In a bold move to bolster their defense, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have officially signed two promising players: American defensive back Garnett Hollis Jr. and American defensive lineman Jaylen Pate. Notably, these two athletes were teammates at Northwestern University during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, which could foster a strong chemistry on the field.
Garnett Hollis Jr. stands at 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 199 pounds. His journey has included NFL tryouts with prominent teams such as the Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills, following his participation in the prestigious 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl. In his final collegiate season at West Virginia in 2024, he demonstrated impressive skills by recording a total of 46 tackles—including one for a loss—along with six pass deflections and one fumble recovery over the course of 13 games. At the Big 12 Pro Day in March 2025, he showcased his athleticism with a swift 40-yard dash time of 4.51 seconds, a vertical leap of 36.5 inches, and a broad jump measuring 10 feet 5 inches.
During his tenure at Northwestern from 2020 to 2023, Hollis Jr., who hails from Tennessee, gained significant playing time in his later years. Over these two seasons, he played in 21 games, accumulating 73 defensive tackles, two interceptions, eight pass deflections, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery, proving his capability as a formidable defensive back.
On the other hand, Jaylen Pate, who is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 272 pounds, also made an impact during his three collegiate years at Northwestern from 2022 to 2024. He racked up 55 total tackles, including nine tackles for loss, along with three sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass deflection across 33 games. Notably, in the 2023 season alone, he achieved three sacks, and he continued to excel with five tackles for loss in 2024. At Northwestern’s Pro Day in March 2025, he impressed scouts with a vertical jump of 36 inches, a broad jump of 10 feet 3 inches, and an unofficial 40-yard dash time of 4.8 seconds.
Before his time at Northwestern, the Chicago native Pate began his college football career at Wyoming in 2020. After redshirting the previous year, he made his presence felt by recording seven tackles, including one tackle for loss, along with one sack in just six games.
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