Former Ohio players Donte Harden, a running back, and Bakari Bussey, a wide reciever, will play professionally with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.
The Tiger-Cats have yet to announce the terms of the players' deals.
Harden, a member of the 2011 senior class, finished his Bobcat career with 391 carries for 1,947 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, while recording 48 receptions for 479 yards and four touchdowns. He also was the Bobcats' kick return man, as he recorded 62 returns for 1,405 yards in his career.
In 2011, Harden set a program record with 1,873 all-purpose yards.
Bakari, the son of former Cincinnati Bengals safety Barney Bussey, had 37 receptions for Ohio last season. He appeared in 13 games for the Bobcats and finished the season with 313 receiving yards.
The wide receiver also recently participated in the 2013 Ohio vs. Michigan College Football Senior Bowl, in which he recorded two catches for 84 yards and while also scoring the Ohio squad’s only touchdown on a 72-yard pass play.
Bussey had attended the Detroit Lions’ mini-camp in May, but was not signed to a contract.
He joins offensive lineman Eric Herman and defensive lineman Neal Huynh as the only members of the 2012 Ohio senior class that are currently signed to professional teams.
Herman was drafted in the seventh round of NFL Draft by the New York Giants, while Huynh is currently signed to the Atlanta Falcons after going undrafted.
mk277809@ohiou.edu
Editor's Note: This article was updated after the official announcement of the signing of Harden and Bussey.
