REGINA — The Saskatchewan introduced on Tuesday that they’ve signed Nationwide linebackers Matt Dean and Nick Thomas, Nationwide offensive linemen Zack Fry and Evan Floren and Nationwide fullback Morgen Runge.
Dean (six-foot-two, 220 kilos) was chosen by the Roughriders within the third spherical, twenty first total, of the 2023 CFL Draft and spent the season with the Inexperienced and White, seeing motion in 4 video games and recording one particular groups sort out.
The 24-year-old performed 4 collegiate seasons (2018-2022) at York College. Dean logged 115 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, seven go knockdowns, one compelled fumble, three fumble recoveries and one blocked subject objective over 31 video games. Dean was named an OUA All-Star and Staff MVP in 2022 and to the OUA All-Rookie Staff in 2018.
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Thomas (five-foot-11, 215 kilos) was chosen by the Roughriders within the seventh spherical, sixtieth total, of the 2023 CFL Draft and attended coaching camp with the membership earlier than returning to the College of Manitoba for his fifth season of eligibility.
The 25-year-old earned 140 complete tackles over 5 seasons (2018-2023) as a College of Manitoba Bison. Over 32 profession collegiate video games he’s additionally added 10.5 tackles for loss, three and a half sacks, three go deflections, and three compelled fumbles. He was named a U SPORTS and Canada West All-Star in 2021 after main the Bisons in tackles (50). Thomas ranked second amongst linebackers within the bench press on the CFL Mix with 18.
Fry (six-foot-six, 304 kilos) was chosen by the Roughriders within the second spherical, sixteenth total, of the 2022 CFL Draft and wearing 4 video games for the membership in 2023. He attended coaching camp with the Riders in 2022 earlier than returning Western College for his fourth season of eligibility.
In 2022, Fry was a part of a Western offence that led the OUA in a number of classes together with factors per sport (45.0), complete offence (4,106 yards), speeding yards (2,336), speeding yards per sport (292.0) and yards per rush (8.2). He was named an OUA All-Star and Second Staff All-Canadian in 2022, serving to the Mustangs go 8-0 within the common season. In each 2021 and 2019, the London, Ont. native was named an OUA First-Staff All-Star in addition to a U SPORTS Second-Staff All-Canadian. Moreover, he capped off the 2021 season by serving to the Mustangs seize their eighth Vanier Cup at school historical past. He was additionally named to the OUA All-Rookie Staff in 2018.
Floren (six-foot-four, 300 kilos) was chosen by the Roughriders within the seventh spherical, 57th total of the 2023 CFL Draft. He attended coaching camp with the Inexperienced and White earlier than returning to high school.
The 23-year-old performed 5 collegiate seasons (2019-2023) at Queen’s College. Primarily beginning at left guard in 2023, Floren was a part of a line that helped Queen’s end first within the OUA in speeding with 242.3 yards per sport and 20 touchdowns. The Ontario native was named an OUA First-Staff All-Star in each 2022 and 2023 in addition to a U SPORTS Second-Staff All-Canadian following the 2022 season.
Runge (six-foot-one, 216 kilos) attended coaching camp with the Riders in 2023 earlier than returning to high school for his fifth season of eligibility.
The 25-year-old spent three collegiate seasons (2021-2023) on the College of Alberta. Over three seasons, Runge logged 12 catches for 97 yards and a landing and added 10 tackles and one fumble restoration. Previous to his time as a Golden Bear, Runge spent 4 seasons (2016-2019) with the Edmonton Huskies of the CJFL. In 22 video games, the Alberta native recorded 5 rushes for 69 yards and one main, seven catches for 72 yards, and excelled on particular groups the place he logged 33 particular groups tackles.
