Temple's Brown signs with CFL's Roughriders

PHILADELPHIA – Former Temple running back Matt Brown has signed a contract with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The diminutive Brown is the sixth Owl to sign with a professional team this spring. He joins RB Montel Harris (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), DB Maurice Jones (Chicago Bears), PK/P Brandon McManus (Indianapolis Colts), OL Martin Wallace (Cleveland Browns), and DE John Youboty (Denver Broncos).

Named the 2012 BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Year and a first-team All-BIG EAST honoree, Brown played in 10 games with three starts at tailback while handling all return duties as a senior last fall.  He finished his collegiate career ranked No. 2 at Temple in all-purpose yardage (5,272), No. 3 in rushing touchdowns (22), and No. 4 in 100-yard rushing performances (10).  In 2012, Brown set the season record for punt return average (14.2) and at No. 12/10 Louisville he set the school record for kickoff return yards (227). Brown finished third in rushing with 372 yards and four touchdowns on 60 carries. He led the Owls with 241 yards on 17 punt returns and 790 yards and a touchdown on 31 kickoff returns. Despite missing two games due to injury, Brown finished as the BIG EAST leader in all-purpose yards, averaging 143.4 yards per game.

Brown became the fifth active Owl to appear on a CFL roster:  RB Tim Brown (B.C. Lions), QB Henry Burris (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), LB Dominique Harris (Hamilton Tiger-Cats), and DL Elisha Joseph (Calgary Stampeders).