The Saskatchewan Roughriders have inked American defensive back Jamar Johnson.

The 24-year-old is a former NFL draft pick, hearing his name called by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft. He dressed for three games as a Bronco primarily playing on special teams. He would remain with the team for one season in 2022 before making multiple stops in spring leagues in 2023 with the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks and the USFL’s New Orleans Breakers.

Collegiately, the 6-foot-1, 197-pound cover man spent three seasons in the Big Ten as a member of the Indiana Hoosiers. Johnson made 69 tackles (including eight tackles for loss), seven interceptions (one of which was brought back for a touchdown), five pass deflections, four sacks, and two forced fumbles across 31 games. Also, in his senior season his four interceptions was third in the Big Ten conference and eighth in the NCAA. Those numbers helped the Florida native be named to the All-Big Ten first-team and claim Indiana’s Corby Davis Memorial Award as the team’s most outstanding defensive back.

Johnson joins Mark Fields II, Cole Coleman, Nick Nelson, C.J. Coldon, Holton Hill, and Marcus Murphy as rookie American defensive backs trying to crack the roster. With contributors from last season Nick Marshall, Jeremy Clark, and Trumaine Washington all not returning, there will be starting spots and playing time up for grabs.