Jamal Robertson

Former Ohio Northern All-American running back Jamal Robertson is battling for a roster spot on the Saskatchewan RoughRiders of the Canadian Football League after signing a free agent contract in March.

Robertson is one of five running backs hoping to land a spot on the Riders’ 37-man roster for the 2008 season, which begins June 28 against the Edmonton Eskimos.

Saskatchewan’s training camp got underway on May 31.

The first preseason game is June 13 at home against the B.C. Lions.

Robertson, who spent a year on the Calgary Stampeders practice squad in 2001, is a 5-year veteran of the National Football League, playing with the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons.

He played in one game with the Falcons in 2006 after spending 1 1/2 years with the Carolina Panthers.

Robertson signed with Carolina midway through the 2004 season after playing 2 1/2 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

In 34 career NFL games, Robertson has carried the ball 62 times for 248 yards and one TD.

He has also returned 58 kickoffs for 1,325 yards, an average of 23.4 yards per return, with a long return of 49 yards.

He was named the Offensive MVP of NFL Europe in 2002 as a member of the Rhine Fire. He rushed for 792 yards and scored a league-high eight touchdowns during his MVP season. He also set an NFL Europe record with a 90-yard touchdown run against Frankfurt

At Ohio Northern, Robertson was a two-time All-American at running back.

He remains ONU’s all-time career rushing leader with 4,169 yards from 1997-2000 and ranks second at Ohio Northern with 5,388 all-purpose yards.

In all, Robertson owns 17 school records.