CALIFORNIA (May 8) – Former California University of Pennsylvania standout Jeff Knox, Jr. (Pittsburgh, Pa./DeMatha Catholic (Md.)) was signed as an international linebacker by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL on Friday.
 
Knox started a combined 19 games in his career while splitting time on offense, defense and special teams with the Vulcans. Last season, he was selected to the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Second-Team at linebacker after playing exclusively on defense for the first time in his career. Knox set a career high with 59 tackles (36 solo) and finished second on the team with 11.5 tackles for loss (TFL) and 7.5 sacks while playing all 10 games with seven starts.
 
As a junior, Knox led the team with a career-high 507 rushing yards and tied for the team lead with five rushing touchdowns despite missing two games. He finished his college career with nearly 1,000 rushing yards and almost 25 touchdowns despite starting only nine games on offense.
 
Knox also was a standout player on special teams through his career. He led the Vulcans in special teams tackles as both a sophomore and senior and finished his career with a combined 34 stops and two blocked kicks on special teams. In 2012, he led the team with average of 24.4 yards per kick return after totaling over 500 yards on kickoffs.
 
A 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker, Knox joins a Roughriders franchise that has made the playoffs in nine of the last 10 seasons and won the Grey Cup in both 2007 and 2013. Last year, Saskatchewan posted a 10-8 overall record during the regular season despite losing six of its last eight games.
 
Knox joins former teammate Erik Harris (2008-11) as former Vulcans currently with teams in the CFL. Harris will be entering his third season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which played in the Grey Cup last year.
 
The Roughriders are the former team of the all-time leading rusher in Cal U history, Wesley Cates. He played with Saskatchewan from 2006-11 and ranks second in franchise history with 4,761 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns.
 
Saskatchewan will open the regular season on June 27 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.