Riders Canadian receiver rookie duo catching on during training camp

A couple of Canadian Saskatchewan Roughrider rookie receivers are making some waves at training camp.

Kian Schaffer-Baker and Terrell Jana are both trying to crack the 2021 CFL roster as rookies.

Jana was a second-round draft pick for the Riders in 2021. He was taken 17th overall by Saskatchewan but prior to the draft, he was listed by some as a potential number one overall pick.

“That’s a good question,” Jana said with a laugh when asked if he knew why he dropped so far in the Canadian draft. “Hopefully whatever the reasons were I can prove them wrong in the seasons coming up and the seasons following it, I can’t dwell on it that much. I think the silver lining is that I came to a great place.”

Jana comes to the Riders after a productive career with the Virginia Cavaliers. He was one of the captains in 2020 and finished his career with 1,481 yards and five touchdowns.
Originally from Vancouver, Jana left home to go play football in the states in 2016.

“I was in B.C. and we played American football in high school so I never played (Canadian rules) but we always went to B.C. Lions games growing up,” Jana said.

With Jana playing with an American college, he was able to take the field in 2020.

“I was able to play last year. These guys have been waiting to play football but at the same time, they had this playbook a year ahead of me so I’m still trying to learn concepts,” Jana said.

One of those players – who has been waiting a year-and-a-half to show what he can do – is Kian Schaffer-Baker.

Schaffer-Baker was a fourth-round draft pick by the team in 2019. Head coach Craig Dickenson admits they were surprised to still see him available at the 30th pick.

“We didn’t necessarily have a receiver pegged at that spot but when we saw he was available, we knew he was the best player on the board at that time. We projected him in all of our mock drafts going in the first and second round,” Dickenson said.

“When he was around in the fourth he was too good to pass up.”

The Mississauga product stayed near home and played university ball with the Guelph Gryphons. played in 28 games, recording 95 receptions for 1,544 yards and eight touchdowns. He also put in a good performance at the 2019 East-West Bowl leading all receivers with five catches for 126 yards and a touchdown.

And with a cancelled 2020 CFL due to COVID, Schaffer-Baker has been waiting a while to prove he can make the jump to the pros.

“It’s been over 500 days of consistent work and keeping my mind and my goal and just focus on being ready, getting in shape and just having my head on straight and ready to come in here and compete with my guys,” Schaffer-Baker said.

Both have been making an impression with wide receivers coach Travis Moore.

“The sky is the limit for (Schaffer-Baker), he puts the work in. He’s a gym rat – he loves working out – and he’s picking up the playbook,” Moore said. “He can become an all-star.”

But Dickenson admits Schaffer-Baker has some stuff to learn.

“He’s still late for meetings every once in a while and one of the last guys on the bus. We still have to get him to figure out what it means to be a pro athlete, you just don’t show up when you feel like it,” Dickenson said.

“He’s a rookie and he’s going to have the highs and lows that all rookies have but physically he looks the part and we just need to get him mentally where he needs to be.”

And Jana has been impressing with his off-field attitude.

“He’s a pro. He comes by my office right after lunch, he will come by and ask questions. He has already shown he has pro qualities. Just because you haven’t seen him catch a lot of balls doesn’t mean he’s not doing the right things,” Moore said.

Both have some stiff competition at the Canadian receiver spot with returning Riders like Justin McInnis, Brayden Lenius, Mitch Picton and Jake Harty.

Notes

Dickenson said that slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert (hand), offensive tackle Terran Vaughn (shoulder) would not participate in Saturdays Green and White game … Defensive back Vincent Dethier (knee) is still be evaluated but Dickenson doesn’t expect him back soon … Defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy (day off), defensive tackle Charbel Dabire (quad) and Jake Harty (knee) didn’t participate on Thursday.