On Sunday, the Saskatchewan Roughriders signed former University of Alabama-Birmingham wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. and defensive lineman Jordan Herdman-Reed.
Austin Watkins Jr. is a 24-year-old from Fort Myers, Florida. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and made it to their practice squad. This year, Watkins Jr. spent time with the Tampa Buccaneers.
Austin Watkins Jr. played three seasons at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (2018-20) with 98 catches for 1,642 yards and nine touchdowns. Before UAB, Watkins Jr. played two seasons (2016-17) at Dodge City Community College with 62 catches for 706 yards and five touchdowns.
Jordan Herdman-Reed is a 28-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and played for the Roughriders in 2021 with one tackle and two special teams tackles in nine games. The BC Lions drafted Herdman-Reed in the seventh round (60th pick) in the 2017 CFL Draft out of Simon Fraser.
Jordan Herdman-Reed played three seasons with the Lions (2017-19) with 95 tackles, 44 special teams tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble.