Former CFL receiver and current Saskatchewan Roughriders assistant coach Naaman Roosevelt has been inducted into the University at Buffalo’s hall of fame.
The 35-year-old was enshrined in the Dr. Edmond J. Gicewicz Family UB Athletics Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Friday night. He was joined in the class of 2023 by diver Meili Carpenter, wrestler John Eschenfelder, volleyball player Lindsay Matikosh and former NFL running back James Starks.
Roosevelt played four seasons with the Bulls from 2006 to 2009, dressing for 49 career games. He set school records with 268 catches for 3,551 yards while finishing second all-time in program history with 28 receiving touchdowns. He was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference honoree and an honourable mention All-American as a junior.
The receiver’s best season in Western New York came during his junior year in 2008 when he hauled in a program record 104 passes for 1,402 yards and 13 touchdowns. He helped the team win their first-ever MAC championship by catching three touchdowns in the title game from former CFL quarterback Drew Willy, also earning Buffalo their first bowl appearance.
Roosevelt signed an undrafted free agent with his hometown Buffalo Bills in 2010. He spent two seasons with the team, playing 16 games and making 25 receptions for 396 yards and one touchdown. Following stints with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and second time with the Bills, Roosevelt made his way north of the border for the 2015 season.
The six-foot, 189-pound pass catcher played 67 CFL games over five seasons with Saskatchewan, making 301 receptions for 4,134 yards and 20 touchdowns. The 2017 West Division all-star twice crossed the thousand-yard mark while with the Riders before leaving in free agency for the Montreal Alouettes ahead of the cancelled 2020 season. He briefly joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2021 but did not see game action.
After serving as a guest coach in training camp in 2022, Roosevelt was hired by the Riders as an offensive assistant in December. He is expected to work closely with the team’s receivers next season.
