{{Short description|Canadian gridiron football player (born 1997)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox CFL biography | name = Riley Pickett | team = BC Lions | image = 2023, 45, Riley Pickett (2).jpg | image_upright = 1 | caption = Pickett with the BC Lions in 2023 | status = Active | import = no | position1 = Fullback, long snapper | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|10|5}} | birth_place = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | number = 45 | amateur_title = CJFL | amateur_team = Saskatoon Hilltops | CIS = Saskatchewan Huskies | high_school = Centennial Collegiate | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 250 | CFLDraftedYear = 2022 | CFLDraftedRound = 5 | CFLDraftedPick = 41 | playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2022}}–present | playing_team1 = BC Lions | career_footnotes = | career_highlights = * 3× Canadian Bowl champion (2016, 2017, 2018) | Honours = | CFL = riley-pickett/ }}
'''Riley Pickett''' (born October 5, 1997) is a Canadian professional football fullback and long snapper for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
==Junior career== Pickett played for the Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League from 2015 to 2017.<ref name=CJFL>{{cite web|url=https://www.cjfl.org/roster_players/13475683 |title=Riley Pickett |publisher=Canadian Junior Football League |access-date=November 10, 2023}}</ref> He won a Canadian Bowl championship in each of his three seasons with the Hilltops and was named the Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2017.<ref name=CJFL/><ref name=Huskies/> He played in 29 games where he recorded 38 tackles, 24 assisted tackles, 16 special teams tackles, 15 sacks, 1 punt block, and two forced fumbles.<ref name=CJFL/>
==University career== Pickett later joined the Saskatchewan Huskies of U Sports football and played for the team from 2018 to 2021.<ref name=Huskies>{{cite web|url=https://huskies.usask.ca/sports/football/roster/riley-pickett/2902 |title=Riley Pickett |publisher=Saskatchewan Huskies |access-date=November 10, 2023}}</ref><ref name=BCbio>{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/players/riley-pickett/ |title=Riley Pickett |publisher=BC Lions |access-date=November 10, 2023}}</ref> He played in 21 games where he had 58.5 total tackles, 11 sacks, 16 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.<ref name=Huskies/> He won two Hardy Cup championships with the Huskies, in 2018 and 2021.
==Professional career== Pickett was drafted in the fifth round, 41st overall, by the BC Lions in the 2022 CFL draft and signed with the team on May 11, 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2022/05/11/lions-sign-seven-members-of-2022-cfl-draft-class/ |title=Lions Sign Seven Members Of 2022 CFL Draft Class |publisher=BC Lions |date=May 11, 2022}}</ref> He played in ten games in 2022, where he had one defensive tackle and two special teams tackles.<ref name=BCbio/>
During his 2022 exit interview with the team's co-general manager, Neil McEvoy, it was suggested that Pickett practice long snapping, since there was an opportunity at the position in the following season.<ref name=excels>{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2023/08/17/life-of-a-long-snapper-pickett-excels-new-role/ |title=Life of a long snapper {{!}} Pickett excels in new role |publisher=BC Lions |access-date=November 10, 2023}}</ref> Having never played the position, he practiced in the off-season with Saskatchewan Roughriders long snapper, Jorgen Hus, and eventually won the job following training camp.<ref name=excels/> He played in all 18 regular season games in 2023 as the team's long snapper and also recorded seven special teams tackles.<ref name=2023Notes>{{cite web |url=https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/2023_CFL_Gm_Notes_94_Wpg_vs_BC_WF.pdf |title=Game Notes |publisher=Canadian Football League |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111040017/https://d3ham790trbkqy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/2023_CFL_Gm_Notes_94_Wpg_vs_BC_WF.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
During training camp in 2024, Pickett was in competition for the long snapper position with Kyle Nelson.<ref name=saskatchewan>{{cite web|url=https://www.bclions.com/2024/07/12/three-saskatchewan-lions-share-their-early-season-battle-with-adversities/ |title=Three Saskatchewan-Lions share their early-season battle with adversities |publisher=BC Lions |date=July 12, 2024}}</ref> Nelson became the long snapper for punts while Pickett retained the job for field goals.<ref name=saskatchewan/> Pickett also learned to play fullback and switched to the offense after playing as a defensive lineman.<ref name=saskatchewan/>
On January 13, 2025, Pickett signed a one-year contract extension to remain with BC for the 2025 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2025/01/13/lions-sign-national-fb-ls-riley-pickett-to-one-year-extension/ |title=Lions sign National FB/LS Riley Pickett to one-year extension |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=January 13, 2025 |access-date=January 21, 2025}}</ref>
On December 12, 2025, Pickett re-signed with the Lions, on a two-year contract extension.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BC Lions Transactions |url=https://www.bclions.com/transactions/ |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=BC Lions |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.bclions.com/players/riley-pickett/ BC Lions bio] * {{commonscatinline}}
{{BC Lions roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pickett, Riley}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:BC Lions players Category:Canadian football defensive linemen Category:Canadian football fullbacks Category:Canadian football long snappers Category:Canadian football people from Saskatoon Category:Canadian Junior Football League players Category:Players of Canadian football from Saskatchewan Category:Saskatchewan Huskies football players