RIDER NOTEBOOK
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed national running back Kienan LaFrance to a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the Club through the 2021 season.
LaFrance (5’10-214 lbs) returns to the Roughriders after playing in all 18 games of the 2019 season. The Canadian running back had a strong year on special teams making 15 tackles, the second highest total on the team. LaFrance also added two carries for nine yards.
The 28-year-old Winnipeg native is entering his sixth CFL season after being taken in the sixth round (45th overall) in the 2015 CFL Draft by the Ottawa Redblacks. He played two seasons with the Redblacks and was instrumental to the team making it into the Grey Cup in 2016. In the East Final, LaFrance rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown to punch Ottawa’s ticket to the championship. Ottawa went on to beat Calgary 39-33 in the 104th Grey Cup game.
The Roughriders picked up LaFrance for the first time during free agency in 2017. He spent 2018 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before returning to the Green and White for the 2019 season.
In 79 career games, LaFrance has rushed 149 times for 599 yards and four touchdowns while adding an additional 32 special teams tackles.
RIDERS RELEASE 2020 SCHEDULE
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The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed national defensive back Shamar Busby and national running back Atlee Simon.
Busby (5’11 – 182 lbs) returns to the Roughriders after initially joining the Club in October of 2019 and spending the preseason with the Ottawa Redblacks. The 23-year-old had a strong showing at the 2019 CFL combine, including a top five performance in the broad jump and a top ten finish in the vertical jump. Prior to returning to Canada, Busby spent two years at Southeastern Louisiana University playing in 20 games recording 46 tackles, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. He played his best game against Houston Baptist University where he made six tackles, helping the Lions beat the Huskies 62-52. Prior to attending Southeastern Louisiana, Busby was at the New Mexico Military Institute where he played in 20 games collecting 38 tackles and one forced fumble in two seasons.
Simon (5’10 – 199 lbs) also returns to the Green and White in 2020 after initially signing in October of 2019. Prior to being a Rider, Simon was selected in the sixth round of the 2018 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders. Simon had a strong USPORTS career and was the star running back for the University of Regina Rams. His five-year collegiate career saw him become the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and touchdowns scored. Simon accumulated 3,295 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns over his time at the U of R. Simon also caught 64 passes for 727 yards and nine touchdowns. His career total of 4134 all-purpose yards ranks second to former Roughrider fullback Neal Hughes in University of Regina history.
