ONEONTA, NY - Former Hartwick standout quarterback Jason Boltus (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker) signed a deal this past weekend to play professional football in the upcoming season for the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Tiger-Cats are based out of Hamilton, Ontario, just over an hour west of Buffalo, NY.
Boltus, who graduates from Hartwick on Saturday, will head to Hamilton's mini-camp, which begins on June 1. The deal puts an end to three weeks of waiting for the former 'Wick marksman, who was passed on by NFL teams in the draft in late April.
"I'm just glad to know I've found a home and can now get down to what I want to do which is play football," Boltus said. "I'm very happy the Tiger-Cats have given me this opportunity."
Boltus is the all-time NCAA Division III leader in total offense. His career passing yardage ranks 2nd in Division III history and his 134 career touchdown passes ranks 3rd all-time. For the second consecutive season, he was a Gagliardi Regional Finalist, the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year, and d3football.com East Region Offensive Player of the Year. He was selected as an Associated Press Little All-American and was tabbed the both the ECAC Division III Player of the Year and the ECAC Northwest Player of the Year. For the second straight season, he led Division III football in total offense and passing yards per game, and was first in the country this season in points responsible, second in total passing yards, and third in passing efficiency. This past Wednesday, he was named Hartwick's Roy Chipman Memorial Award for Male Athlete of the Year for the second straight year.
"We are very happy for Jason," Hartwick head football coach Mark Carr added. "From day one Jason was a terrific and hard-working individual who took full advantage of his time at Hartwick. He is very deserving of this opportunity to play football professionally. We wish Jason a long and successful career, and we look forward to following his progress as a professional athlete."
Boltus, who hails from Baldwinsville, NY, will be playing home games and several away contests within four hours from home as the Tiger-Cats compete in the same division as the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes.
"Playing so close to home is a big plus for me," said Boltus. "It's great that my family and friends from the Syracuse and Oneonta areas are still going to be able to continue to watch me play."
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium, which seats 30,000 for football. The Cats have won eight Grey Cup titles since 1950 and are looking for their first since 1999. The team, following two preseason games on June 17 (at Winnipeg) and June 23 (hosting Toronto) will play 18 regular-season games beginning July 1 and ending in early-November.
