The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed running back Ryquell Armstead and linebacker Braxton Hill on Monday.
Ryquell Armstead is five foot eleven and weighs 230 pounds. The 27-year-old from Millville, New Jersey, re-signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on November 28, 2023. In 2024, Armstead had 125 carries for 623 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 35 catches for 284 yards in 11 games. The Redblacks released him on September 3, 2024.
The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Armstead in the fifth round (140th pick) in the 2019 NFL Draft. He played three seasons in Jacksonville with 50 carries for 188 yards, 17 catches for 160 yards, and two touchdowns in 18 games. After Jacksonville, Armstead had stints with the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Green Bay Packers.
The D.C. Defenders drafted Armstead in the sixth round (48th pick) of the 2023 XFL Draft. He had 63 carries for 217 yards, four catches for 37 yards, and one touchdown in eight games. Then, he signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on June 26, 2023, and spent a month on the practice squad. He was released on July 19, 2023.
Collegiately, Armstead played four seasons at Temple (2015-18) with 573 carries for 2,812 yards, 34 touchdowns, 29 catches for 175 yards, and two kick returns for 38 yards in 47 games for the Owls. He was named to the All-American Athletic Conference Third Team by Phil Steele in 2016.
Braxton Hill is six foot two and weighs 225 pounds. A native of Anaconda, Montana, Hill went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Collegiately, Hill played five seasons at Montana (2019-23) making 231 tackles (76 solo, 155 assists), 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two interceptions for 34 yards, one touchdown, eight pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries in 51 games for the Grizzlies.
In 2023, Hill made 128 tackles (43 solo, 85 assists), 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions for 34 yards, one touchdown, five pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 15 games. He led the Big Sky Conference and finished fifth in the FCS with 128 tackles.
Hill was named First Team All-Big Sky Conference, Second Team All-American by STATS, Third Team All-American by Phil Steele and Associated Press, a two-time Academic All-Big Sky, Team Defensive MVP, Co-Recipient of Tony Barbour Award, and a Buck Buchanan Award Finalist.
