FOOTBALL: Jernigan lands free-agent deal with Roughriders

Published 11:16 pm Saturday, May 11, 2019

Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – Just two weeks after Rodney Randle Jr. signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, Lamar has seen another of its seniors sign a contract to continue their playing career at the next level. Davon Jernigan has signed a contract to play football with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

A 2018 consensus All-American, Jernigan recorded a career year as a senior. The leaders of one of the top secondaries in the nation, Jernigan ranked among the nation’s leaders with four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. Jernigan did more than just pick off passes down the field but also led the Cardinals with 111 tackles in 2018.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

“It was an exciting and also a very humbling experience to receive the phone call,” said Jernigan. “I’m grateful to be given an opportunity to continue playing the sport I love. Saskatchewan has been in touch with me since December so I knew they had some interest. They kept in touch with me through the whole draft process. I leave Wednesday to head up there for the start of camp.”

Jernigan will always be remembered for being a member of a senior class that helped turn the LU program around. After opening the season 1-4 and 0-3 in conference play, the Cardinals rattled off a six-game win streak, including wins against three nationally ranked teams, to earn their first berth into the NCAA FCS Playoffs.

A 2018 first-team All-Southland Conference selection, Jernigan played in 42 games during his career earning 21 starts. He finishes his collegiate career with 211 total tackles, including 131 solo stops, and 10.5 tackles for losses (2.5 of those were sacks). He also picked off seven passes for 128 yards in returns and broke up 13 passes.

 

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

email author More by I.C.