Mitchell Blair
When Jake Doughty came to the Riders from Utah State and fellow linebacker Jeff Knox Junior came north of the border from California (Pennsylvania), they had no idea who the other guy was or what he was all about. Now, they are inseparable.
The two rookie linebackers have made a huge defensive impact on the field, while becoming inseparable off the field.
“Jeff and I are like Thing 1 and Thing 2, Frick and Frack.” Doughty said with a laugh. “We live together, we hang out all the time together. We have a good chemistry off the field and we have a good chemistry on the field too. We can tell each other what we’re thinking and what we can expect from one another. It’s a great bond.
The 24- year- old Doughty doesn’t really know what drew the two together, but he is happy to have formed a friendship with the 23 –year- old Knox.
“I met him for the first time at camp” Doughty said. “We weren’t even roommates at camp, but we just hung out and got to know one another. We are from completely different backgrounds, but opposites attract and we seemed to mesh.
Knox is just as happy to have Doughty by his side as the two go through their rookie seasons together.
“We are two different people with two different backgrounds, but he has the same work ethic as me and I think that is what drew me to him at camp.” Knox said. “I noticed his hard work and his work ethic. I told him that and we started talking and we eventually just became friends. Coming up here and not knowing a lot, we were both trying to find ourselves and find someone to lean on for support at camp. Making this team and having him in there beside me on the field is a huge plus for both of us.”
Both have not disappointed in their first CFL season; Knox goes into Saturday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts with 38 defensive tackles, one behind CFL leader Adam Bighill of B.C, while Doughty has performed well in place of an injured Shea Emry registering 25 tackles and one interception. Their play and their friendship has caught the eye of Head Coach Corey Chamblin who is more than impressed with the duo and what they have accomplished in the first third of the CFL season.
“They are doing an awesome job.” Chamblin stated. “I think they are learning well and they are being taught well. If they continue to grow and develop, they will be studs in this league. They really work well together. They live together, they eat together, they drive together, they play together, it’s like two best friends. They are totally opposite, but they have the right chemistry and the right energy to be our linebackers.
The success hasn’t been there when it comes to wins so far, but Doughty isn’t hanging his head one bit and is relishing every day he has with the team.
“This beats the hell out of any nine to five job” Doughty proclaimed. “It’s been a lot of fun so far and while the results may not be what we’re looking for, I am going to keep getting better every day and hopefully be a mainstay with this team for years to come and hopefully Jeff is right there.”
Knox can only nod his head in agreement at what his roommate and his new best friend has to say as he shares the same view.
The Riders will hit the road to Toronto on Saturday afternoon with Knox and Doughty hoping to control Trevor Harris, Chad Owens and the rest of the Argos offence and register their first win of the 2015 campaign.
Game time from Rogers Centre is 5 PM Saskatchewan time.
