Riders announce signings of six 2023 draft picks, two other Canadians

The CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders announced Monday the signings of six of their 2023 draft picks as well as two other Canadians.

Defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore (first round, third overall), defensive back Jaxon Ford (second round, 11th overall), linebacker Matt Dean (third round, 21st overall), running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (fourth round, 30th overall), offensive lineman Evan Floren (seventh round, 57th overall) and linebacker Nick Thomas (seventh round, 60th overall) all signed contracts.

Offensive lineman Sidy Sow (sixth round, 48th overall) and defensive end Tavius Robinson (eighth round, 66th overall) also were selected in the NFL draft by the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, respectively, and will try their luck down south.

The Roughriders also announced the signings of receiver James Basalyga and fullback Morgan Runge.

Saskatchewan is to open rookie camp Wednesday at Griffiths Stadium on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

Korte-Moore spent four seasons at UBC, recording 110 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass knockdowns and three forced fumbles over 34 games.

Ford — the grandson of Riders legend Al Ford — played four seasons at Regina, amassing 130 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, one sack, five interceptions, 11 pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick in 29 games.

Dean played four seasons at York, registering 115 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, two interceptions, seven pass knockdowns, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and one blocked field goal over 31 games.

Bertrand-Hudon spent four seasons at Delaware State, posting 239 carries for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns and adding 11 catches for 51 receiving yards through 27 games.

Floren is a product Queen’s and, in his fourth season in 2022, was part of a line that helped Queen’s finish second in the OUA in rushing at 239.3 yards per game.

In four seasons at Manitoba, Thomas accumulated 107 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass deflections and two forced fumbles over 27 games.

Basalyga played four seasons at Waterloo, where he had 79 receptions for 1,309 yards and 12 touchdowns and 26 punt returns for 232 yards in 28 games.

Runge spent two seasons at Alberta, where he recorded six catches for 43 yards and a touchdown. Before that, he played four seasons with the PFC’s Edmonton Huskies, with whom he had five rushes for 69 yards and one TD, seven catches for 72 yards and 33 special-teams tackles over 22 games.