The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed eight players, including five draft picks from the 2023 class on Monday.
They are defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore, defensive back Jaxon Ford, linebacker Matt Dean, running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, offensive lineman Evan Floren, and linebacker Nic Thomas. In addition, they signed wide receiver James Basalyga, fullback Morgan Runge, and defensive lineman Bryan Cox.
Lake Korte-Moore is six foot five and weighs 262 pounds. The 23-year-old from Ottawa, Ontario, was drafted by the Roughriders in the first round (3rd pick) in the 2023 CFL Draft. In his senior season, Korte-Moore made 48 tackles (26 solo, 22 assists), 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, three pass breakups, and one forced fumble in ten games for the Thunderbirds.
Korte-Moore played four seasons at the University of British Columbia (2018-22) with 110 tackles (63 solo, 47 assists), 23 tackles for loss, ten sacks, two interceptions, eight pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 34 games.
Jaxon Ford is six foot and weighs 200 pounds. The 22-year-old from Regina, Saskatchewan, was selected in the second round (11th pick) of the 2023 Draft. In his senior season, Ford made 34 tackles (21 solo, 13 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one touchdown, and one kick return for seven yards in nine games for the Rams in 2022.
Ford played four seasons at the University of Regina (2018-22) with 130 tackles (85 solo, 45 assists), 10.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, five interceptions, 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one touchdown, and one blocked kick in 29 games. He was named U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star in 2022.
Matt Dean is six foot one and weighs 227 pounds. The 23-year-old from Ajax, Ontario, was drafted in the third round (21st pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft.
Dean played four seasons at York University (2018-22) with 115 tackles (90 solo, 53 assists), 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions for 16 yards, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, and one kick return for 13 yards in 31 games for the Lions. He was named an OUA All-Star and Team MVP in 2022 and to the OUA All-Rookie Team in 2018.
Thomas Bertrand-Hudon is six foot and weighs 227 pounds. The 26-year-old from Mont Saint-Halaire, Quebec, was drafted in the fourth round (30th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft.
Bertrand-Hudon played four seasons at Delaware State (2019-22) with 239 carries for 1,016 yards, 10 touchdowns, 11 catches for 51 yards, and one kick return for 10 yards in 27 games for the Hornets.
Evan Floren is six foot four and weighs 303 pounds. The 23-year-old from Ancaster, Ontario, was taken in the seventh round (57th pick) of the 203 CFL Draft. Floren played 21 games in four seasons at Queen’s University (2019-22) playing left guard.
Floren, along with the offensive line helped the Gaels finish second in the OUA in rushing at 239.3 yards per game and fourth with 227.3 passing yards per game. He was named OUA First-Team All-Star and a U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian after the 2022 season.
Nic Thomas is five foot ten and weighs 218 pounds. The 25-year-old from Surrey, British Columbia, was selected in the seventh round (60th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft.
Thomas played four seasons at the University of Manitoba (2018-22) with 107 tackles (73 solo, 34 assists), seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 24 games for the Bisons. He was named a U SPORTS and Canada West All-Star in 2021 after making 50 tackles (32 solo, 18 assists), four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in seven games.
James Basalyga is five foot eleven and weighs 188 pounds. The 23-year-old from Thunder Bay, Ontario, played four seasons at Waterloo (2018-22) with 79 catches for 1,309 yards, 12 touchdowns, one carry for three yards, and 26 punt returns for 232 yards in 28 games for the Warriors. He was named a Second-Team All-OUA All-Star in 2021.
Morgan Runge is six foot one and weighs 216 pounds. The 25-year-old from Whitecourt, Alberta, played two seasons at the University of Alberta (2021-22) with six catches for 43 yards, one touchdown, and three tackles in eight games for the Golden Bears.
In addition, Runge played for the Edmonton Huskies (CJFL) for three seasons with five carries for 69 yards, one touchdown, and seven catches for 72 yards in six games.
Bryan Cox is six foot three and weighs 270 pounds. The 28-year-old from St. Louis, Missouri, was with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. Cox signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He played three seasons in Carolina with two tackles in one game.
In addition, he had stints with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills. He played 26 career NFL games with 31 tackles (12 solo, 31 assists), half a sack, and one fumble recovery. Collegiately, Cox played five seasons at the University of Florida (2012-16) with 98 tackles (45 solo, 53 assists), 10 sacks, one pass breakup, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 45 games for the Gators.
