The Saskatchewan Roughriders released running back Clint Ratkovich, wide receiver Bruno Labelle, offensive linemen Braydon Noll, Daniel Johnson, and Nick Jones, defensive lineman Eric Black, linebacker Zachary Philion, defensive back Antoine Brooks Jr., and punter Joe Couch from the practice squad on Sunday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Saskatchewan lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 38-22 in the Western Final on Saturday night and all players from the practice automatically became free agents.
Clint Ratkovich is six foot one and weighs 220 pounds. The 27-year-old from Crete, Illinois, made one catch for five yards in one preseason game for the Atlanta Falcons against the Minnesota Vikings in 2023. The Falcons signed Ratkovich as a free agent on December 27, 2022, and spent the rest of the season on the practice squad.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Ratkovich on February 13, 2024. In 2024, Ratkovich had five carries for eight yards, six catches for 58 yards, and one touchdown in 12 games.
Collegiately, Ratkovich played three seasons at Western Illinois (2017-19) with 97 carries for 429 yards, 3 touchdowns, 128 catches for 1,204 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 11 kick returns for 233 yards in 35 games for the Leathernecks. He was named two-time First Team All-MVC.
Then, Ratkovich transferred to Northern Illinois in 2021 with 98 carries for 448 yards, 12 touchdowns, completed one pass for three yards, 13 catches for 113 yards, two touchdowns, and three kick returns for 37 yards in 13 games for the Huskies. Ratkovich helped the Huskies win the 2021 MAC Championship.
Bruno Labelle is six foot four and weighs 248 pounds. The 27-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. He was unable to play in the preseason due to an injury and was released on September 14, 2021.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Labelle on May 15, 2022. In 2022, he made one catch for 18 yards and one kick return for three yards in two games. A year later, he dressed in 14 games but did not see any action. In 2024, Labelle spent the season on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Labelle played four seasons at Cincinnati (2017-20) making 20 catches for 150 yards, and two touchdowns in 46 games for the Bearcats.
Braydon Noll is six foot six and weighs 297 pounds. The 27-year-old from Orangeville, Ontario, The Argonauts drafted Noll in the fourth round (35th pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft. Noll played one game for the Argonauts against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on August 6, 2022.
Noll played three games as a backup for the Argonauts in 2023. Noll appeared in two preseason games for the Toronto Argonauts in 2024. The Argos released him on June 2, 2024. The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Noll on August 5, 2024. He appeared in four games for the Roughriders in 2024.
Collegiately, Noll played 23 games in five seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University (2016-21) playing every position on the offensive line. He started as a defensive lineman before moving to the offensive line in his second year. In addition, he attended Trinity College before transferring to Wilfrid Laurier.
Daniel Johnson is six foot six and weighs 320 pounds. The 25-year-old from Nairobi, Kenya, was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the fifth round (41st pick) in the 2024 CFL Draft. He attended rookie minicamp with the Indianapolis Colts before signing with the Roughriders on May 14, 2024, and spent the season on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Johnson played four seasons at Kent State (2018-21) playing both tackle positions in 15 games, of which 10 were starts for the Golden Flashes. In 2020, Kent State’s offense led the NCAA in scoring (199) and total offense (2,426).
Then, Johnson transferred to Purdue University (2022-23) playing both left tackle and right tackle in 10 games for the Boilermakers. In 2023, Johnson allowed eight quarterback hurries, one hit, and one sack. Purdue’s offense finished the season averaging 23.92 points per game, 168.8 rushing yards per game, 211.17 passing yards per game, 379.9 total yards per game, and 38 touchdowns. After the season, Johnson 2024 Gridiron Showcase All-Star Game.
Nick Jones is six foot three and weighs 300 pounds. The 24-year-old from Byhalia, Mississippi, went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Jones on July 16, 2024. He played in six games for the Roughriders in 2024.
The Roughriders released him on October 25, 2024. The Roughriders re-signed Jones on October 26, 2024, and spent the rest of the season on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Jones played one season at East Mississippi Community College in 2019 playing 10 games for the Lions. The Lions’ offense averaged 457.4 yards of total offense per game and 34.8 points per game. They ranked seventh nationally in total offense and No. 12 in scoring offense. He was named Second Team All-MACCC in 2019.
Then, Jones transferred to Mississippi State (2021-23) playing left tackle and left guard in 32 games, of which 25 were starts for the Bulldogs making two tackles (2 solo). In 2023, the Bulldogs’ offense averaged 21.83 points per game, 328.6 yards per game, 146.8 rushing yards per game, 181.83 passing yards per game, and 30 touchdowns in 12 games finishing with a 5-7 record.
Eric Black is six foot and weighs 247 pounds. The 25-year-old from Rochester, New York, attended the New York Giants rookie minicamp in 2023. Black signed with the Edmonton Elks on January 25, 2024. He played two games for the Elks in 2024 making four tackles and one tackle on special teams. The Elks released Black on July 21, 2024.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Black on August 5, 2024. He played two games for Saskatchewan making one tackle on special teams.
Collegiately, Black played four seasons at Buffalo (2018-21) with 36 tackles (18 solo, 18 assists), eight tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 29 games for the Bulls. He recorded a pair of sacks in the 2021 Camellia Bowl.
Then, he transferred to Stony Brook in 2022 with 19 tackles (11 solo, 8 assists), seven tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble in ten games for the Seawolves.
Zachary Philion is six foot one and weighs 221 pounds. The 25-year-old from Buffalo, New York, was drafted by the Ottawa Redblacks in the seventh round (58th pick) in the 2024 CFL Draft. Philion appeared in two preseason games for the Redblacks recording no stats. After the preseason, he was placed on the practice squad.
The Redblacks released Philion on June 19, 2024. The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Philion on August 13, 2024. He appeared in one game for the Roughriders in 2024 recording no stats. The Roughriders released him on August 31, 2024.
Saskatchewan re-signed Philion on September 27, 2024. He appeared in two more games making one tackle on special teams. The Roughriders released him on October 25, 2024. He re-signed with the Roughriders on October 26, 2024. He played two additional games in 2024 making one tackle on special teams.
Collegiately, Philion played one season at New Mexico Military Institute in 2019 making nine tackles (6 solo, 3 assists), one interception, and two pass breakups in eight games for the Broncos.
Then, he transferred to Concordia (2021-23) making 103 tackles (69 solo, 34 assists), 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception for two yards, 10 pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 24 games for the Stingers.
Antoine Brooks Jr. is five foot eleven and weighs 210 pounds. The 26-year-old from Lanham, Maryland, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round (198th pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He played one season in Pittsburgh with two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) in four games before spending the rest of the season on the practice squad.
After Pittsburgh, Brooks Jr. signed with the Los Angeles Rams and spent a couple of seasons on the practice squad. Then, Brooks Jr. was drafted by the Seattle Sea Dragons (XFL) in the second round (10th pick) in Phase 2 of the 2023 XFL Draft.
In 2023, Brooks Jr. made 44 tackles (28 solo, 16 assists), three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one pass breakup, one quarterback hit, and two fumble recoveries in ten games. In the playoffs, he made seven tackles (4 solo, 3 assists) and one interception for 11 yards against the D.C. Defenders.
The Seattle Sea Dragons were not included in the XFL and USFL merger which formed the United Football (UFL) and Brooks Jr. was drafted by the Memphis Showboats in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Brooks Jr. on April 11, 2024. He made eight tackles, one interception, and one tackle on special teams in two preseason games and earned a spot on the practice squad. In 2024, Brooks Jr. dressed for one regular season game but did not see any action.
Collegiately, Brooks Jr. played four seasons at the University of Maryland (2016-19) with 237 tackles (172 solo, 65 assists), 27.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, one touchdown, 13 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 44 games for the Terrapins.
Joe Couch is five foot eleven and weighs 210 pounds. The 30-year-old from Torquay, Victoria, Australia, played Australian rules football for Geelong College and trained with Prokick Australia before making his way to the United States.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Couch on May 6, 2024. He played two preseason games punting the ball six times for 257 yards (42.8 AVG) with a long of 48 yards. He spent the 2024 season on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Couch played three seasons at Ouachita Baptist University (2021-23) punting the ball 76 times for 3,397 yards (44.7 AVG) with a long of 63 yards, 10 touchbacks, 13 fair catches, 30 from inside the 20-yard line, 26 from 50-plus yards, 13 kickoffs for 751 yards (57.8 AVG), three touchbacks, and one carry for -9 yards in 29 games for the Tigers.
In 2022, Couch was named First Team All-Great American Conference, First Team D2CCA All-Region, and Second Team D2CAA All-American after punting the ball 32 times for 1,387 yards (43.3 AVG) with a long of 60 yards, two touchbacks, six fair catches, 15 from inside the 20-yards line, and 8 from 50-plus yards in 12 games.
The following year, Couch punted the ball 29 times for 1,297 yards (44.7 AVG) with a long of 63 yards, four touchbacks, five fair catches, 11 from inside the 20-yard line, and 10 from 50-plus yards in 11 games. Couch was named Second Team All-Great American Conference in 2023 and earned an invite to the College Gridiron Showcase. Couch majored in Kinesiology with a minor in nutrition and dietetics.
