The Hamilton Tiger-Cats selected a pair of Australian players today in the 2024 CFL Global Draft including, punter Nik Constantinou (first round, fifth overall) and tight end Thomas Yassmin (second round, 14th overall).
Constantinou, 24, suited up in 13 games last season at Texas A&M University, registering 41 punts for 1,693 yards with a long of 54 yards and 17 punts landing inside the 20-yard line. The 6’3, 225-pound native of Melbourne, Australia, played 48 games over five seasons (2019-23) with the Aggies, registering 191 punts for 8,174 yards (42.8 average) with 77 punts landing inside the 20-yard line and 39 punts of 50 yards or more. He earned various accolades throughout his collegiate career including being named to the Coaches’ All-SEC Second Team (2022), AP All-SEC First Team (2021) and named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award (2020). Constantinou grew up playing Australian Rules Football before redshirting at Texas A&M in 2019.
Yassmin, 23, suited up in five games last season at the University of Utah, registering eight receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown. The 6’5, 250-pound native of Sydney, Australia, suited up in 47 games over five seasons (2019-23) with the Utes, registering 22 receptions for 396 yards and seven touchdowns. Yassmin was a rugby player at The Scots College in New South Wales, Australia, before redshirting at Utah in 2018.