By: by Tim Flynn
WATCH: Harker 2018 Highlights
REGINA, Sask. - Colorado School of Mines quarterback
Isaac Harker has signed a free agent contract with the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Harker signed with the team on Wednesday after impressing scouts during a Roughriders open camp in Florida earlier this month. Saskatchewan is coming off a successful 2018 that saw them reach the Western Division semifinals going 12-6 overall. Harker will add depth to a young quarterback room in Regina that includes returning starter Zach Collaros (Cincinnati), 2018 backup David Watford (Hampton), and recent free agent signing Cody Fajardo (Nevada).
A graduate transfer in 2018 from Indiana State, Harker made a huge impact in his only season as an Oredigger as he threw for 3,858 yards and 39 touchdowns with a 67 percent completion rate. Harker earned D2football.com Honorable Mention All-America status as he led Mines to NCAA Division II's #2 passing offense and #1 total offense, and ranked in the national top five in virtually every passing category including TDs (1st), yards (2nd), yards per game (2nd), completion percentage (4th), and total offense (4th). Harker was a D2CCA Second-Team All-Super Region 4 and Second-Team All-RMAC pick and was also a three-time RMAC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 10, Oct. 1, Oct. 29). Harker is anticipated to earn his master's degree in Mineral and Energy Economics in May; he has his bachelor's degree from Indiana State.
Among Harker's video-game numbers in 2018 were nine 300+ yard performances and nine 3+ touchdown games. His Oredigger debut was a memorable one as he threw for 317 yards and five touchdowns against Adams State, and he went off in Week 2 for a career-high 425 yards, three passing touchdowns, and two more rushing scores. Perhaps his top all-around game was a 377-yard, five-touchdown, 55-rushing yard day against Colorado Mesa in Week 5, and he also racked up huge numbers at Fort Lewis (345 yards, 5 TD), vs. South Dakota Mines (372 yards, 5 TD), and against Chadron State (372 yards, 1 TD).
Coincidentally, Harker will not be the first Oredigger quarterback to join the Roughriders - 2004 Harlon Hill Trophy winner Chad Friehauf was on Saskatchewan's practice squad in 2007 and active roster in 2008, although he did not appear in a game. The last Mines player to sign with a CFL team was defensive end Emmanuel Graves, who inked a free agent contract with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2016.
