Saskatchewan Roughriders sign 2023 Global Draft pick DL Habakkuk Baldonado, one other

Photo courtesy: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed two players, including Global defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado and American defensive back William Poole III.

Baldonado was selected by the Riders in the second round of the 2023 CFL Global Draft after five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh (2018-2022). The Rome, Italy native played 40 games for the Panthers, recording 99 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, two pass knockdowns, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and one blocked punt. The six-foot-five, 260-pounder earned Second-Team All-ACC honours in 2021 following a nine-sack campaign.

The 24-year-old was 3DownNation‘s No. 1-ranked positional prospect ahead of the 2023 Global Draft and spent training camp with the NFL’s New York Giants after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. In three preseason games for the Giants, Baldonado tallied four tackles and one sack.

The six-foot, 190-pound Poole played six seasons at the University of Georgia from 2017-2022. In 33 games with the Bulldogs, Poole recorded 27 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and four pass knockdowns. The Atlanta, Georgia native was a member of the team’s 2021 National Championship-winning side that defeated the University of Alabama to claim the school’s first title in 41 years. In the championship game, Poole finished with four tackles and two pass breakups.

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