The Saskatchewan Roughriders have brought back a pair of defensive backs who attended training camp with the team in 2024, signing Canadian draft pick Richard Aduboffour and American rookie Nicario Harper.
Aduboffour was selected by the Green and White with the 68th overall pick in the eighth round of the 2024 C-F-L Draft. The six-foot-three, 200-pound cornerback returned to Western University to play another season, receiving second-team All-Canadian honours. Harper made 50 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception and three pass knockdowns at the University of Illinois this past season. The six-foot, 205-pound defender attended N-F-L rookie mini-camp with Indianapolis prior to signing with Saskatchewan for the first time. Following is the news release from the Riders…..
DATE: November 22, 2024
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR24-152
RIDERS ADD TWO DEFENSIVE BACKS ADUBOFFOUR AND HARPER
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed Canadian defensive back Richard Aduboffour and American Defensive back Nicario Harper.
Aduboffour (6’3, 200 lbs) was selected by the Roughriders in the eighth round (68th overall) of the 2024 CFL Draft. Aduboffour participated in training camp with the Club before returning to university to play his senior season.
The Toronto native spent four seasons (2021-2024) at Western University, appearing in 42 games with the Mustangs. He totaled 71 tackles, five interceptions, 18 pass deflections, one sack, and one forced fumble. In his senior season, Aduboffour recorded 20 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, two interceptions, and a pass deflection. His two interceptions ranked eighth in Ontario University Athletics (OUA), earning him OUA All-Star recognition for the third straight year and OUA First-Team All-Star honors for the second time in his collegiate career (2023-24). As a junior, he showcased his talent at the 2023 East-West Bowl.
Harper (6’0, 205) rejoins the Roughriders after attending training camp with the Club in 2024. He played 12 games with the University of Illinois in 2023, where he recorded 50 tackles, two tackles for loss, three pass deflections and one interception.
Prior to suiting up with the Fighting Illini, Harper spent two seasons with Jacksonville State University (2020-21). He had a standout first season as a Gamecock, where he led the team with 92 tackles, three interceptions and three tackles for loss and was awarded AP First Team FCS All-American, FCS ADA All-American as the best player in the nation at his position, AFCA First Team All-American, HERO Sports First Team All-American, All-OVC First Team Safety, OVC Defensive Player of the Year and was also named a Buck Buchannon Award finalist (given to the best defensive player in FCS Football). Despite only playing nine games in 2021, Harper finished third on the team with 54 tackles, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and a fumble recovery, landing him a spot on the ASUN All-Conference team.
He transferred to Louisville for the 2022 season and played in five games, registering seven tackles and one tackle for loss.
