The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American defensive back James Burgess Jr.
The six-foot-three, 190-pound cornerback played four seasons at Alabama State, appearing in 40 games for the Hornets. He collected 94 total tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, 21 pass breakups, and six interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns.
The native of Center Point, Ala., won the Aeneas Williams Award as a senior in 2024, which is given to the top defensive back from a historically Black college or university. He was also selected first-team all-conference and received FCS All-American honours from three publications, including a first-team selection from BOXTOROW.
Burgess went unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft, but signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent. He did not make the final roster.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders finished first in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 12-6 record, finishing first in the West Division for the first time since 2019. The team went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, marking the team’s first championship in 12 years. Trevor Harris went 11-5 as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
The Roughriders ranked second in net offence, second in net defence, and tied for third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was A.J. Ouellette with 1,222 yards, the leading receiver was KeeSean Johnson with 1,159 yards, and the leading tackler was A.J. Allen with 91 tackles. Saskatchewan finished second in attendance with average crowds of 28,427, which was a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year.
