Frankie Hickson excited to give back to Saskatchewan community

Frankie Hickson can make a big impact on the field for the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.

But he also wants to provide a boost off of it as well.

“A lot of people will say the Riders are celebrities or famous but I don’t view it that way,” the 25-year-old running back said.

“I see myself as a normal guy, but when you are held to that standard and you have the next generation looking up to you, it is very important to instill the right values and to make sure they are going on the right path.

“To have that ability to speak life into the next generation, it’s everything that being a Rider is. This is a community-owned and community-based team so it’s not just me or the offence, it’s all of Rider Nation wherever you are.”

Frankie Hickson: Man of the people! pic.twitter.com/rAfgErYt09

— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) March 6, 2023

Hickson has been back in the province for about five weeks to get ready for training camp, but also to participate in a number of the community events the team puts on, including reading to kids in Weyburn or providing someone with their food order at the local drive-through.

The product of Lynchburg, Va., said he was lucky enough to grow up in a place where he went to high school and then eventually college. He believes playing somewhere that feels like home can help you give more out on the field.

“I had an extra push in how I played the game. It’s the same way here – you add and build these connections with people who have lived here their entire lives and this organization means so much to,” Hickson said.

“You can’t just go out there and give half effort. You have to go out there and give it everything you have because you have not only your team on your back but you have your whole city and community and Rider Nation on your back.”

Hickson has had a great role model to show him how important the community can be in long-time Riders centre Dan Clark.

“Dan was one of the first people to greet me in training camp last season and he has been like a big brother since then and he was one of the main reasons I got into the community (work),” Hickson said.

“He emphasized how important it was not just from a player’s perspective but the community’s perspective as well.”

Hickson is not only growing as a member of the community, but he also could see his role on the team grow as well.Hickson spent a majority of the 2022 season as Jamal Morrow’s backup but still rushed for 533 yards and a touchdown in 13 games in his first CFL season.While he comes into this training camp with a job, he knows he still has to prove himself.

“It always feels like a bit of security but I think we all know that in this job and this profession, there very rarely is any security,” Hickson said.

“You need to have that mindset every single day that this can be taken away from you whenever – be it injury, be it trade, be it cut. You never know when your last play will be.

“You need to make the most of every single minute that you have and try to take away as much as you can from the veterans and keep it moving forward.”

Hickson will also look to help the Riders bounce back from a 2022 season where the team fell short of expectations, going 6-12.“

Just a team with a different mindset going into things,” Hickson said.

“We haven’t gone into camp yet and we haven’t done really anything together team-wise but you can just feel and you can just tell through texts, emails, calls with players and coaches, you can just tell this year is going to be different.”

For now, Hickson is trying to get used to the unpredictability that is Saskatchewan weather in March.“

I’m experiencing snow and wind and then the next day it is all melted and then that night I’m slipping and falling all over myself because it’s so slick,” Hickson said.

“There was a snow drift and I think I saw a snow tornado,.”I don’t know what I’m seeing here in Saskatchewan.”