Saskatchewan Roughriders testing out Durant, rookies at Florida mini-camp

Head coach and general manager Chris Jones is getting a look at some new players as the Saskatchewan Roughriders hosts its first mini-camp of the season in Vero Beach, Fla.

All eyes, however, are on Darian Durant as the pivot hits the field after spending two seasons on the sidelines with injuries.

“I’m thinking, he looks fine,” the Leader-Post’s Murray McCormick told the CJME Morning Show Monday.

“I saw a couple of limps, but, you know, he’s 33 and got a little bit of a hobble… he looked fine.”

However, McCormick admitted he thought the same thing at last year’s mini-camp in Florida.

Mini-camp began on Sunday and sees both Durant and Brett Smith on field testing out rookies and players on the negotiation list.

McCormick says Jones’ preference for large players is obvious on the field.

“I think if I had to put together a perfect athlete for Chris Jones, it would be size, speed and athleticism.”

One player in particular standing out to McCormick is six-foot-six wide receiver Jeremy Kelley.

“Big, tall guy … big, big, long arms. It looked at times that guys had overthrown him and he would catch up to the ball.”

The mini-camp wraps up Tuesday.

What did G.M.& Head Coach Chris Jones think of Darian Durant’s first day of mini camp? https://t.co/wRsw2wxCoLhttps://t.co/7nBiUu1LB4

— Sask. Roughriders (@sskroughriders) April 10, 2016

WR’s and the 40 yard dash. #riders https://t.co/JeOwtB1DnB

— Sask. Roughriders (@sskroughriders) April 10, 2016

The big boys (OL) doing the broad jump. #riders https://t.co/mX3xhOLnpk

— Sask. Roughriders (@sskroughriders) April 10, 2016

LB’s going through some coverage drills during Minicamp 2016. #riders https://t.co/9w7fX3q6Ky

— Sask. Roughriders (@sskroughriders) April 11, 2016

RB’s and LB’s doing one on ones at the 2016 Minicamp. #riders https://t.co/OW4bo7HoFa

— Sask. Roughriders (@sskroughriders) April 11, 2016

WR’s working on routes during the 2016 Minicamp. #riders https://t.co/ceH4KkG1qC

— Sask. Roughriders (@sskroughriders) April 11, 2016