Alberta Golden Bears sign former NCAA quarterback Christian Veilleux

Photo courtesy: Georgia State Athletics

The University of Alberta Golden Bears have signed former NCAA quarterback Christian Veilleux, per sources.

The six-foot-four, 220-pound QB has three years of eligibility remaining, which has been verified by U Sports.

After the program officially announced the news, head coach Stevenson Bone released a statement:

“I first met Christian at the Manning Passing Academy in 2025 and have followed his career south of the border ever since. He is an exceptionally talented quarterback who has demonstrated the ability to perform in big moments, and I believe he can make our football team better every day.

“When I watched him compete at the 2026 CFL Combine at Foote Field, I was impressed by how polished, composed, and prepared he was. Our coaching staff is excited to work with him, and I’m proud that our program can attract an athlete of Christian’s calibre. This is another important step toward establishing the University of Alberta as a destination for top football talent.”

Veilleux appeared in 25 games across five NCAA seasons, which included 15 starts. His first collegiate action south of the border came with Penn State University in a 28-0 win over Rutgers University in 2021, as he completed 15-of-24 passes for 235 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He became the first Canadian quarterback to appear in a Power Five game since Jesse Palmer with the University of Florida in the year 2000.

The 24-year-old completed 324-of-596 passes, 54.4 percent, for 4,017 yards with 26 touchdowns and 22 interceptions while playing for Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and Georgia State University. He rushed 75 times for 148 yards and scored on touchdown on the ground.

Veilleux was invited to the 2026 CFL Combine in Edmonton, Alberta, but did not show well enough to be selected by a three-down league team in the Canadian Draft.

The Ottawa, Ontario native joins Eli Hetlinger, former Saskatoon Hilltop and Prairie Football Conference MVP Trey Reider, along with Finn Goerzen, who participated in the CFL quarterback internship during 2026 training camp. The Golden Bears kick-off the team’s 2026 Canada West season on Friday, September 4 when Alberta hosts the Regina Rams at Foote Field.

“One of the things that attracted Christian to our program was the opportunity to experience Edmonton firsthand during the CFL Combine. He was able to see Foote Field, our locker room and the facilities available to our student-athletes, while also getting a feel for the city and its incredible sports culture,” Bone added.

“He saw the potential of our program and recognized that the University of Alberta is a place where he can continue to develop, compete in meaningful games and prepare himself for the next stage of his career. I’m proud of the quarterbacks I’ve helped develop throughout my coaching career, and I’m excited for the opportunity to work with Christian and help him continue reaching his potential.”

In 2020, Veilleux was the first Canadian selected as a finalist for Elite 11, a premier quarterback event held yearly in the United States. Previous Elite 11 finalists include Aaron Rogers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Matthew Stafford among others.