The Grey Cup host Saskatchewan Roughriders made player news Wednesday by a signing a trio of import players for the 2023 training camp.
Quarterback Zerrick Cooper and wide receiver Jake Parker finished their college careers in 2021 while wide receiver Tabashi Thomas completed time at a community college this year. Following is the news release from the Green and White…..
DATE: November 16, 2022
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR22-158
RIDERS SIGN THREE AMERICANS
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American quarterback Zerrick Cooper, American wide receiver Jake Parker, and American wide receiver Tabashi Thomas.
Cooper (6’3-217) played four collegiate seasons (2018-21) at Jacksonville State University, seeing action in 39 games. The 24-year-old completed 741 passes for 9,628 yards, 74 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. He added 366 carries for 909 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Georgia native earned Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honours in 2019 and First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honours in 2018.
Prior to his time as a Gamecock, Cooper spent one season (2017) at Clemson University where he completed 25 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns while throwing no interceptions.
Parker (6’1-210) spent three collegiate seasons (2019-21) at Howard Payne University. The Texas native saw action in 25 games, making 123 catches for 2,282 yards and 21 touchdowns. The former Yellow Jacket also contributed in the ground game, taking 19 rushes for 138 yards and one touchdown. On special teams, Parker returned 14 kicks for 200 yards and 15 punts for 207 yards and one touchdown.
Parker’s best season came in 2021, when he led the entire American Southwest Conference with 52 catches for 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns in 10 games. For his efforts, he was named the American Southwest Conference Player of the Year and earned First-Team All-Conference honours. He was also named a First-Team All-Conference in the 2020 season.
Thomas (6’3-195) spent three collegiate seasons (2019-22) at Hinds Community College and racked up 65 catches for 1,287 yards and 10 touchdowns. He contributed on special team as a returner, taking 10 kick returns for 190 yards and eight punt returns for 145 yards. The former Eagle earned MACCC All-Conference South honours in 2021 after finishing second in the conference with 788 receiving yards.
