The Saskatchewan Roughriders are adding to their already talented stable of running back, inking American Javian Hawkins to a contract on Thursday.
The five-foot-nine, 196-pound ball carrier played 23 games over three seasons (2018-20) at the University of Louisville, recording 399 carries for 2,355 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also added 21 catches for 189 yards and one touchdown.
In 2019, Hawkins broke the Louisville school record for most single-season rushing yards by a running back. He amassed 1,525 yards and nine touchdowns that year, earning a Second-Team All-ACC selection in the process.
After going unselected in the 2021 NFL Draft, Hawkins signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. The 22-year-old ballcarrier was later released in training camp, spending a week with the Tennessee Titans before joining the practice squad of the Los Angeles Rams. He would go on to win Super Bowl LVI with the team, but was released in May of this year.
The Riders’ primary running back in 2022, Jamal Morrow, is a pending free agent. Backup and Most Outstanding Rookie nominee Frankie Hickson remains under contract for 2023.
