The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore, who was selected with the third overall pick in the 2023 CFL Draft.
The six-foot-four, 262-pound defender spent four seasons at the University of British Columbia where he made 110 total tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass knockdowns, and three forced fumbles over 34 games.
The Ottawa native was named a Canada West all-star this past year as he set new career-highs with 48 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks. Korte-Moore participated in the 2023 College Gridiron Showcase and posted the highest vertical jump among defensive linemen at the CFL Combine, leaping 35 inches.
The Riders also signed five other selections from the draft, including defensive back Jaxon Ford, linebacker Matt Dean, running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, offensive lineman Evan Floren, and linebacker Nick Thomas.
Ford was the eleventh overall pick in the draft out of the University of Regina. The six-foot, 199-pound defender made 130 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, one sack, 11 pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles, two fumbles recoveries, and one blocked kick over 29 games with the Rams.
The grandson of legendary Roughriders’ player and general manager Al Ford was named a second-team U Sports All-Canadian this past year as well as a Canada West all-star.
Dean was Saskatchewan’s third-round pick who spent the past four seasons at York University. The 23-year-old made 115 total 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 with the Lions. He was named an OUA all-star this past season.
Bertrand-Hudon was selected in the fourth round out of Delaware State University where he made 239 carries for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns along with 11 receptions for 51 yards over 27 games. The six-foot, 227-pound ball-carrier led the Hornets in rushing in 2019 and clocked the fastest shuttle time of all prospects at the CFL Combine, running it in 4.16 seconds.
Floren was selected in the seventh round out of Queen’s University where he was named a second-team U Sports All-Canadian in 2022. The six-foot-four, 303-pound blocker started primarily at left guard with the Golden Gaels, helping the club finish second in the OUA with 239.3 rushing yards per game.
Thomas was also taken in the seventh round. He made 107 total tackles over four seasons with the University of Manitoba Bisons along with seven tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass knockdowns, and two force fumbles. The five-foot-nine, 218-pound defender was named a first-time U Sports All-Canadian in 2021, though he missed most of this past season due to injury.
The Riders also signed receiver James Basalyga and fullback Morgan Runge, both of whom went unselected in the 2023 CFL Draft.
Basalyga caught 79 passes for 1,309 yards and 12 touchdowns over 28 games at the University of Waterloo. The five-foot-eleven, 188-pound target ran a 4.56-second forty-yard dash at the CFL Combine along with a 39.5-inch vertical jump.
Runge spent the past two seasons at the University of Alberta where he made six catches for 43 yards and one touchdown. He was previously a member of the Edmonton Huskies of the CJFL, recording five carries for 69 yards and one touchdown, seven catches for 72 yards, and 33 special teams tackles over four seasons with the club.
