‘Viciously motivated’: Riders, Harris ready to begin 2024 CFL campaign

Trevor Harris is back, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback appears to be as locked in as ever.

Harris is set to start for the Riders in the June 8 season opener against the Edmonton Elks. Kickoff for the game in Edmonton is set for 2 p.m.

It will be the first regular-season game the 38-year-old pivot has played in since suffering a knee injury – a tibial plateau fracture – in Week 6 against the Calgary Stampeders last season.

“You don’t get opportunities every day, and the fact that what happened to me at my age and I was afforded another opportunity, I’m just viciously motivated,” Harris said.

Open season for the season opener.

FULL POSITION CHART | https://t.co/6TtOroHCVI pic.twitter.com/U1w2CJW1rA

— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) June 7, 2024

“Just full throttle every day. Every day is a life of its own. There’s no difference between a meeting, a practice, a game – it’s all going to be the same intention of getting better and trying to dominate.”

While he’s grateful to be back on the field, he said he’s now focused on the season ahead.

“We’ve got bigger fish to fry than just being back and playing,” Harris said. “My mind has shifted from getting back to play – that’s long in the past.”

In just five games last season, Harris threw for 1,274 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. The Riders were 3-1 in the games he finished, but finished the season with a 6-12 record, failing to make the playoffs.

Head coach Corey Mace, in his first season with the Roughriders, said he’s ready to see his team take the field in a game that actually means something in the standings.

“I’m excited to see these guys put their best foot forward and see where we are,” Mace said.

The Riders’ offence will include some new faces this season, including running back AJ Ouellette, offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, and wide receiver KeeSean Johnson.

There will also be a new person calling plays for the Riders, with Marc Mueller entering his first season as a CFL offensive coordinator.

Harris, entering his 12th CFL season, said he has trust in the offensive system.

“I feel like we have answers. That’s all you can ask for as a quarterback – when you approach the line of scrimmage to have answers for what they are doing,” Harris said.

“We’re going to bring looks they haven’t seen before. That’s what pro football is.”

On the defensive side, a few new faces will make their Riders debut as well. That includes linebackers Jameer Thurman and C.J. Avery, defensive end Malik Carney, and defensive back DaMarcus Fields.