The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed a “Johnson and Johnson” combination…part of a seven-signing day as C-F-L free agency got underway Tuesday.
Veteran defensive tackle Micah Johnson is returning to the Green and White while offensive lineman Evan Johnson is coming home to play for the Riders.
Micah Johnson spent the 2019 season with the Roughriders after six seasons with Calgary. The three-time C-F-L All-Star signed with the B-C Lions ahead of the 2020 season before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evan Johnson is a U of S Huskies alumnus and played the last three seasons with Ottawa. The Regina product was drafted in the first round, ninth overall, in the 2017 C-F-L Draft by the RedBlacks.
Meanwhile, Saskatchewan inked a pair of defensive backs…import Lorenzo Jerome and Canadian Godfrey Onyeka. Jerome played in 2019 with Calgary, Onyeka with Edmonton.
The Riders also signed twins Jordan and Justin Herdman-Reed, Winnipeg-born linebackers who played together at Simon Fraser. Justin Herdman-Reed signed with Hamilton last year while Jordan Herdman-Reed spent three seasons with B.C.
Late in the afternoon, the Roughriders announced they had signed free agent import linebacker Larry Dean. He played in 2019 with Edmonton after spending most of his C-F-L career with Hamilton. His plans on returning to the Tiger-Cats in 2020 were scuttled by the COVID-19 pandemic cancelling the season.
Elsewhere, Solomon Elimimian was free to sign anywhere in the C-F-L as of Tuesday. But, Elimimian retired from football altogether. He said it’s the right time for him to walk way from the game and that he’s excited to continue to work with the C-F-L Players Associaiton as he moves into the next chapter of his life. Elimimian played with the Green and White in 2019 after several years with B-C. Following are the news releases of all the Riders’ signings from Tuesday…
DATE: February 9, 2021
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR21-024
RIDERS BRING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN EVAN JOHNSON HOME
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed national offensive lineman Evan Johnson for the 2021 season.
Johnson (6’4-290lbs) returns to his hometown of Regina, Saskatchewan after playing three seasons with the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Johnson was selected by Ottawa in the first round (9th overall) in the 2017 CFL Draft. He went on to start as a rookie and played 44 games and the 2018 Grey Cup with the Club developing into a dependable national presence on the offensive line.
Prior to the CFL, Johnson played his collegiate career at the University of Saskatchewan. As a senior he was named a Canada West All-Star and U Sports Second Team All-Canadian, helping the Huskies Offence average 32.6 points per game and 434 yards per game.
DATE: February 9, 2021
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR21-025
RIDERS REUNITE HERDMAN-REED BROTHERS IN GREEN AND WHITE
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed Canadian linebackers and twin brothers Jordan and Justin Herdman-Reed for the 2021 Season.
Jordan (6’0-235lbs) comes the Roughriders after playing three seasons with the B.C. Lions. The 26-year-old played 52 games for the Lions, making 95 defensive tackles, 44 special teams tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble. He was selected in the seventh round (60th overall) by the Lions in the 2017 CFL Draft.
The Winnipeg native had a terrific collegiate career at Simon Fraser University where he was named GNAC Defensive Player of the Year in both 2014 and 2015. Herdman-Reed was also First Team All-Conference and West Region for three straight years. As a senior, Jordan was AFCA Division II All-America Second Team and nominated for the Cliff Harris award as the best defensive player in NCAA Division II Football and was ranked ninth in Division II ball with an average of 11.3 tackles per game. Herdman-Reed left Simon Fraser with several conference records including all-time marks in tackles (428) and assisted tackles (223).
Justin (5’10-223lbs) joins the Green and White after signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2020. Prior to signing with the Ti-Cats, Justin played 40 games with the Toronto Argonauts registering 43 defensive tackles, 26 special teams tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He was selected by the Argos in the seventh round (54th overall) of the 2017 CFL Draft.
Like his brother, Jordan, Justin spent his collegiate career at Simon Fraser University. The 26-year-old played 40 games over four seasons making 220 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks, twin interceptions, five forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries – one of which he returned for a touchdown.
DATE: February 9, 2021
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR21-026
RIDERS INK DEFENSIVE BACKS JEROME AND ONYEKA
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American defensive back Lorenzo Jerome and Canadian defensive back Godfrey Onyeka.
Jerome (5’11-205lbs) comes to the Roughriders after spending the 2019 season with the Calgary Stampeders. The 26-year-old played seven games for the Stamps, making 11 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles and one interception.
Prior to coming to the CFL, Jerome was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2017 playing in four regular season games and making three tackles. He spent a brief period with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018 playing in all four pre-season games and notching 13 tackles.
The Florida native played collegiate ball at St. Francis University where he was well decorated for his talents beginning back in his rookie season. He was the NEC’s first ever four-time First Team selection, earned All-America honors as a junior and senior both as a defensive back and return specialist and became the first player in SFU program history to earn invitations to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl – where he was named the game’s MVP – Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine. Jerome’s 18 career interceptions rank second all-time in SFU and NEC history. In his senior year he was a STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award Finalist (FCS National Defensive Player of the Year) and was named All-America by Athlon Sports, Associated Press, College Sports Madness, HERO Sports, STATS FCS and Walter Camp Foundation as a defensive back. College Sports Madness also named Jerome All-America as a kick returner. As a freshman, he played in 11 games making 56 tackles, six interceptions and four pass break-ups and was named NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Onyeka (6’2-200) joins the Green and White after spending two seasons with the Edmonton Football Team. He played 27 games making five defensive tackles and 13 special teams tackles. Onyeka was selected in the second round (10th overall) by Edmonton in the 2018 CFL Draft.
The Brampton native was a standout at Wilfred Laurier University where he was a three-time USPORTS First Team All-Canadian, a three-time OUA First Team All-Star and a 2014 OUA All-Rookie. In 2016, he helped the Golden Hawks win the OUA Championship.
Over his four seasons at Laurier, he made 180 defensive tackles, 10 interceptions, 11 knockdowns, five forced fumbles and two sacks.
DATE: February 9, 2021
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR21-027
DISRUPTIVE DEFENSIVE LINEMAN MICAH JOHNSON RETURNS TO THE GREEN AND WHITE
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American defensive lineman Micah Johnson for the 2021 season.
Johnson (6’2-278lbs) returns to the Green and White after signing with the B.C. Lions in 2020. Johnson spent the 2019 season with the Roughriders playing in 15 games and making 26 defensive tackles and four sacks. Prior to coming to the Riders, the 32-year-old spent six seasons with the Calgary Stampeders.
Over 96 career games, Johnson has registered 184 defensive tackles, 45 quarterback sacks, two interceptions and six forced fumbles. He has also played six playoff games and three Grey Cup games.
A proven CFL talent, Johnson is a three-time CFL All-Star (2016-18) and a two-time Grey Cup champion winning with Calgary in 2014 and 2018.
DATE: February 9, 2021
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR21-028
LINEBACKER LARRY DEAN JOINS THE GREEN AND WHITE
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American linebacker Larry Dean for the 2021 season.
Dean (6’0-226lbs) joins the Roughriders after returning to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2020. Dean spent most of his career with the Ti-Cats but played the 2019 season with the Edmonton Football Team.
Dean has not missed a single regular season game, playing in 72 over the last four seasons. Over that time, he has earned 365 defensive tackles, eight special teams tackles, six sacks, three interceptions – including one he returned for a touchdown – 16 pass knockdowns and five forced fumbles. He also played in five playoff games.
Dean is a three-time divisional all-star (2017-19), was the East Division’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2018 and was Edmonton’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2019.
