ACQUIRED: Signed by Roughriders in September 2024.

YEARS WITH ROUGHRIDERS: 2

YEARS IN CFL: 2

PRO: Hiers attended rookie mini-camp with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024 before joining the Roughriders.

COLLEGE: Hiers spent two collegiate seasons (2022 and 2023) at Samford University, where he played 24 games as a Bulldog. He made an immediate impact in 2022, being named the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year and an All-American after leading the Bulldogs to the program’s first SoCon title and helping them reach the NCAA Division I-FCS playoffs for the first time since 1991. Hiers passed for a conference-leading 3,544 yards and 36 touchdowns that season and ranked in the top three nationally in completion percentage (76.6; first) and completions per game (27.15/third). In 2023, he followed up by throwing for 3,056 yards and 18 touchdowns, exceeding 3,000 yards for the second successive year.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Prior to attending Samford, Hiers spent two seasons (2020-21) at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Upon transferring to Samford, he left the Rangers as one of the most decorated players in their history. He was named the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) most valuable player as well as a first-team All-American, an All-Mississippi Gridiron MVP selection and an All-MACCC selection in 2020. In 2021, he earned co-MACCC Offensive Player of the Year accolades as well as All-MACCC and All-State selections. In 18 total games with the Rangers, Hiers threw for 4,519 yards and 34 touchdowns and helped NMCC win the 2020 MACCC (Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference) and National Community College Football championships and the 2021 MACCC title. With Hiers behind centre, the team also earned an appearance in the NJCAA Division I Football playoffs.

FAST FACT: At Briarwood Christian School in Birmingham, Ala., Hiers starred in football, baseball and basketball.