MONTREAL - Canadian fullback Jean-Christophe Beaulieu signed a three-year contract with the Montreal Alouettes on Wednesday.

The six-foot-three, 220-pound native of Trois-Rivieres, Que., was scheduled to become a free agent next month.

Beaulieu started all 18 regular-season games with Montreal last year, registering five catches for 65 yards and a TD. The former Sherbrooke star helped tailback Tyrell Sutton rush for a league-high 1,059 yards.

"Jean-Christophe has intrigued us from the day we started scouting him at Sherbrooke," Montreal head coach/GM Jim Popp said in a statement. "He has continued to grow into his role as a fullback in our offence and put forward relentless effort on special teams.

"We look to get him more involved in the offence in 2016, so that we can take advantage of his deceptive speed and running ability."

Montreal selected Beaulieu in the sixth round, 49th overall, in the 2014 CFL draft.