May 9, 2022

Riders Add To Both Sides Of The Ball With American Signings

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced the following roster moves:  

 

SIGNED 

  • American wide receiver Dieuly Aristilde Jr.  
  • American defensive lineman Benjamin Davis 
  • American defensive lineman Kailon Davis 
  • American wide receiver Charles Headen III 
  • American defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose 
  • American defensive lineman Justin Thomas 

 

RETIRED 

  • Global defensive lineman Christopher Ezeala 
  • Canadian running back Jonathan Femi-Cole 
  • American offensive lineman Bryce Hargrove 
  • Canadian wide receiver Terrell Jana 
  • Canadian offensive lineman Mattland Riley 

 

RELEASED 

  • American wide receiver Ricardo Louis 

 

Aristilde Jr. (6’4-215) played last collegiate season at Bethel University, starting in 11 games. He recorded 32 receptions for 768 yards and six touchdowns, averaging a massive 24-yards per catch. The Florida native spent his first two seasons (2016-17) at Eastern Michigan, playing in 14 games and earning 32 catches for 571 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 17.8 yards per reception. His best game in an Eagles uniform came in 2016, when he went off for seven catches and 193 yards and one touchdown against Miami.  

 

Davis (6’4-236) played six collegiate seasons (2016-21) split between the University of Alabama and the University of Texas. The Alabama native joined the Longhorns as a redshirt senior for his additional year of eligibility – which was granted by the NCAA. As a Longhorn he suited up for 11 games, registering 16 tackles, four-and-a-half tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry. Prior to Texas, Davis played 24 games for the Crimson Tide contributing largely on special teams. Over that time, he also recorded seven defensive tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and one pass deflection and was a member of the 2017 and 2020 NCAA Championship teams. 

 

Davis (6’3-250) spent last season playing collegiately at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In nine games as a Golden Lion, he earned 18 tackles, one-and-a-half sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick. He was featured in season three of the Netflix show, Last Chance U, when he was at Independence Community College (2017-18). In 14 games there, Davis racked up 42 tackles, two-and-a-half sacks, five tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.  

 

Headen III (5’9-198) spent last season at Southern Methodist University, seeing action in two games as a graduate transfer. The Philadelphia native spent his first three collegiate seasons (2017-2019) at Shippensburg University, playing in 34 games. The former Raider recorded 80 catches for 909 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 11.4 yards per reception. He was also a contributor on special teams, returning 15 kickoffs for 273 yards.  

 

Rose (6’2-308) most recently spent time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, seeing action in one game in the 2021 season. He spent two collegiate seasons (2017-18) at the University of West Virginia, finishing with 43 tackles, six-and-a-half sacks, two interceptions, two passes defended and one forced fumble over 25 games played. He spent two years (2015-16) at East Mississippi Community College, playing in 18 games for the Lions. The Mississippi native recorded 44 tackles, six-and-a-half sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and capped off his 2016 season by winning the MACJC Championship.  

 

Thomas (6’5-265) played one collegiate season at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, playing in 12 games for the Blazers. The Alabama native recorded 11 tackles, four-and-a-half sacks, one defended pass, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He previously spent three collegiate seasons at Louisiana State University (2017-2019), seeing action in 11 games. The former Tiger earned 12 tackles, two-and-a-half tackles for loss and one-and-a-half sacks. In the Blazers pro day, Thomas did 22 bench press reps and ran a 4.85 40-yard dash, which would have been the third fastest time among defensive tackles at the NFL Combine.