylor Powell (Edmonton), OLs Brendan Bordner (Edmonton) and Coulter Woodmansey (Edmonton), RB Greg Bell (Ottawa), WR Tim White (Winnipeg), DBs DaShaun Amos (Toronto) and Jonathan Moxey (Winnipeg), DL Casey Sayles (B.C.), P Nik Constantiou (Cleveland, NFL).

Players to watch: QB Bo Levi Mitchell, WRs Kenny Lawler, Kiondre Smith and Shemar Bridges, McManis, DL Julian Howsare.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2026.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press