Riders Add three to the defense

Saskatchewan Roughrider head coach Ken Miller announced today they have signed three players to the defence – import defensive back Chris McKenzie, import linebacker Jerrell Freeman and non-import defensive back Brady Browne. Financial terms of the contracts were not released.McKenzie (5’9” – 190 lbs) was a two year starter at Arizona State where he accumulated 61 tackles, 11 pass break-ups and three interceptions. At the conclusion of his senior year, McKenzie attended the NFL Combine where he recorded 4.32 in the 40-yard dash – a time which tied the sixth fastest time in combine history. Prior to heading to ASU, the New York City native spent two seasons at Glendale Junior College where he received many accolades including being named first-team All-American and Region-1 Player of the Year. In 2005, McKenzie signed as a free agent with the NFL’s Houston Texans and went on to spend three seasons with the team. In his rookie year he dressed in three games tallying four tackles and one quarterback sack. In 2008, the defensive back played with the AFL’s Arizona Rattlers.Freeman (6’0” – 220lbs) played four seasons at Mary Hardin-Baylor where he finished as the school’s career leader in tackles and was named the American Southwest Conference Player of the Year four times. In his senior year he had 59 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss and six quarterback sacks. In 2008, the linebacker signed as a free agent with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans – making him the first player from Mary Hardin-Baylor to get a shot in the NFL. The Waco, TX native was released by the team later that season.Browne (5’10 – 200 lbs) – played four years at the University of Manitoba. In his senior year the defensive back recorded 24 tackles and two interceptions for the Vanier Cup Champions. He was also named a Canada West All-Star and a CIS second-team All-Canadian that same season. The Burnaby, B.C. native was selected in the 5th round (38th overall) by the B.C. Lions in the 2008 CFL Canadian Draft and spent the 2008 season on the Leos practice roster.