A couple of guys that were supposed to be watched out for in the cancelled 2020 C-F-L season have opted back in to their contracts with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for 2021.
Both are imports…wide receiver Demarcus Ayers and defensive back Christian Campbell. Ayers is a U of Houston grad who can also return kicks. He was a seventh round N-F-L Draft choice of Pittsburgh in 2016 and saw time with the Steelers, Chicago and New England over three years. Campbell was selected by Arizona in the sixth round of the 2018 N-F-L Draft out of Penn State. He split time the last two seasons with the Cardinals, New Orleans and San Francisco. Following is the news release from the Riders.
DATE: January 20, 2021
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR21-015
RIDERS TRANSACTIONS
The Roughriders have announced the following roster moves:
OPTED BACK IN:
- American wide receiver Demarcus Ayers
- American defensive back Christian Campbell
Ayers (5’11 – 190lbs) came to the Roughriders after three seasons in the NFL with the Bears, the Patriots and the Steelers. Ayers was selected in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Steelers and went on to play four games with the Club, two in the regular season and two in the post-season, earning 80 yards receiving and one touchdown on nine receptions. He’s also played in 12 NFL preseason games and spent a portion of 2019 with the AAF’s San Antonio Commanders.
The now 26-year-old was a decorated college athlete at the University of Houston where he played three seasons at wide receiver and was also utilized as a kick returner. In his junior year, the Texas native was recognized for his talent in both, being named to Phil Steele’s AAC First Team, the American Athletic Conference’s First Team and to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List for his 1,222 yard, six touchdown season as a receiver and his 290 yards and one touchdown as a returner. The versatile Ayers also threw a 20-yard touchdown that season. As a freshman in 2013, he was named the American Athletic Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year after leading the conference with an average 27.6 yards per kick return for a total of 1,021 yards and a touchdown – a university freshman record – and had five games with at least 100 kick return yards.
Campbell (6’0 – 193) was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round, 182nd overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft. The 25-year old joined the Riders in spring of 2020 after spending parts of the previous two seasons in the NFL, splitting time with the Cardinals, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers.
The Alabama native spent four seasons at Penn State, collecting 102 defensive tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 44 collegiate games. Campbell picked up a 2017 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention after a standout senior season, leading the team with 12 pass break ups. He was also selected to participate in the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
