Running back Jerome Messam in action last season with the Riders against the Edmonton Eskimos. (Photo: Sask Roughriders)The Saskatchewan Roughriders locked up another pending free agent on Friday with the signing of Canadian running back Jerome Messam.

Messam joined the Riders early in the season last year and finished with 382 rushing yards and one touchdown on 70 carries to go along with eight catches for 134 yards in 14 regular season games.

This will be the Toronto native's sixth CFL season. The 29-year-old has put up 2,264 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 451 carries in his career. He was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian in 2011.

Messam was brought in by the Riders in July as the team searched for a replacement for Grey Cup MVP Kory Sheets. His impact was big initially as he was named the Canadian Player of the Week in Week 7, but was slowed up over the rest of the season.

Messam was schedule to become a free agent on Tuesday.