The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed defensive back James Burgess Jr. on Friday.
James Burgess Jr. is six foot three and weighs 190 pounds. A native of Center Point, Alabama, Burgess Jr. attended the San Francisco 49ers rookie minicamp in 2025.
Collegiately, Burgess Jr. spent five seasons at Alabama State University (2020-24) with 114 tackles (84 solos, 30 assists), five tackles for loss, one sack, one quarterback hit, 24 pass breakups, six interceptions for 30 yards, and two touchdowns in 45 games for the Hornets.
In 2023, he made 32 tackles (26 solos, 6 assists), two interceptions for 29 yards, two touchdowns, and 11 pass breakups in 11 games.
In 2024, he was named First Team All-SWAC, Second Team All-American by Stats Perform and AFCA, and First Team All-American by BOXTOROW after finishing the season with a career-high 53 tackles (34 solos, 19 assists), four tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions for one yard, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 12 games. He also became the third recipient of the Aeneas Williams Award and the first recipient from Alabama State and the SWAC.
