Riders select Kurtis Rourke in the third, DL Ali Saad in CFL Draft

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will need to be patient, but have selected quarterback Kurtis Rourke in the CFL Draft.

The Kitchener, Ont., product was selected in the third round (25th overall) by the Riders. He was also selected in the seventh round (227th overall) in the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, so he’s not expected to join the Riders in the near future.

“It’s a futures pick and something that may never happen but when we looked at the potential of having him on your team and what he would bring and the success his brother has had and had in our league and the fact you can never have enough quarterbacks so we thought that was the time we should take a shot on him,” said Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day.

Rourke, who is the younger brother of B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke, led the Indiana Hoosiers to a 10-1 record this past season in the NCAA. He threw for 2,827 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions.

RIDER NATION, SAY HELLO TO KURTIS ROURKE. 😤#CFLDraft #CFL pic.twitter.com/zyjrQldwye

— CFL (@CFL) April 30, 2025

Prior to that, Rourke spent five seasons with the Ohio Bobcats, going 20-13 in his starts there.

This was expected to be a Canadian quarterback draft class like no other, with Wilfrid Laurier’s Taylor Elgersma also a highly-touted prospect. He was selected 18th overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

O’Day said they knew someone was going to take a shot on Rourke, it was just a matter of when.

“We felt we were in a good position where we could do it at that time,” O’Day said.

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Earlier in the draft, Saskatchewan selected defensive lineman Ali Saad in the first round (fourth overall).

“I’m really excited. My mom was actually crying and stuff. She was really proud of me and excited for me. My dad as well,” Saad said. “I’m ready to go to work.”

Saad, a product of Windsor, Ont., started all 13 games for the Bowling Green Falcons as a senior last season. He recorded four sacks last season. Prior to joining Bowling Green, he spent 2020 with the Minnesota Gophers but didn’t appear in any games.

Despite being born in Windsor, Ont., Saad said he’s never played Canadian rules football. He moved to Deerborn, Mich., when he started high school.

“It’s going to be damn near everything I have to learn. I know it’s a whole different type of level and a whole different type of scheme,” Saad said. “I’m just ready to come in and learn something new.”

Ali Saad is the newest member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders!#CFLDraft pic.twitter.com/H8iqbJwGI9

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 29, 2025

“Just somebody that has versatility to play inside and outside,” O’Day said. “Very productive, physical player that’s a playmaker type defensive lineman. We’re excited to get him. A powerful player that is able to shed offensive linemen and play physical. Great to add a guy like that to our defensive front.”

The Saskatchewan Roughriders selected Bowling Green defensive lineman Ali Saad with the fourth overall pick in the 2025 CFL Draft. (Saskatchewan Roughriders/Submitted)

In the second round, the Riders selected Western Mustangs offensive lineman Erik Andersen. Andersen played in 11 games for the Mustangs last season. The 6’6″, 314-pound offensive lineman is a two-time U Sports All-Canadian.

“Another guy high on our board,” O’Day said. “Very athletic and has the ability to play multiple positions, and will add to the offensive line room. You have to build through the offensive line and protect the quarterback, so we’re excited about the guys we took.”

O’Day said Andersen got invited to rookie mini-camp with the New York Giants.

In the fourth round, the Riders selected University of Saskatchewan linebacker Seth Hundeby. The Saskatoon product had 51 tackles and three sacks for the Huskies in 2024.

Linebacker Liam Hoskins was the team’s fifth-round pick. The London, Ont. product was a member of the Windsor Lancers last season. He recorded 105 tackles (60 solo, 45 assisted) over four seasons there.

Defensive back Gideon Agyei was Saskatchewan’s sixth-round pick (52nd overall). The Calgary Dino played in 21 games there, only recording two interceptions but returning one for a touchdown.

In the eighth and final round, the Riders selected wide receiver Daniel Wiebe (69th overall). The U of S pass-catcher attended Holy Cross High School in Saskatoon. His best season came in 2024 when he hauled in 66 passes for 923 yards and nine touchdowns. His shuttle time of 3.95 seconds was the fastest recorded at the national combine since Dylan Hollohan had a 3.89 shuttle in 2012.

In last year’s draft, the team selected offensive lineman Kyle Hergel third overall. Hergel has been with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

Saskatchewan did find contributors in last year’s draft, with linebacker Nick Wiebe (second round), wide receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby (third round), linebacker Melique Straker (fourth round), Daniel Johnson (fifth round), and wide receiver Ajou Ajou (seventh round) all sticking with the team last season.

A few players with Saskatchewan ties were selected in the draft by other teams.

Regina-product and South Dakota State Jackrabbit Ethan Vibert was added to the Bombers offensive line room in the third round (27th overall). University of Regina offensive lineman and Big River product Connor Klassen was taken by the Lions 37th overall (round four). The Bombers selected U of S linebacker Lane Novak (Balgonie, Sask.) in the fifth round. Saskatoon-product and University of Alberta linebacker Chase Tataryn was selected 50th overall by the Lions. Defensive back Ethan Ball (Regina) was selected by the Bombers with the 54th pick.

Riders select two in Global Draft

Earlier in the day, the Riders selected Belgium defensive end Sylvain Yondjouen and Australian punter Jesse Mirco.

Yondjouen, a product of Ruisbroek, Belgium, spent six seasons at Georgia Tech and appeared in 52 games for the Yellow Jackets. He recorded 76 career defensive tackles, including 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, seven pass breakups, seven pass deflections, and one forced fumble. Yondjouen accepted a minicamp invite from the Carolina Panthers.

Mirco played his senior season at Vanderbilt (2024), appearing in 13 games. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at Ohio State (2021-23) where he played in 39 games as a Buckeye. He averaged 48.0 yards per punt in his season at Vanderbilt — ranking first in the SEC.

In last year’s draft, the Riders selected defensive lineman Tyrone Taleni (Samoa) and Australian punter Jordy Sandy.