About a week away from training camp, Rider Nation had their eyebrows raised Friday.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced that they have moved Global punter Adam Korsak to the retired list. The 27-year-old Korsak played two seasons for the Green and White after being selected in the 2023 Global Draft. He went on to be named a West Division all-star in 2023. The six-foot-one, 185-pound punter played in 36 regular season games with the Riders, punting 235 times for 11,178 gross yards, averaging 47.6 yards with a 90-yard boot his longest.
Meanwhile, the Roughriders won’t have their first round pick from this week’s Canadian College Draft at camp, at least to start. Defensive lineman Ali Saad has accepted an invitation to rookie mini-camp with the N-F-L’s San Francisco 49ers on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10. Saskatchewan selected Saad in the first round, fourth overall during the 2025 C-F-L Draft.
The Green and White have also signed American offensive linemen Payton Collins and Jake Levengood. Following is a news release from the Riders…..
DATE: May 2, 2025
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR25-055
RIDERS ADD TWO MORE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN TO THE TRENCHES
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American offensive linemen Payton Collins and Jake Levengood.
Collins (6’7-301) spent six collegiate seasons (2019–2024) at Eastern Kentucky, setting a new program record by starting 56 consecutive games beginning in 2020. As a senior in 2024, he helped lead an offense that rushed for 2,422 yards, the third-highest total in the conference, and produced 4,522 yards of total offense and 36 touchdowns. For his outstanding performance, Collins earned All-American and All-Conference honors, as well as an invitation to the Hula Bowl All-Star Game. It was his second All-American nod, having first received the distinction in 2022.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Collins is a four-time All-Conference selection (2021–24). He was named the United Athletic Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2024 by Phil Steele, and the Atlantic Sun Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year, following a standout season that saw EKU rank third nationally in passing offense (329.7 yards per game) and 10th in total offense (451.3 yards per game).
Levengood (6’4-294) spent six collegiate seasons (2018–23) at Oregon State University, appearing in 49 games as a Beaver. As a senior, he started 10 games at centre and earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors. He was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the second time—an award given to the best center in college football. The Beavers’ offensive line, of which he was a key part, was also named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award (also for the second time during his tenure). The Joe Moore Award recognizes the nation’s top offensive line. That season, Oregon State allowed just 14 sacks, the third fewest in the Pac-12, and averaged 196.9 rushing yards per game.
A California native, Levengood had a breakout season as a sophomore in 2021, starting all eight games. That year, he anchored an offensive line that helped running back B.J. Baylor lead the Pac-12 with 1,337 rushing yards while allowing a conference-low 14 sacks. Levengood was named All-Pac-12 in 2022 and earned his first selection to the Rimington Trophy Watch List.
In addition, the Club has moved Global punter Adam Korsak to the retired list. Korsak played two seasons for the Roughriders after being selected in the 2023 Global Draft. He went on to be named a West Division All-Star in 2023.
