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Saskatchewan Roughriders sign Michigan State Spartans kicker Jonathan Kim

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American kicker Jonathan Kim. 

The six-foot, 227-pound Kim signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft, but was released early in training camp.

During his senior season at Michigan State in 2024, Kim made 19-of-21 field goals, a 90.5-per-cent accuracy rate with his longest being a 55-yarder. He was 11-of-12 from 40 yards or more and the lone miss came from 55 yards out. The Fredericksburg, Virginia native was a second-team all-Big Ten selection and set a school record with six field goals in a game, which was also a single-game high in the NCAA FBS that year. 

In 2023 with the Spartans, Kim made 13-of-18 on field goals, four from at least 50 yards. His 58-yarder against the University of Iowa on September 30, 2023 was the longest in the Hawkeyes nearly century-old home venue, Kinnick Stadium. He graduated as Michigan State’s all-time leader in field goal percentage at 82.1. 

Kim transferred to East Lansing after spending four seasons (2019-2022) at the University of North Carolina where he was primarily the Tar Heels kickoff specialist. He led the NCAA in touchbacks with 76 in 2020, ranked first in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 65, which was fourth in the nation the following year.

Over 60 collegiate games, Kim averaged 63.6 yards per kickoff and registered 246 touchbacks with Only 62 kickoffs returned. 

Saskatchewan recently released veteran Canadian kicker Brett Lauther. General manager Jeremy O’Day has gone on record and said the team will have an open competition for the job at training camp. The Riders re-signed American kicker Michael Hughes in January.

The Roughriders finished first in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 12-6 record, finishing first in the West Division for the first time since 2019. The team went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, marking the team’s first championship in 12 years. Trevor Harris went 11-5 as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

Saskatchewan ranked second in net offence, second in net defence, and tied for third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The team’s leading rusher was A.J. Ouellette with 1,222 yards, the leading receiver was KeeSean Johnson with 1,159 yards, and the leading tackler was A.J. Allen with 91 tackles. Saskatchewan finished second in attendance with average crowds of 28,427, which was a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year.

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