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Vince Young signs with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League

Vince Young, shown in 2014, is returning to professional football after an extended absence.
Vince Young, shown in 2014, is returning to professional football after an extended absence.
(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
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Vince Young’s dream of playing professional football again is about to come true.

The former college football superstar and two-time NFL Pro Bowl selection has signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League, the team announced Thursday.

“When people call you and tell you they want you, that they think you still have something to offer and they want to give you a chance, that’s a blessing,” Young told the Undefeated. You have to feel good when people tell you they still have confidence in you. You know there are people out there who don’t look at you like that.”

Terms of the deal have not been released. The Roughriders have five other quarterbacks on their roster — Bryan Bennett, Brandon Bridge, Kevin Glenn, G.J. Kinne and Jake Waters.

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Young led the Texas Longhorns to a BCS championship with a victory over USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl and was selected third overall by Tennessee in the NFL draft later that year. He went on to be named the offensive rookie of the year and made the Pro Bowl twice in four seasons with the Titans but was cut after the 2010 season following a disagreement with then-coach Jeff Fisher.

After spending the 2011 as backup quarterback in Philadelphia, Young was unable to catch on with another NFL team. Since then he has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in January 2015 (receiving 18 months probation after pleading no contest earlier this year).

But Young told the Undefeated he has gotten his life together. He said he works for the University of Texas and the Longhorn Network, owns a steakhouse in Austin, is about to launch a real estate company and has been working with at-risk kids through the Vince Young Foundation.

“I’m happy, man,” Young said. “I’m just enjoying life.”

He added: “For this opportunity they’re giving me, I’m going to give Saskatchewan everything I have. A lot of guys have gone to Canada and done great. The NFL? I’m not thinking about the NFL. The chance to play for Saskatchewan, which believes in me, that’s where my mind is.”

charles.schilken@latimes.com

Twitter: @chewkiii

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