The Saskatchewan Roughriders have added proven CFL experience to their return game with the signing of receiver/returner James Letcher Jr., who joins the club after three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes.
Letcher Jr. appeared in nine games for Montreal in 2025. During that time, he returned 39 punts for 428 yards and 19 kickoffs for 476 yards, while also contributing five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown.
His most productive CFL campaign came in 2024, when he led the league in combined return yards. That year he totaled 1,112 yards on 47 kickoff returns and 924 yards and a touchdown on 65 punt returns. He also added a touchdown on a missed-field-goal return, along with three receptions for 17 yards and three rushes for 25 yards. Letcher Jr. was named the Alouettes’ Most Outstanding Special Teams Player nominee for that season.
As a rookie in 2023, Letcher Jr. played four games, returning 23 punts for 392 yards and one touchdown and four kickoffs for 92 yards. He also scored a 125-yard touchdown on a missed-field-goal return and was part of Montreal’s Grey Cup championship roster.
Before turning pro, Letcher Jr. played four seasons at Washburn University, appearing in 48 games and starting 31. He was a three-time All-American (2019, 2021, 2022) and the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year in both 2021 and 2022.
He graduated as one of the most productive players in school history, finishing first all-time in receptions (228), all-purpose yards (5,623), and kickoff-return touchdowns (three). In total, he recorded 2,992 receiving yards and 29 offensive touchdowns, along with 1,678 kickoff-return yards and three majors, plus 611 punt-return yards and two touchdowns.
