HAMILTON, Ontario – Former James Madison kicker Ethan Ratke has signed his first professional contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, the franchise announced on Wednesday.
A two-time Consensus FCS All-American (2020 and 2021), Ratke reset the NCAA record books, as he finished his career as the NCAA all-division leader in career field goals (101) and scoring by a kicker (542). He also ranked second in FCS history in career scoring by any player and was 13th on the NCAA all-time scoring list by any player in any division.
Ratke won the 2021 Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place Kicker Award, given the nation’s top kicker from any division outside of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
In his senior season, he set JMU and Colonial Athletic Association single-season records while tying the FCS mark with 29 made field goals on 32 attempts. He tacked on 63-of-64 extra points to finish the year with 150 points, ranking second in JMU single-season history. Ratke led the nation with 2.07 field goals per game and ranked second in the FCS in scoring per game (10.7) and fourth in field-goal percentage (90.4%).
Ratke becomes the third former JMU player to sign with the Tiger-Cats, joining Evan McCollough (2005-08) and Mike Cawley (1993-95).
He is one of two Dukes currently signed to a CFL roster, as Bryce Carter (2021) plays for the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
— JMU Athletics —
