Riders Stock Their Cupboard At Linebacker

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today that they have signed import linebackers Alvin Bowen, Abraham Kromah, Tony Taylor and Jamar Williams to contracts. Financial details of the signings were not released.



Williams (6’1 – 235 lbs) was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round (120th overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft. He remained with the Bears until 2010 when he was traded to the Carolina Panthers. Over the course of his time in the NFL, the 27-year-old played in 54 games and recorded 91 tackles, one quarterback sack and one forced fumble. Williams was a three-year starter at Arizona State and in 48 career games registered 256 career tackles, 25 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and six sacks. He earned multiple accolades throughout his career, beginning as a co-recipient of the team's Bill Kajikawa Freshman of the Year Award in 2002, and concluded his ASU career as the Defensive Most Valuable Player in his final collegiate game against Rutgers in the 2005 Insight Bowl.



Taylor (6’1 – 235 lbs) originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 2008. He spent the season on the team active roster where he played mostly special teams and recorded 12 tackles. The following season he signed with the Seattle Seahawks where he was added to their injured reserve. Most recently the 27-year-old spent time with the Virginia Destroyers of the UFL. Taylor played for the University of Georgia where in three seasons he recorded 152 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, ten interceptions for 111 yards and one touchdown, four quarterback sacks and two fumble recoveries.



Kromah (6’0 – 227 lbs) played four seasons at Duke. In his senior season Kromah received a 2010 ALL-ACC Honorable Mention after ranking second in the ACC with a team-best 129 tackles. He also led the Blue Devils with 9.5 tackles for loss while reaching double figures in the tackle column eight times including a career-best 20-stop performance in the season finale. The 24-year-old went undrafted in 2011.



Bowen (6’2 – 233 lbs) spent the last four seasons in the NFL after being drafted by Buffalo in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He spent the season on the team’s injured reserve after suffering a season-ending knee injury in training camp. In 2009 he signed to the Bills’ practice roster but was shortly after released and signed by the Washington Redskins where he was promoted to their active roster in November. The 28-year-old went on to spend time with the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and most recently the Denver Broncos. Bowen played college football at Iowa State where in his junior year he recorded 155 tackles which put him second in the nation. In his senior year he tallied 99 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.