Ticats release kicker Ryan Hawkins

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have released kicker Ryan Hawkins, per sources.

Hawkins played in Thursday’s 30-29 exhibition loss to the Ottawa Redblacks punting five times for a 35 yard net and his two kickoffs averaged 54 yards, including one out of bounds. He did not attempt a field goal but has struggled with place-kicking in training camp

The 23-year-old Hawkins played four years at Northern Arizona University, making 24 of his 29 field goal attempts (82.8 per cent) and punting 73 times for an average of 47.7 yards.

Meanwhile, the Ottawa Redblacks made the signing of former Ticat kicker Brett Maher official while also releasing American Ray Early. Early also played Thursday, punting five times for a 43 yard average and going two-for-two on field goals, including a 37-yard game-winner late in the fourth quarter.

With Hawkins gone, bringing in Early to compete with Sergio Castillo would make sense for the Ticats, who have just over two weeks to sort out their kicking situation ahead of the season-opener on June 25.