Roughriders revamp roster on Day 1 of CFL free agency

The Saskatchewan Roughriders didn’t get chocolate and flowers on Valentine’s Day, but they did get the makings of a revamped team heading into 2023.

After a 6-12-0 season in 2022, the Riders got a number of things Tuesday on the first day of CFL free agency: A quarterback (Trevor Harris), a bouquet of offensive weapons (Jake Wieneke, Juwan Brescacin, Shawn Bane Jr.), a pair of offensive linemen (Peter Godber, Philip Blake) and a couple of treats for the defence (Micah Johnson, Stefen Banks).

Third time’s a charm?

The Roughriders are bolstering their defensive line with a familiar face.

Micah Johnson is back for a third stint with the CFL team. He was with Saskatchewan in 2019 before signing with the B.C. Lions for the 2020 season. After that season was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, Johnson joined the Riders in 2021.

He signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the 2022 campaign and had seven sacks in 16 games last season.

Micah Johnson. (Kevin Sousa/CFL)

Lining up next to Anthony Lanier II on Saskatchewan’s defensive line could provide the 34-year-old Johnson with ample opportunities to get to opposing quarterbacks this season. Lanier II had eight sacks last year.

The 6-foot-2, 278-pound Johnson was named an East Division all-star with Hamilton last season and was a West Division all-star with Saskatchewan in 2021.

Before joining the Riders, Johnson spent six seasons with the Calgary Stampeders and was a three-time West Division all-star. He had 158 defensive tackles, 41 sacks, two interceptions and six forced fumbles over 81 games in Calgary.

A three-time CFL all-star, Johnson is a two-time Grey Cup champion, having won it with Calgary in 2014 and 2018.

Banking on Banks

Joining Johnson as a newcomer on the Roughriders’ D-line is Stefen Banks.

Stefen Banks. (Dave Chidley/CFL)

The 6-foot-1, 260-pounder recorded 36 tackles, eight sacks and one forced fumble in 23 games over the past two seasons with Calgary. The 25-year-old also had three special-teams tackles.

Before coming to the CFL, the product of Columbus, Ohio, went to mini-camp with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.

In four seasons at Savannah State University, Banks registered 226 tackles, 51.5 tackles for loss, 24.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, six pass breakups and two interceptions in 41 collegiate games.

Centre of attention

The Roughriders’ first signing of CFL free agency addressed one of the team’s biggest needs.

Peter Godber. (CFL/Submitted)

Centre Peter Godber — a 6-foot-3, 304-pound product of Toronto — started all 18 regular-season games and two playoff games at centre for B.C. in 2022, when the Lions averaged the most net yards per game in the CFL with 384.6 yards and averaged 99.7 rushing yards per game.

In 2021, Godber started all 14 regular-season games at centre in his first season as a full-time CFL starter.

The Lions selected Godber with the third overall pick of the 2018 CFL draft out of Rice University.

The Roughriders surrendered a league-high 77 sacks during the 2022 season and general manager Jeremy O’Day vowed to make changes in the off-season.

While the Riders struggled last season, Godber is excited for what the team can do in 2023.

“Football is a quarterback-driven game and to have a quarterback like Trevor Harris come here, it makes me excited. You look at all the other signings and there are some big names there,” Godber told The Green Zone on Tuesday.

“The team has a lot of potential, but potential is the ugliest word in the dictionary so we just have to get to work and put our nose down and get to work.”

Veteran centre Dan Clark, who played 131 games with Saskatchewan, became a free agent Tuesday. Godber’s signing could spell the end of Clark’s tenure with his hometown team.

Blake’s back

The Roughriders signed another national offensive lineman Tuesday, bringing back Philip Blake.

Blake started his CFL career in 2015 with the Montreal Alouettes before joining the Roughriders in 2018. He played 11 games with Saskatchewan over the next two seasons, then joined the Toronto Argonauts.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder played 11 games with Toronto in 2021 before appearing in 17 regular-season games, the East Division final and the Grey Cup with the Argos in 2022.

A product of Baylor University, Blake was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft. He had stints in that league with Denver and the Arizona Cardinals before signing with Montreal in 2015.

Roughriders ink former Stamps receiver …

Saskatchewan has added another receiver/returner to its arsenal.

Shawn Bane Jr., had 21 catches for 288 yards and one touchdown for the Stampeders last season. On special teams, the 27-year-old had nine punt returns for 80 yards and seven kickoff returns for 156 yards.

The 5-foot-9, 178-pounder appeared in four games in 2021, recording three catches for 100 yards and one TD. He also had 16 punt returns for 182 yards and seven kickoff returns for 138 yards that season.

A product of Sarasota, Fla., Bane played four collegiate seasons at Northwest Missouri State.

And then another one

Juwan Brescacin started his CFL career in Calgary, but comes to the Roughriders from the Argos.

The 6-foot-3, 227-pound receiver played 44 games over four seasons with the Stampeders, recording 1,046 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

He signed with Toronto and, in 2021, caught 11 passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns over 11 games.

The 30-year-old product of Mississauga, Ont., won a Grey Cup with Toronto last season.

In 50 career college games at Northern Illinois, Brescacin had 99 receptions for 1,465 yards and 13 TDs.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Britton Gray