Riders undrafted players making the grade

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive lineman Tim Agbaje and receiver Alex Carroll are proof that you don’t have to be drafted to make the CFL.

Both were signed as undrafted free agents this past off-season and both are sticking around in different capacities this season.

“When I got the news I was pretty happy. I was taking to Mr. O’Day over the phone. I was almost screaming and jumping around, and I called my mom and agent right away and broke the news to them,” said Agbaje.

Agbaje spent the last two seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

The Riders had interest in Agbaje during the draft but they were able snag him in the off-season after the eight other teams in the CFL took a pass as well.

Learn the signs

How often should you change your brakes?

1h ago

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

23h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

23h ago

“Being picked up right after the draft was a pretty humbling experience,” he said.

“I was pretty excited it was the Riders as I got to stay in the province.”

Head coach Corey Chamblin had to be convinced to give Agbaje a shot. Agbaje was seen as undersized after the combine.

At that time, he was listed at 269 pounds. Since then, Abagje has bulked up to 283 pounds.

“I worked my ass off in the gym every day. Just came in here hustling my butt off,” he said.

Meanwhile, Carroll played his CIS football at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. – the same school as another undrafted free agent Riders receiver in Rob Bagg.

Carroll was passed over in the draft last season and returned for his fifth and final year at Queen’s in 2014. Being left undrafted was a huge motivator for the 23-year-old.

“For the longest (time) I kept a pair of my CFL combine shorts from last year and worked out in them just as a reminder: there’s however many guys that got drafted last year and I wasn’t one of them,” he said.

“I’ve never felt there’s anything that could stop be to get to this level.”

Unlike Agbaje, who is on the team’s 46-man roster, Carroll will likely have to wait a little while to get his shot on the starting roster. Carroll is starting the year on the practice roster, somewhere he had a feeling he would end up after signing with the Riders.

Carroll knows that the chance to hit the field could come on any given week.

“The challenge we have as practice roster guys is staying ready,” he said.

“In an instant that moment can come. Just trying to feed off what the vets are doing and taking mental reps in practice is going to be huge.”

News and Notes

Ryan Smith returned to practice for the Riders after missing the last couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury. Tyron Brackenrige and Weston Dressler did not practice. Their statuses for Saturday’s season opener against the Blue Bombers remains unknown.

The Riders announced their practice roster on Tuesday morning. The roster is as follows:

• National receiver Alex Carroll
• National defensive back Michael Carter
• International linebacker Jake Doughty
• National receiver Seydou Junior Haidara
• International defensive back Junior Mertile
• International defensive back Marrio Norman
• International offensive lineman Randy Richards
• International receiver Naaman Roosevelt
• National offensive lineman Matt Vonk
• International receiver Devin Wilson

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow