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September 27, 2016

Six added to practice roster

The Calgary Stampeders have added international quarterback Nick Arbuckle, international receiver Devonte Robinson, international defensive back Joel Ross and international defensive linemen Perez Ford, Josh Francis and Jason Neill to the practice roster.

CFL teams are permitted to carry up to 15 practice-roster players (up from the usual 10) for a one-month period.

Here is more information on the newcomers:

Nick Arbuckle
#8
Quarterback
College: Georgia State
Height: 6.01
Weight: 215
Born: Oct. 4, 1993
International

Arbuckle attended the 2016 mini-camp of the National Football League’s Pittsburgh Steelers. He played two seasons at Georgia State and as a senior in 2015 was first-team all-Sun Belt Conference and was also the conference’s student-athlete of the year. He set a Sun Belt record with 4,368 passing yards in 2015 and set school records with 307 completions and 28 touchdowns.

Devonte Robinson
#17
Receiver
College: Utah State
Height: 6.02
Weight: 190
Born: Oct. 29, 1993
International

Robinson signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on Apr. 30, 2016. He played two seasons (2014-15) at Utah State and had 44 catches for 552 yards and four touchdowns for the Aggies. He was a second-team conference all-star for Dodge City Community College as a sophomore.

Joel Ross
#27
Defensive back
College: Appalachian State
Height: 5.10
Weight: 190
Born: June 12, 1992
International

Ross was added to the practice roster of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015 and attended training camp with the Chicago Bears in 2016. He played four seasons (2011-14) at Appalachian State and was a three-year starter.

Perez Ford
#92
Defensive lineman
College: Northern Illinois
Height: 6.00
Weight: 227
Born: Jan. 20, 1994
International

Ford played four seasons at Northern Illinois and was first-team all-Mid American Conference as a senior in 2015 after recording 42 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. In 55 career games, he had 129 tackles, 14 sacks and five forced fumbles.

Josh Francis
#73
Defensive lineman
College: West Virginia
Height: 6.00
Weight: 239
Born: Nov. 30, 1990
International

Francis spent the first month of the 2016 season on the Stampeders’ practice roster before being released on July 25. He attended training camp with the Green Bay Packers in 2015. Francis played two seasons (2012-13) at West Virginia and as a senior in 2013, he led the Mountaineers with 15 tackles for loss.

Jason Neill
#71
Defensive lineman
College: Texas-San Antonio
Height: 6.02
Weight: 266
Born: Oct. 28, 1992
International

Neill signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2016, and attended mini-camp. He then signed with the Cleveland Browns and was released at the conclusion of training camp. He played four seasons at the University of Texas-San Antonio and graduated as the Roadrunners’ all-time leader in tackles for loss (23.5) and sacks (14). He earned second-team all-Conference USA honours as a senior in 2015.