The Saskatchewan Roughriders have bolstered their roster with the addition of five players. American wide receivers Kalija Lipscomb, Dohnte Meyers, Jake Parker, Kendall Watson, and Canadian linebacker Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown have been officially welcomed to the team, as per the announcement made on Wednesday.
Kalija Lipscomb, with a frame of six-foot-one and weighing 201 pounds, rejoined the Roughriders following participation in their 2023 training camp and playing a part in their season. Previously, Lipscomb found his start in the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs post-2020 NFL Draft. His NFL journey included stints with the Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and a training camp with the Tennessee Titans in 2021. During his four-year tenure (2016-2019) at Vanderbilt University, Lipscomb played in 45 games, making a significant impact with 198 receptions, totaling 2,356 yards and 22 touchdowns. His 2018 season put him atop the SEC receiver list with 87 receptions.
Dohnte Meyers, standing five-foot-11 and weighing 186 pounds, participated in the Atlanta Falcons’ rookie camp upon the completion of the 2023 NFL Draft. At Delta State University, Meyers left a mark in just two seasons (2021-2022) accumulating 1,542 yards and 13 touchdowns in 24 games. He garnered First-Team All-Conference recognition in 2022 after becoming second in the Gulf South Conference in receiving yards. Meyers’ prior college experience at Presbyterian College (2018-2019) also included 54 catches for 671 yards and seven touchdowns.
Jake Parker, the six-foot-one, 210-pound receiver, attended the Roughriders’ training camp earlier in 2023. A Howard Payne University alum, Parker’s collegiate years (2019-21) saw him participate in 25 games, during which he secured 123 catches for 2,282 yards and 21 touchdowns. Notably, his 2021 season earned him the American Southwest Conference Player of the Year title and both First-Team All-Conference and First-Team All-American honors after leading the conference with 52 catches for 1,113 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Kendall Watson, at five-foot-10 and 183 pounds, has already tasted CFL action, having played four games for the Riders in 2023. His contributions were felt, notably hauling in a crucial two-point conversion in a tight contest against the Edmonton Elks. The Samford University graduate and former walk-on amassed 167 receptions, 2,064 yards, and 14 touchdowns over 47 games in five collegiate seasons (2017-2022). Watson’s senior year performance spiked with career-highs in yards (1,034) and touchdowns (10).
Jaxon Ciraolo-Brown, the six-foot, 200-pound linebacker, brings his talents home after being drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2022 CFL Draft. The UBC product played four seasons (2018-2023), delivering impressive defense with 161 tackles and four interceptions across 26 games. His final year saw him named a Canada West All-Star, cementing his status as a strongside linebacker to watch.
These newly-minted Roughriders will be vying for spots on the depth chart as they join the team’s quest for Canadian Football League success in the upcoming season.
