Canadian LB Brandyn Bartlett goes on Riders six-game injured list

Canadian linebacker Brandyn Bartlett has been added to the Riders six-game injured list.

Saskatchewan added the 24-year-old in the second of four supplemental drafts held by the CFL this year, giving up a fifth round choice in the 2018 pick-fest. Bartlett played in three games for the Roughriders on special teams this season.

Bartlett was listed as an “international free agent” for the 2017 Ontario regional combine by CFL.ca, but his father was born in Canada.

Leading up to the NFL draft, Bartlett worked with former NFL and CFL linebacker, Rennie Curran, who was impressed with his abilities.

“He’s a very smooth player,” Curran said. “Plays a great technique, stays low, doesn’t look tight in his hips and things like that. As linebackers we can actually kind of be tight and kind of be top heavy, but because of his experience playing at DB he’s very, very smooth in his transitions and I think that’s going to help him when he gets evaluated.”

Bartlett was worked out by the Atlanta Falcons in advance of the NFL draft, but he went unselected.

After playing football and baseball at Dacula High School in Georgia, Bartlett accepted a scholarship to Mississippi State University where he redshirted for the 2012 season. He transferred to North Dakota State College of Science for one year and landed at Tusculum College in Tennessee. Bartlett started all three seasons that he suited up for the Pioneers, making 224 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, four sacks, four pass break-ups, two fumbles recoveries and one interception in 31 games (video highlights).