Revamped Riders set to begin 2023 training camp

After a year to forget, hope once again springs eternal as the Saskatchewan Roughriders prepare to begin their 2023 training camp Sunday at Griffiths Stadium.

The Riders made some big changes to their offence after a 6-12 season.

A new face of the franchise was brought in, with the team signing quarterback Trevor Harris during the off-season to join new offensive co-ordinator Kelly Jeffrey at the helm of the Riders’ attack.

Last year’s starter, Cody Fajardo, signed with Montreal Alouettes to join former Riders offensive co-ordinator Jason Maas, who’s now the Als’ head coach.

Along with a new quarterback comes a new set of weapons and a revamped offensive line to try and get the Riders back into the playoffs.

Quarterbacks

On the roster (in alphabetical order): Zerrick Cooper, Jake Dolegala, Mason Fine, Trevor Harris, Levi Lewis, Shea Patterson

The Riders have a new starting pivot for the 2023 season. After ownership issues muddied the waters in Montreal, Harris signed with the Riders early in the negotiation window.

Harris, 36, is entering his 11th CFL season and has thrown for 28,610 yards, 154 touchdowns and 71 interceptions in his career.

The signing of Harris marked the end of Fajardo’s time in Saskatchewan. While Fajardo was named the West Division’s most outstanding player in 2019, his production has dipped since then.

Last season, Fajardo threw for 3,360 yards, 16 touchdowns and 13 interceptions before being relegated to the backup role for the final two games of the season.

Fine was the primary backup last season and was the team’s starter for the final two games. He threw for 364 yards and one touchdown in those two starts.

Dolegala appeared in two games for the Riders, both times as illness ravaged the team. He was the starter against the Toronto Argonauts in Week 7 as the team dealt with a COVID outbreak. He threw for 131 yards, a touchdown and an interception in that game.

A stomach flu swept through the Riders’ locker room for the Banjo Bowl, which led to Dolegala being the backup in that game.

Lewis is back after joining the team partway through last season, spending the last part of the year on the practice roster. Patterson had a stint with Montreal in 2021.

Running backs

On the roster (in alphabetical order): Albert Awachie, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, B.J. Emmons, Javian Hawkins, Frankie Hickson, Jace Jordan, Kienan LaFrance, Bruno Labelle, Jamal Morrow, Morgan Runge, Rodney Smith

The Riders have their 1-2 punch at running back, but depth will be something the team is after this season.

The running back room was ravaged with injuries late in the season with Morrow, Hickson, and LaFrance all injured at the same.

Morrow is set to return as the team’s primary back. In 12 games of action last season, he had 666 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while adding 366 yards and a touchdown when thrown the ball.

Hickson, who was the Riders’ most outstanding rookie last season, had 533 yards and a touchdown on the ground in 13 games.

LaFrance is back as the Riders’ veteran in the backfield. The Winnipeg product is entering his 10th season and fifth with Saskatchewan.

LaFrance, who suffered a knee injury in 2022, dressed for 11 games, recording 39 yards on the ground and 28 yards through the air.

Awachie and LaBelle are listed as the team’s primary fullbacks. Awachie appeared in 17 games in 2022, mostly used as a blocker. LaBelle saw action in 15 games last season as well, recording one catch for 18 yards.

Bertrand-Hudon was the Riders’ fourth-round (30th overall) pick in the 2023 CFL draft. The Quebec product spent four seasons at Delaware State, registering 239 carries for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Wide receivers

On the roster (in alphabetical order): Shawn Bane Jr., James Basalyga, Juwan Brescacin, Keith Corbin III, Sam Emilus, Jake Herslow, Tevin Jones, Brayden Lenius, Kalija Lipscomb, Jake Parker, Mitch Picton, Kian Schaffer-Baker, Tabashi Thomas, Derel Walker, Kendall Watson, Jester Weah, Jake Wieneke

The receiving corps is seeing a number of changes heading into 2023. Gone are Shaq Evans (Ottawa Redblacks), Duke Williams (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and Kyran Moore (Edmonton Elks).

Brought in during free agency to replace those three Americans were Bane Jr., Walker, and Wieneke.

Wieneke joined Harris in leaving Montreal due to ownership uncertainty. The 28-year-old spent three seasons in Montreal, amassing 2,056 yards and 21 touchdowns – with 11 of those majors coming in 2021.

Bane Jr. is a 27-year-old speedster who spent the past two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. He had 288 yards and a touchdown in nine games last season.

Walker is entering his eighth CFL season with 6,653 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns to his name. His best season came in 2016 with Edmonton, where he recorded 1,589 yards and 10 touchdowns. Walker was the Elks’ leading receiver last year with 894 yards and five touchdowns.

Jones and Weah return for their second seasons with the Green and White.

Jones dressed for 14 games last season, hauling in 20 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns. Weah was at Riders’ training camp in 2022, but was released and then re-signed in July. He only dressed for two games, hauling in two passes for nine yards.

The Canadian receiver room will have a lot of competition this season as well.

Justin McInnis left to join the B.C. Lions in the off-season and last year’s leading receiver, Schaffer-Baker, could miss the first half of the season after undergoing hip surgery.

Schaffer-Baker had 960 yards and five touchdowns for the Riders’ struggling aerial attack in 2022.

Brayden Lenius is expected to be one of the team’s starters this season. After recording 471 yards and four touchdowns in 2021, the Regina product signed with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. He was released following training camp and rejoined the Riders in August. In seven games, Lenius had 172 yards and a touchdown.

Saskatchewan signed Brescacin in free agency. The Mississauga product is entering his seventh CFL season – four with the Stamps and two with Toronto. While he only compiled 97 yards and two touchdowns the past two seasons with Toronto, he recorded 567 yards and three touchdowns with the Stamps in 2018.

Emilus returns for his second season with the Riders. He was taken in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2022 CFL draft. He dressed for 15 games with Saskatchewan last season, recording 10 catches for 165 yards.

Picton is once again back with his hometown team. The 27-year-old was drafted by the Riders in 2017 and has become Mr. Versatility for the team, able to line up at any receiver or slotback position. He dressed for 12 games in 2022, recording 220 yards and two touchdowns.

Offensive line

On the roster (in alphabetical order): Diego Alatorre Montoya, Logan Bandy, Philip Blake, Matthew Derks, Logan Ferland, Evan Floren, Zack Fry, Peter Godber, Jerald Hawkins, Evan Johnson, Colton Lamson, Andrew Lauderdale, Eric Lofton, Jeremiah Poutasi, Kooper Richardson, Phil Saleh, Jordan Tucker

The group that will draw many eyes at camp this season will be the offensive line.

Pass protection was the most criticized part of the 2022 season after giving up 77 sacks – the most in the CFL by 24.

With the struggles, the Riders are revamping their offensive line, including a new O-line coach in Anthony Vitale.

The biggest name the Riders won’t have in 2023 is centre Dan Clark. The Regina product wasn’t signed to a new contract after the 2022 season, though he remains active in the community with the Riders.

Clark appeared in 131 games for the Riders during his career.

The favourite to replace Clark is Godber, who was signed in free agency after spending four seasons with B.C.

Bandy is entering his third season with the Riders and dressed for 17 games in 2022 – 11 of them as the starting centre after Clark suffered a broken leg in Week 2 against Edmonton.

Returnees from last season include guards Logan Ferland and Evan Johnson and tackles Kooper Richardson and Andrew Lauderdale.

Ferland, a former member of the Regina Thunder, is entering his fifth season with the Riders after signing as a territorial junior in 2018. He has started 30 games for the Riders since 2021.

Johnson joined the Riders in 2021 after spending the previous three seasons in Ottawa. In his career, he has started 84 CFL games – 32 as a member of the Riders.

Richardson returns after a rookie season where he was thrust into the starting lineup due to inconsistent play throughout the season at the right tackle spot. He dressed for six games.

In the off-season, the Riders signed Blake to a contract, marking his second stint in green and white. He was with the Riders in 2018-19.

The 37-year-old, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft, came to the CFL in 2015 as a member of the Alouettes. He played there until a trade sent him to Saskatchewan in 2018. He played the last two seasons in Toronto, where he won the Grey Cup last year.

Blake not only brings a veteran presence to the group but versatility as well; he’s able to play any position along the line.

Fry returns for his second Riders training camp. He participated last year but played his final year of university eligibility at Western. A five-year starter for the Mustangs, Fry was the Riders’ second-round pick in the 2022 draft.

Floren was selected by the Riders in the seventh round of the 2023 CFL draft. He played four seasons at Queen’s.

Hawkins was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft and appeared in 19 games. He also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints.

Poutasi, a third-round selection by the Tennessee Titans in 2015, started seven games for the team in his rookie year. In 2016, he started one game with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders.

Defensive line

On the roster (in alphabetical order): Charles Akanno, Christian Albright, Stefen Banks, Miles Brown, DeMarcus Christmas, Bryan Cox Jr., Charbel Dabire, Nicholas Dheilly, Valentin Gnahoua, Micah Johnson, David Kenney, Lake Korte-Moore, Weston Kramer, Anthony Lanier II, KeShaun Moore, Pete Robertson, Cody Roscoe, Marcus Webb

The Riders released a key member of their defensive line group from previous seasons but went out and brought back a familiar face in free agency.

Defensive end A.C. Leonard, the CFL sack-leader in 2021 with 11, was released by the Riders in January. Leonard signed with Edmonton in short order.

During free agency, the Riders signed Banks and Johnson.

Banks, 26, spent the past two seasons with Calgary. He recorded eight sacks in 23 games there.

Johnson is back for a third stint with Saskatchewan after spending 2022 with Hamilton. Last season, the 34-year-old recorded seven sacks – his highest total since he had 14 in 2018 in Calgary.

Lining up next to Johnson will be Lanier II, who signed a contract extension in the off-season. Lanier had eight sacks in just 11 games played in 2022.

Another familiar face is Robertson. The defensive end led the Riders with nine sacks last season, with seven of those coming in the first four weeks of the season before he suffered an ankle injury in Week 5.

Currently, there are only three Canadian defensive linemen on the roster.

Korte-Moore was the Riders’ first-round pick in this year’s draft after playing at UBC.

Dabire was taken in the 2019 draft (fifth round) by the Riders and has dressed for 37 games in his three-season career. He has four career sacks.

Dheilly, who is from Regina and played university football at both Regina and Saskatchewan, spent 2021 in Winnipeg before signing with the Riders for 2022. He dressed for eight games last season.

Brown dressed for 13 games for the Riders in 2022, recording two sacks and 21 defensive tackles.

Christmas was also with the Riders in 2022, dressing for 15 games. In CFL action, he recorded 22 defensive tackles and one sack.

Linebackers

On the roster (in alphabetical order): A.J. Allen, Tommy Bringi, Larry Dean, Matt Dean, Kyrei Fisher-Morris, Jerry Garner Jr., Kolby Harvell-Peel, Ryan Henry, Justin Herdman-Reed, Alvin Jones Jr., La’Akea Kaho’ohanohano, Derrick Moncrief, Lukas Ruoss, Micah Teitz, Nick Thomas

The Riders will welcome back two of their three starters from their 2022 linebacker group, as well as their most outstanding Canadian from 2021.

Teitz missed all of 2022 after suffering a hip injury in the off-season. In 2021, his first as the team’s starting weak-side linebacker, he recorded 64 tackles and three sacks. He was named the team’s most outstanding Canadian for that campaign.

Larry Dean, who was Saskatchewan’s weak-side linebacker in Teitz’s absence, is expected to move back into the middle following the departure of Darnell Sankey to the XFL.

If the CFL had a comeback player of the year, Dean would’ve been one of the frontrunners for that award last season. After missing 2021 due to a torn Achilles, the 34-year-old recorded 101 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions in ’22.

Moncrief is expected to be the strong-side linebacker once again after a divisional all-star campaign – the only member of the Riders to be named one. Moncrief had 49 tackles and four interceptions.

With those players entrenched as the starters, the backup spots will be up for grabs with players like Allen and Jones Jr. continuing to improve as CFLers.

Defensive backs

On the roster (in alphabetical order): Jordan Beaulieu, Jeremy Clark, Rodney Clemons, Jayden Dalke, Julius Faulk, Jaxon Ford, Justus Harris, Amari Henderson, Devin Jones, Austin Joyner, Nelson Lokombo, Nick Marshall, Rolan Milligan, Leon O’Neal Jr., Godfrey Onyeka, Kosi Onyeka, C.J. Reavis, Rashard Robinson, La’Andre Thomas, Kendarius Webster, Deontai Williams

Saskatchewan brought back most of its defensive backfield but it could be an open competition for the safety and one of the halfback spots.

The Riders moved on from Canadian safety Mike Edem in the off-season, choosing not to re-sign the nine-year CFL veteran.

If the plan is to still have a national player at the position, it could be a race between three players – Lokombo, Dalke and Ford.

Lokombo was the second overall pick in the 2021 CFL draft, but missed his rookie season after suffering a torn Achilles a day before camp opened. The former Huskie, who was praised for his athleticism during his draft year, hasn’t translated that to the CFL yet. He was in and out of the lineup in 2022, dressing for 12 games.

Dalke, a former member of the PFC’s Edmonton Wildcats and University of Alberta Golden Bears, was called upon in many different situations last season as an in-game replacement for injured players. He was the team’s starting safety in its final regular-season game.

Ford, the Riders’ second-round pick in this year’s draft, could battle for the starting spot as well. Ford, a 2022 Canada West all-star, had five interceptions in four seasons as a member at the U of R.

Marshall returns and is expected to hold down one of the cornerback spots. He has been a starter for the Riders since 2018 and has 15 career interceptions. He also holds the Riders’ record for most pick-sixes in a career (five).

Milligan is expected to return as a starting halfback after a solid outing in 2022. He played in 17 games last season, recording 71 tackles, one sack and one interception.

Clark could play either halfback or cornerback for the team in 2023. He started 2022 at halfback but played cornerback to end the year due to injuries. Clark played in 17 games last season, recording 30 tackles.

Godfrey Onyeka and Reavis could battle for a halfback spot but have also played strong-side linebacker as well.

Henderson was in and out of the lineup for the Riders, appearing in 11 games.

Special teams

On the roster (in alphabetical order): Mario Alford, Jorgen Hus, Brett Lauther, David Solie, Kaare Vedvik

The Riders aren’t expected to make many changes when it comes to their special teams this season.

Alford was one of the most electrifying returners in the CFL last season and was named the league’s most outstanding special-teams player. He returned one punt, two kickoffs and a missed field goal for a touchdown last season.

Lauther converted on 82 per cent of his field-goal attempts last season.

Vedvik, a product of Norway, averaged 44.5 yards per punt last season with a long of 78-yards.

Hus has been a steady presence at long snapper for the Riders since 2015.