The Saskatchewan Roughriders released defensive lineman Matt Dean and defensive back Holton Hill on Tuesday.
Matt Dean is six foot one and weighs 227 pounds. The 25-year-old from Ajax, Ontario, was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the third round (21st pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft. In 2023, Dean made one tackle on special teams in four games. Dean played one preseason game against the Edmonton Elks in 2024 making one tackle.
Collegiately, 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.
Holton Hill is six foot two and weighs 196 pounds. The 26-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He made 36 tackles (30 solo, 6 assists), one tackle for loss, one interception, and seven pass breakups in 16 games in his rookie season.
Hill spent three seasons in Minnesota with 73 tackles (61 solo, 12 assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, one interception, and 11 pass breakups in 28 games. After Minnesota, Hill would spend time with the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Then, Hill was drafted by the D.C. Defenders (XFL) in the 2022 XFL Draft but did not see any action. The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Hill on March 1, 2024. He played in one preseason game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2024 making four tackles.
Collegiately, Hill played three seasons at Texas (2015-17) making 122 tackles (92 solo, 30 assists), one tackle for loss, three interceptions for 117 yards, four touchdowns, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 26 games, of which 20 were starts for the Longhorns.
Hill became the third player in Texas history to return an interception for a touchdown in back-to-back games in 2017 against Maryland and San Jose State. He currently ranks second all-time in school history for career interceptions returned for a TD (3) and career non-offensive touchdowns (4). Hill was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2015.
