It is fitting that Devin Jones’ first CFL training camp is based in Saskatoon — home of the Hilltops.
Consider the fact that his only receiving touchdown while playing NCAA Division II football for the University of North Carolina at Pembroke came at the expense of the Hilltoppers.
Representing West Liberty University, the Hilltoppers played host to UNC Pembroke on Oct. 30, 2021.
Midway through the first quarter in West Liberty, W. Va., Jones — ordinarily a defensive back — lined up as a wide receiver and sped into the Hilltoppers’ secondary.
He caught a Josh Jones pass at the 32-yard line, eluded one fallen defender and two would-be tacklers, and ultimately scored a 57-yard major.
Jones was thoughtful enough to send me the video, which I have watched a mere 37 times since Tuesday.
He also forwarded me a moving image of a 52-yard reception he had made the previous year.
Impressive!
Jones’ all-time receiving stats at UNC Pembroke: Three catches, 111 yards, one TD.
Average yards per catch: 37.0!
Earlier in the week, I had profiled Jones for Riderville.com, focusing on his ebullient personality and propensity for registering long-distance touchdowns.
But what really gnawed at me at the time was my abject failure to inquire as to specifics regarding the offensive touchdown.
Therefore, I seized the opportunity to ask him informally while were making our way back from the dining facility at Marquis Hall.
While expertly metabolizing a mountainous mass of mashed potatoes, other little numerical nuggets came to mind.
The aforementioned 57-yarder, despite its magnificence, was the shortest of the six touchdowns Jones scored at UNC Pembroke.
He holds the school’s all-time record for kickoff-return touchdowns, having scored from distances of 100, 97, 95 and 87 yards. Another six-pointer resulted from an 80-yard punt return.
Average length of a Smith TD at UNC Pembroke: 86 yards!
You have to go a long way to find someone who can go a long way in that fashion.
WEEK 1 HIGHLIGHTS!!!
In this admittedly subjective assessment, here are some notable events from the first week of Coors Light Riders Training Camp …
Best catch: Samuel Emilus. On Monday, the Roughriders’ first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2022 CFL Draft stretched for a Trevor Harris pass near the sideline. Emilus somehow made a diving catch while also touching his toes in bounds. (Honourable mention: Mitch Picton’s toe-tap reception on Day 1.)
Best celebration: The eruption that followed Tuesday’s touchdown catch by fullback Albert Awachie.
Best viewing: Thursday’s back-to-back practices, during which the quarterbacks combined to complete 45 of 55 passes. A sharp showing by newcomer Shea Patterson turned the battle for the No. 2 quarterbacking job into a dead heat between himself, Mason Fine and Jake Dolegala.
Best rebound: After the quarterbacks did their thing, members of the secondary rallied with an impressive showing on Friday. Most notable: Nic Marshall’s interception — his second of the week — and pass knockdown.
Best comeback: Linebacker Micah Teitz returning to the field after missing all of last season with a serious groin injury.
Best moment: Running back Frankie Hickson and teammates interacting with nine-year-old Blaze on Monday. Shortly before camp, Hickson had met Blaze while visiting the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital.
Best deadpan/general sense of humour: A tie between our Communications Co-ordinator (Thomas Judek) and Digital Media Co-ordinator (Morgan Fleury). Their success rate: 100 per cent. My success rate: Subtract 101 from their success rate. Approach at your own risk.
Best fans: Anyone who sat through a chilly, windy morning workout on Thursday. (I cheated and hid in the press box. I am not especially proud of that, but I would do it all again.)
Best visiting legends: Jeff Fairholm and Dale Isaac (tie).
Best dog: Link — the prized Welsh Corgi of Evan, Dallis and Maverick Johnson.
Best guests at the Communications Department table over lunch or dinner: Guest coach Kevon Beckwith and linebacker Nick Thomas (tie). “Coach Beck” is a delightful guy who takes an interest in everyone with whom he converses. Nick, a linebacker who was drafted by the Roughriders on May 2, is soft-spoken, respectful and, all things considered, wonderful company.
Best out-of-nowhere performance: Before suffering a knee injury on Thursday, newcomer Jake Herslow was performing in a manner that was reminiscent of Weston Dressler’s first Roughriders training camp (2008). Herslow caught only 11 passes over three seasons at Old Dominion before transferring to the University of Houston for the 2021 NCAA season. He dressed for 14 games — starting the final six — and caught 36 passes for 480 yards and five TDs. One of those majors was the game-winner in the Birmingham Bowl. Herslow, like Dressler, arrived in Saskatchewan with little fanfare.
Best quote: From Harris, who was asked on Thursday whether he has experienced one of those this-could-only-happen-in-Saskatchewan moments. “Yeah,” he responded. “A guy asked me to take a picture with his dog. I was like, ‘Man, this is great! The dog’s friendly, right?’ It was one of those moments that just happened maybe an hour ago between practices. I was eating an orange and the guy was like, ‘Can you take a picture with my dog?’ I was like, ‘Heck, yeah! Let’s go!’ ”
NERDY NUMBER
This is extremely self-indulgent and obsessive, I acknowledge, so please forgive my curiosity and the manner in which it is satisfied.
At this year’s training camp, I have interviewed four quarterbacks — Harris, Dolegala, Patterson and Fine.
That got me thinking, which is dangerous: How many Roughriders quarterbacks have I met or interviewed in more than 50 years of following the CFL team as a fan or reporter?
So, me being me, I counted.
The magic number: 66. Here’s the list …
Joe (747) Adams, Vernon Adams Jr., Steve Alatorre, Kent Austin, Joe Barnes, Jonathan Beasley, Dalton Bell, Jeff Bentrim, Bruce Bennett, Michael Bishop, Colt Brennan, Brandon Bridge, Scott Burger, Tom Burgess, Henry Burris, Rocky Butler, Tom Clements, Zach Collaros, Marcus Crandell, Ryan Dinwiddie, Seth Doege, Jake Dolegala, Glenn Dobbs, Darian Durant, Cody Fajardo, Mason Fine, Mike Fouts, Mitchell Gale, Kevin Glenn, Marvin Graves, Nealon Greene, Isaac Harker, John Hufnagel, Trevor Harris, Tony Hilde, Warren Jones, Kerry Joseph, Steven Jyles, Jimmy Kemp, G.J. Kinne, Ron Lancaster, Kevin Mason, Randy Mattingly, Jim McKean, Mike Nott, Teale Orban, J.T. O’Sullivan, Joe Paopao, Shea Patterson, Keith Price, Bob Ptacek, Danny Sanders, Steve Sarkisian, Blake Sims, Phillip Sims, Reggie Slack, Brett Smith, Harold Smith, Keith Smith, Tino Sunseri, Drew Tate, Frank Tripucka, Dave Williams, Drew Willy, Roy Wright and (whew!) Vince Young.
TOP BILLING
Writing about Dolegala earlier this week, I referenced the fact that his grandfather (Al Bemiller) played for the Buffalo Bills for much of the 1960s.
The 1964 edition intrigued me, and not just because I was born on March 30 of that year.
When the Bills won the 1964 American Football League title, Bemiller was a member of a team that would ultimately have three Roughriders ties.
The association may be rather tenuous, but — me being me — I could not resist.
Jack Kemp was the Bills’ starting quarterback in 1964, when Buffalo won its first of two consecutive AFL titles. His son, Jim Kemp, was a quarterback with the 1996 Roughriders.
(At the time, the Republican Party’s Presidential ticket consisted of Bob Dole and Jack Kemp. The 1996 Roughriders also had Dole-Kemp combo — Jim Kemp and offensive line coach Bill Dole. Fascinating stuff, this.)
Cookie Gilchrist, the leading ground-gainer on the 1964 Bills, was the first Roughrider to rush for 1,000-plus yards. He amassed 1,254 rushing yards for Saskatchewan in 1958.
The following year, a speedy running back named Elbert Dubenion attended part of training camp with the Roughriders before being called home due to a family emergency.
Dubenion evolved into an explosive receiver and starred with the Bills from the time of their inception, in 1960, through 1968.
In 1993, Dubenion entered the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, one year after Kemp was enshrined. Bemiller joined them in the Hall in 2015.
ROLL CREDITS …
Nice people who deserve a plug: Kooper Richardson, Bev Novenski, Norm Fong, Mitch Picton, Dave MacLean, Jorgen Hus, Kyle Carson, Devin Jones, Brit Dort, Albert Awachie, Kevon Beckwith, Nick Thomas, Mason Fine, Jake Dolegala, Rolan Milligan Jr., Lecina Hicke, Eric Anderson, Britton Gray, Georgina Gray, Trevor Gray, Luka Gray, Easton Gray, Bob Gray, Pat Gray, Will Mandzuk, Michelle Houlden, Shawn Bane Jr., Dallis Johnson, Maverick Johnson and Brenda Wieneke.
