REGINA, Saskatchewan, Canada - Former Northwest and Samford quarterback Michael Hiers has been signed to the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, the franchise announced last week.

Hiers joins the Roughriders after spending the spring in rookie mini-camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Birmingham, Ala. native went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, despite two strong seasons with Samford University from 2022-23. 

In his first season at Samford, Hiers guided the Bulldogs to the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 1991. He was chosen as the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 3,544 yards and 36 touchdowns. Hiers ranked in the top 10 nationally in several statistical categories, including including completion percentage (76.6; 1st), completions per game (27.15; 3rd), passing touchdowns (36; 4th) and passing yards (3,544; 6th).

Entering his 2023 senior season, Hiers was named to Athlon Sports' FCS Preseason All-America Team on May 31. He also earned All-American status by the Associated Press and Stats Perform following the 2022 campaign, while also earning Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year recognition.

Last season, Hiers completed 315 passes on 442 attempts, passing for 3,056 yards and 18 touchdowns. His best performance of the season came against East Tennessee State, where Hiers completed 42 passes and threw for 399 yards and a touchdown.

Prior to Samford, Hiers spent the 2020-21 seasons with Northwest and left as one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Rangers' history. He helped Northwest to the 2020 MACCC and National Community College Football championships, while also guiding the Rangers to the 2021 MACCC Championship and an appearance in the NJCAA Division I Football Playoffs. 

In 18 total games with the Rangers, Hiers completed 65 percent of his passes, throwing for 4,519 yards, 34 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He ranks fifth in career passing yards and remains one of only four Northwest quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards in a season, joining the likes of Russell Evans, NFL quarterback Gardner Minshew and current Southern Miss head coach Will Hall.

Hiers also accounted for 4,496 yards of total offense at Northwest, ranking fifth in that category. He is also tied for the longest pass completion in program history, a 95-yard strike to current North Texas receiver D.T. Sheffield in a road contest at Coahoma.

Saskatchewan is currently in the midst of its 2024 season. With four regular season games left on the schedule, the Roughriders are 6-7-1 and third place in the CFL West division, trailing the first-place Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the second-place British Columbia Lions.

While Northwest has a lengthy history of former players in the NFL, the Rangers have also boasted several CFL veterans through the years, including recent Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame inductee Henry "Gizmo" Williams. Other notable Northwest alumni to play in the CFL ranks include receiver Keshunn Abram, tailback John Avery, brothers Eddie and Ricky Blake, defensive tackle Roy Hart, defensive lineman DeVon Hicks, linebacker Thomas Majors, linebacker Bill McCollins, defensive lineman Jamontay Pilson, running backs Curtis Steele and Daniel Thomas and linebacker Patrick Trahan.