The Saskatchewan Roughriders continue to add to their defensive depth, bringing back a familiar face with Global defensive lineman Sylvain Yondjouen officially re-signing with the Green and White.
The Riders selected the 6-foot-4, 260-pound lineman in the first round, sixth overall, of the 2025 CFL Global Draft, and he joined the club’s practice roster in August. Now, the Belgium native is back in the fold with a chance to turn potential into production.
Born in Ruisbroek, Belgium, Yondjouen brings a strong NCAA résumé, having spent six seasons at Georgia Tech from 2019 through 2024. During his time with the Yellow Jackets, he appeared in 52 games, making 13 starts, and steadily established himself as a disruptive presence along the defensive front.
Over his collegiate career, Yondjouen compiled 76 defensive tackles, including 16 tackles for loss and six sacks, while also showing an ability to get his hands into passing lanes with seven pass breakups and seven pass deflections. He added a forced fumble to his stat line and consistently flashed versatility — something CFL evaluators covet in defensive linemen.
His senior season may have been his most impressive. Yondjouen led Georgia Tech with seven quarterback hurries and five pass breakups, while ranking second on the team with six tackles for loss. Those numbers underscored his ability to impact games without always showing up in the sack column.
After going unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft, Yondjouen earned a minicamp invite with the Carolina Panthers, gaining valuable experience at the next level before turning his attention back north of the border.
