Back to school: Aduboffour counts his blessings after signing new contract with Roughriders
By signing a CFL contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Richard Aduboffour moved one important step closer to attaining a goal for which he has long been striving.
“Ever since I was a kid,” recalled the 23-year-old defensive back, who is coming off another OUA all-star season at Western University.
“I don’t tell this story much, but I’m from Toronto in the Jane and Finch area. If you do your research on Jane and Finch, it’s an area where there’s a high crime rate.
“I kind of used sports to get away from that type of lifestyle because, honestly, some of my friends who I went to school with came to being deceased or being incarcerated.
“I know I didn’t want that life, so I used sports as a gateway to kind of take me away from that. My brother introduced me to the game of football, so I knew that I didn’t want that (other) type of lifestyle.
“Football was essentially my way out. My quote for myself when I was a young kid was, ‘If I’m going to put my all into it, it’s got to start now.’ ”
As a starter with the Western Mustangs, Aduboffour was an OUA first-team all-star in 2023 and 2024.
Excellence in 2023 led to his selection by Saskatchewan this past April 30.
After attending the Roughriders’ 2024 training camp, he was returned to the U Sports ranks.
Shortly after the season, he signed a new contract with the Green and White — a transaction that is a testament to his perseverance, along with the strength and support of the people closest to him.
“It is emotional because, in all honestly, where I’m from you don’t really complain about the hand you are dealt,” he said from London, Ont.
“I just give praise to my family — especially to my mom. She sacrificed a lot. My father also sacrificed a lot. Being in this position now, and being the man I am now, I just want to be in a position to take care of them.”
Aduboffour earned a spot on the U Sports All-Canadian team, as a second-team selection, after intercepting two passes in 11 games this past season.
U Sports awards were presented in Kingston, Ont., leading up to the 2024 Vanier Cup.
“I found out that Saskatchewan wanted to bring me back while I was on my way to Kingston, so there was more happiness to add to the joy,” he said.
“It was honestly amazing. I couldn’t be more grateful.”
The Roughriders are pleased to have the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder under contract once more after selecting him in the eighth round, 68th overall.
“When we drafted him, a lot of it came down to his measurables and his physical ability,” Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day said.
“We were intrigued and we are pleased that he is coming back to camp.”
Although Aduboffour was a late-round draft choice, he should not be viewed as a longshot. Keep in mind that receiver Ajou Ajou, Saskatchewan’s seventh-rounder in 2024, made the team and quickly become a contributor on offence.
Last season, the Roughriders’ active roster included eight players who were chosen in Round 4 or later — receiver Mitch Picton (fifth round, 2017), defensive tackle Charbel Dabire (fifth, 2019), receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker (fourth, 2020), linebacker A.J. Allen (fourth, 2020), defensive back Jayden Dalke (sixth, 2022), running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (fourth, 2023), linebacker Melique Straker (fourth, 2024) and Ajou (seventh, 2024).
As well, offensive lineman Daniel Johnson — a fifth-round pick in 2024 — spent this past season on the practice roster.
Now the hope is for Aduboffour to emerge as another later-round gem.
“He has had a chance to come to camp and understands the importance of playing special teams and doing well on special teams,” O’Day said. “That’s where we look to see if he can contribute right away.
“For a lot of guys on defence, that’s where you get your first opportunity — trying to help on special teams and then maybe eventually getting a shot to be a starter.”
That message was conveyed last spring by Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace and the team’s Defensive Backs Coach and Pass Game Co-ordinator, Joshua Bell.
“At the exit meeting, they told me they were going to send me back to school,” Aduboffour said. “They were satisfied with the player I am, so I took what I learned from the Sask camp and implemented that into my game to make me a smarter football player.
“My goal coming back was to obviously try to help the Mustangs go as deep as possible. I also started my teachers’ college and had the opportunity do that, so it went really well for me.
“To get the call back and knowing that the organization that took a chance on me in May wants me to come back is honestly a blessing.”
