Eskimos sign former Riders No. 1 pick, Canadian OL Josiah St. John

The Edmonton Eskimos signed Canadian offensive lineman Josiah St. John, per sources.

St. John spent training camp with the Toronto Argos and had been with the B.C. Lions since September until requesting his release prior to the final week of the regular season.

The 27-year-old was selected No. 1 overall in the 2016 CFL draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and played three seasons in Regina suiting up in 22 games. The Riders elected not to re-sign St. John before or during free agency in 2019.

The Toronto native – Pickering High School graduate – went the junior collegiate route, Fresno City College and Trinity Valley Community College each for a year. He chose to attend the University of Oklahoma after many NCAA scholarship offers from other major Division I NCAA programs such as Kansas, Baylor, Arizona State, Arkansas, Florida State, Mississippi, Oregon State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and West Virginia.

After redshirting in 2013, St. John played in 13 games as a junior, seven as a senior including four starts for the Sooners. Then-head coach and general manager Chris Jones was enamoured with the pedigree St. John had and chose the six-foot-five, 309-pounder with the first choice.

St. John provides the Esks with depth and national experience along the offensive front for the playoffs.

Justin Dunk

Football insider, reporter and analyst.