Riley Pickett
.jpg) Pickett with the BC Lions in 2023 | |
| No. 45 – BC Lions | |
|---|---|
| Positions | Fullback Long snapper |
| Roster status | Active |
| CFL status | National |
| Personal information | |
| Born | October 5, 1997 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Centennial Collegiate |
| CJFL | Saskatoon Hilltops |
| University | Saskatchewan Huskies |
| CFL draft | 2022: 5th round, 41st overall pick |
| Career history | |
| 2022–present | BC Lions |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
| Stats at CFL.ca | |
Riley Pickett (born October 5, 1997) is a Canadian professional football fullback and long snapper for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Junior career
[edit]Pickett played for the Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League from 2015 to 2017.[1] He won a Canadian Bowl championship in each of his three seasons with the Hilltops and was named the Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2017.[1][2] He played in 29 games where he recorded 38 tackles, 24 assisted tackles, 16 special teams tackles, 15 sacks, 1 punt block, and two forced fumbles.[1]
University career
[edit]Pickett later joined the Saskatchewan Huskies of U Sports football and played for the team from 2018 to 2021.[2][3] He played in 21 games where he had 58.5 total tackles, 11 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.[2] He won two Hardy Cup championships with the Huskies, in 2018 and 2021.
Professional career
[edit]Pickett was drafted in the fifth round, 41st overall, by the BC Lions in the 2022 CFL draft and signed with the team on May 11, 2022.[4] He played in ten games in 2022, where he had one defensive tackle and two special teams tackles.[3]
During his 2022 exit interview with the team's co-general manager, Neil McEvoy, it was suggested that Pickett practice long snapping, since there was an opportunity at the position in the following season.[5] Having never played the position, he practiced in the off-season with Saskatchewan Roughriders long snapper, Jorgen Hus, and eventually won the job following training camp.[5] He played in all 18 regular season games in 2023 as the team's long snapper and also recorded seven special teams tackles.[6]
During training camp in 2024, Pickett was in competition for the long snapper position with Kyle Nelson.[7] Nelson became the long snapper for punts while Pickett retained the job for field goals.[7] Pickett also learned to play fullback and switched to the offense after playing as a defensive lineman.[7]
On January 13, 2025, Pickett signed a one-year contract extension to remain with BC for the 2025 season.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Riley Pickett". Canadian Junior Football League. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Riley Pickett". Saskatchewan Huskies. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ a b "Riley Pickett". BC Lions. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Lions Sign Seven Members Of 2022 CFL Draft Class". BC Lions. May 11, 2022.
- ^ a b "Life of a long snapper | Pickett excels in new role". BC Lions. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ "Game Notes" (PDF). Canadian Football League. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Three Saskatchewan-Lions share their early-season battle with adversities". BC Lions. July 12, 2024.
- ^ "Lions sign National FB/LS Riley Pickett to one-year extension". Canadian Football League. January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
External links
[edit]- BC Lions bio
Media related to Riley Pickett at Wikimedia Commons
