The playing surface at Griffiths Stadium is smooth and soft, but Saskatchewan Roughriders Head Coach Craig Dickenson is nonetheless keeping a close eye on the trenches.
The offensive and defensive lines, in other words.
General Manager and Vice-President of Football Operations Jeremy O’Day and the Roughriders’ player-personnel staff made a concerted effort during the off-season to bolster the team on both sides of the line of scrimmage — with the emphatic endorsement of Dickenson.
“It’s kind of a shared vision between Jeremy and I,” Dickenson said leading up to the Coors Light Riders Training camp, which begins Sunday in Saskatoon.
“We want to be a physical, good-in-the-trenches unit. We want to be able to lean heavily on the linemen — the offensive line and defensive line — to carry our team and then fill in around them.”
Accordingly, we shall begin this exhaustive training camp preview with the offensive line — a major priority during the off-season — and go from there.
At each position, players are listed in numerical order. Classifications are noted by N (National), A (American) and G (Global).
In the case of duplicate numbers, keep in mind that offensive players wear white, defensive players wear green, and quarterbacks are in black.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
This group includes four people who started for the Roughriders last season — Logan Bandy, Evan Johnson, Kooper Richardson and Logan Ferland. One player to watch at camp is free-agent signee Philip Blake, a CFL veteran who could start at tackle or guard. Roll call …
#50 Colton Lamson (A): Played on UC Davis offensive line that allowed fewest sacks in Big Sky Conference in 2018 and 2019.
#51 Peter Godber (N): Signed as free agent Feb. 14 after starting at centre for B.C.
#53 Philip Blake (N): Starting left tackle for Toronto in 2023 Grey Cup win.
#54 Diego Alatorre Montoya (N): Third-round draftee in 2022.
#57 Eric Lofton (A): Started one game at right tackle for Winnipeg last season.
#59 Evan Floren (N): Seventh-round draftee in 2023.
#60 Jordan Tucker (A): Attended Pittsburgh Steelers’ camp in 2022.
#63 Logan Ferland (N): Named Roughriders’ top offensive lineman in 2022.
#64 Evan Johnson (N): Veteran guard has missed only one offensive snap in two seasons with Saskatchewan.
#65 Jerald Hawkins (A): 19 games of NFL experience.
#66 Kooper Richardson (A): Starting right tackles for final six games in 2022.
#67 Zack Fry (N): Roughriders’ second-rounder in 2022 was a Second Team All-Canadian last season.
#68 Phil Saleh (A): Joined team for Day 2 of rookie camp.
#69 Logan Bandy (N): Started 11 games at centre last season.
#79 Riley Schick (N): PFC All-Star with Regina Thunder in 2021.
QUARTERBACKS
Trevor Harris was the Roughriders’ marquee free-agent signing during the off-season. Mason Fine and Jake Dolegala return. Levi Lewis and Shea Patterson are promising newcomers.
#5 Shea Patterson (A): Primarily a short-yardage quarterback in five games with Montreal in 2021.
#7 Trevor Harris (A): 11th-year CFLer threw for 4,157 yards and 20 TDs with Montreal last season, with completion percentage of 71.6.
#8 Mason Fine (A): Started Riders’ final two games of 2022.
#9 Jake Dolegala (A): Started one game in 2022, completing 13 passes for 131 yards with one TD vs. Toronto on July 24.
#10 Levi Lewis (A): Lefty starred at Louisiana-Lafayette before joining Roughriders’ practice squad last season.
#13 Noah Pelletier (N): U of R Rams pivot is part of CFL’s quarterback internship program.
RUNNING BACKS/FULLBACKS
Jamal Morrow and Frankie Hickson gave Saskatchewan a strong one-two punch at tailback last season. There is, however, plenty of competition at camp.
#20 Frankie Hickson (A): Roughriders rookie of the year in 2022 after rushing for 533 yards in 13 games.
#25 Jamal Morrow (A): Rushed for 666 yards in 12 games last season; caught 43 passes for 366 yards.
#27 Kienan LaFrance (N): Veteran CFLer played in 11 games on offence and special teams in 2022.
#28 B.J. Emmons (A): Signed with Roughriders in October and joined practice roster.
#29 Javian Hawkins (A): Rushed for school-record 1,525 yards with Louisville in 2019.
#30 Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (N): Fourth-round draft pick in 2023.
#35 Rodney Smith (A): 41 carries for 156 yards and one TD in seven games with 2020 Carolina Panthers.
#39 Morgen Runge (N): Signed with Roughriders as undrafted free agent.
#41 Albert Awachie (N): 53 career games with Roughriders.
#87 Bruno LaBelle (N): Dressed for 15 games as rookie in 2022.
RECEIVERS
Harris on the revamped receiving corps: “We’ve got some guys who’ve got some juice and some guys who can really move out there.”
#1 Jake Wieneke (A): CFL All-Star with Montreal in 2021 after catching 11 TD passes in 14 games.
#2 Mario Alford (A): CFL’s top special-teams player in 2022 after registering four return TDs in 13 games.
#14 Tevin Jones (A): 20 catches for 265 yards and three TDs in 14 games last season.
#15 Shawn Bane Jr. (A): Speedster signed with Roughriders as free agent after two seasons with Calgary.
#18 Derel Walker (A): Three-time 1,000-yard receiver had 100-plus yards in three of final six games with Edmonton in 2022.
#19 Samuel Emilus (N): First-round draft choice in 2022.
#77 Jake Herslow (A): Signed with Seattle Seahawks as undrafted free agent in 2022.
#80 Keith Corbin III (A): 69 receptions for 921 yards and seven TDs with Jackson State in 2021.
#81 Mitch Picton (N): 18 catches for 220 yards and two TDs in 11 games last season.
#82 Juwan Brescacin (N): Seventh-year CFLer signed with Roughriders as free agent.
#83 Tabashi Thomas (A): 65 catches for 1,287 yards over three seasons at Hinds Community College.
#84 Brayden Lenius (N): re-signed with the team in August 2022 after a stint with the Atlanta Falcons.
#85 Isaiah McKoy (A): 56 catches for 872 yards and eight TDs with Kent State in 2019.
#86 Kalija Lipscomb (A): 87 catches for 916 yards and nine TDs in 13 games with Vanderbilt in 2018.
#88 Kendall Watson (A): 167 receptions for 2,064 yards and 14 TDs in 47 games at Samford University.
#89 Kian Schaffer-Baker (N): Roughriders’ top receiver in 2022 will miss start of 2023 season after undergoing surgery to repair torn labrum.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Defensive tackles Micah Johnson and Anthony Lanier II give the Roughriders a powerful presence in the middle. Defensive end Pete Robertson is a proven pass rusher. But the equation is far from settled. “We need a defensive lineman to step up — one of those young defensive ends to show us he’s good,” Dickenson said.
#4 Micah Johnson (A): Dominant defensive tackle is third-time Roughrider.
#45 Pete Robertson (A): Seven sacks over first four games last season.
#48 Stefen Banks (A): 2023 free-agent signing had three sacks in one game with Calgary in 2021.
#49 Lake Korte-Moore (N): First-round draftee (third overall) in 2023.
#54 KeShaun Moore (A): 24½ tackles for a loss and 13 sacks over past two seasons at Hampton University.
#74 Marcus Webb (A): Seven sacks in 10 games at Troy in 2019.
#77 Valentin Gnahoua (G): Picked first overall by Hamilton in 2019 European draft.
#78 Jerry Garner Jr. (A): 39½ sacks in 46 games at Mississippi Valley State.
#90 Miles Brown (A): Two sacks and two fumble recoveries in 13 games last season.
#91 Anthony Lanier II (A): Eight sacks in 11 games with 2022 Roughriders.
#92 Bryan Cox Jr. (A): 26 games of NFL experience.
#93 Cody Roscoe (A): One defensive tackle and one forced fumble in two games last season.
#94 DeMarcus Christmas (A): 22 defensive tackles and one sack in 15 games last season.
#96 Nicholas Dheilly (N): Three tackles, including one for a loss, in eight games as rookie in 2022.
#97 Christian Albright (A): Spent 2022 training camp with Chicago Bears.
#98 David Kenney (A): Two defensive tackles in one game in 2022.
#99 Charbel Dabire (N): 10 defensive tackles, two sacks and one tackle for a loss as third-year CFLer in 2022.
LINEBACKERS
Larry Dean returns to his accustomed position of middle linebacker after moving to the weak side last season. Cover linebacker Derrick Moncrief was a West Division All-Star in 2022. Factor in Micah Teitz, who missed all of 2022 with a groin injury, and there is a strong veteran presence at linebacker.
#11 Larry Dean (A): Three-time All-Star was second in CFL in defensive tackles (101) in 2022.
#31 Kolby Harvell-Peel (A): Third-team All-American at Oklahoma State in 2021.
#32 A.J. Allen (N): Six defensive tackles and six special teams tackles in 12 games last season.
#42 Derrick Moncrief (A): CFL All-Star in 2019; West All-Star in 2022.
#43 Micah Teitz (N): Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Canadian in 2021.
#47 Alvin Jones Jr. (A): 40 tackles for a loss at UTEP — school’s third-highest all-time total.
#50 Kyrei Fisher-Morris (A): All-Pac-12 Honourable Mention at Oregon State in 2022.
#52 Ryan Henry (N): Four double-digit tackle games at Old Dominion in 2021.
#58 Justin Herdman-Reed (N): 10 special-teams tackles in 14 games last season.
#72 Nick Thomas (N): Seventh-round draftee in 2023.
#75 Matt Dean (N): Third-round draft pick in 2023.
#76 Lukas Ruoss (G): Second-round Global draftee in 2022.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Both of last season’s starting defensive halfbacks — Rolan Milligan Jr. and Jeremy Clark — are back. So is veteran cornerback Nick Marshall. With at least two open spots, Dickenson expects plenty of competition.
#0 Rolan Milligan Jr. (A): Team-high eight pass knockdowns in 2022.
#00 Deontai Williams (A): Seven tackles in three pre-season games with 2022 Seattle Seahawks.
#3 Nick Marshall (A): Roughriders’ all-time leader in interception-return TDs (five).
#6 Devin Jones (A): All-time leader in kickoff-return TDs (four) at UNC Pembroke.
#9 Leon O’Neal Jr. (A): Signed with San Francisco 49ers as undrafted free agent in 2022.
#10 Julius Faulk (A): Nine interceptions at Delta State in 2019.
#16 Amari Henderson (A): Five pass knockdowns in 11 games last season.
#17 Jaxon Ford (N): Second-round draftee in 2023 from U of R Rams.
#21 Nelson Lokombo (N): First-round draft pick (second overall) in 2021.
#22 C.J. Reavis (A): Four games with Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018.
#24 Jordan Beaulieu (N): Four defensive tackles and six special teams tackles in 10 games last season.
#26 Godfrey Onyeka (N): Two defensive tackles and two special teams tackles in two games last year.
#28 Austin Joyner (A): Started five games with B.C. in 2021.
#29 Kendarius Webster (A): 17 games of NFL experience.
#33 La’Andre Thomas (A): Switched from quarterback to safety to cornerback at Memphis.
#35 Kosi Onyeka (N): Dressed for eight games with 2022 Roughriders.
#37 Jeremy Clark (A): 17-game starter last season.
#38 Jayden Dalke (N): 15 defensive tackles, three tackles for a loss, two pass knockdowns and 11 special teams tackles in 2022.
#39 Rodney Clemons (A): Led SMU with four interceptions in 2019.
SPECIAL TEAMS
There is a veteran presence on the kicking-team units. Also factor in Alford, an explosive returner who is listed above as a receiver.
Kickers
#12 Brett Lauther (N): 84.3-per-cent accuracy rate on field goals over four seasons in Saskatchewan.
#75 David Solie (N): Canada West All-Star with U of S Huskies in 2022.
Punter
#70 Kaare Vedvik (G): Averaged 44.5 yards per punt in 2022.
Long Snapper
#46 Jorgen Hus (N): Longest-serving active Roughrider, having debuted in 2015.
