The football journey of Battle Creek’s Austin McKinney has taken another turn.
And, this time, he is turning to the north.
McKinney will get another chance to play professional football after signing a deal to join the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
“It’s been a long journey, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to chase my dream,” McKinney said. “I am truly blessed. I am heading to camp. Going to get a chance to play in a great league like the CFL.”
Saskatchewan announced on Friday on its website the team had signed McKinney. The former Battle Creek Central standout said it was a three-year deal pending him making the squad out of training camp. Training camp starts in Regina, Saskatchewan on Monday, May 4.
McKinney, a 2017 graduate of Battle Creek Central, first signed with Saginaw Valley State University out of high school. He transferred to Saddleback College in California in 2022 and then arrived at Northwest Missouri State for the 2023 season. The 6-foot-2 defensive back spent two collegiate seasons at Northwest Missouri State University, suiting up for 22 games as a Bearcat. He started all 11 games in his strong senior season, recording 31 tackles, one interception and nine pass deflections.
Following his college career, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns of the NFL and attended their rookie camp in May of 2025, before being cut.
McKinney said he worked out for Saskatchewan last June, but wasn’t signed. He went in for a private workout a few weeks ago and then received the call from the team on Thursday, April 30 that they were interested in signing him.
It’s been a long year since then, but McKinney always believed he would get another chance to play professional football.
“It’s a sense of relief that this chance has come. It’s been almost a full calendar year since I had my opportunity at rookie camp in Cleveland. Even though that didn’t work out, I knew I had to keep patient. I have spent so much effort into the game the last five or six years of my life, I knew I had to keep at it,” McKinney said. “I just think it would be a dishonor to myself and to my family if I quit. So I have kept working and I never had any doubt I would get another opportunity.”
McKinney’s deal with Saskatchewan allows him to pursue a roster spot in the NFL as well after the season, and if that doesn’t work, his three-year CFL contract stays intact.
“I am going to make the most of my chance to play in a great league like the CFL. I will get a chance to get some good film, maybe get some eyes on my as well and raise my stock and maybe still get a chance to go the NFL down the road,” McKinney said. “But, right now, I am just blessed to get this chance with the CFL.”
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek’s Austin McKinney realizes pro football dream. Who did he sign with?
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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