Roughriders sign former Panthers running back

A former Golden Gopher is joining Gainer in Saskatchewan.

The CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders announced Monday they had signed running back Rodney Smith, a product of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder played in 52 games over five seasons at Minnesota, registering 879 carries for 4,125 yards and 29 touchdowns and 65 receptions for 521 yards. He also had 30 kickoff returns for 798 yards and two TDs.

Smith signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL draft. He played seven games with the Panthers that season, recording 41 carries for 156 yards and one touchdown and nine catches for 59 yards and a TD.

In 2021, he had stints on the practice squads of the Panthers, Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions.