The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a lengthy list of exceptional special teams tacklers.
But the more, the merrier!
“We’ll take as many as possible,” Head Coach Corey Mace says. “We take pride in that.”
The special teams crew includes players who represent virtually every facet of the team, which is to open Coors Light Training Camp on May 11 in Saskatoon. As a lead-in, rookie camp will run from May 7 to 9, also at Griffiths Stadium.
With camp looming, Riderville.com has prepared a series of previews.
Part 1: Quarterbacks, receivers, running backs and fullbacks.
Part 2: Offensive and defensive linemen.
Part 3: Linebackers and defensive backs.
And, as a finale …
Part 4: Special teams.
“Everybody always talks about three phases of football being offence, defence and special teams,” Mace says, “and we hold special teams in high regard.”
And for good reason.
Saskatchewan boasted two of the
CFL’s top three special teams tacklers in 2024.
Linebackers A.J. Allen (Roughriders) and Jack Cassar (Toronto Argonauts) tied for the league lead with 22 special teams stops.
Rolan Milligan Jr., named Saskatchewan’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2024, was next in line with 20 tackles on coverage teams.
Jordan Herdman-Reed, Justin Herdman-Reed, Jayden Dalke, Aubrey Miller Jr., Kosi Onyeka, Melique Straker, C.J. Avery, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon and Kerfalla Exume are also adept at abruptly halting the progress of rival returners while executing the schemes of Special Teams Co-ordinator Kent Maugeri and his assistant, Jeff Higgins.
“Kent and Higgs do a really good job of getting these guys prepared,” Mace says. “We champion their play.”
The laurels extend to seventh-year Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther, who has made 33 of his past 34 field-goal attempts. The lone miss was on a desperation 60-yarder into the wind.
Last year, Lauther became only the second player in Roughriders history to reach 200 points in a season. Hall of Famer Dave Ridgway accomplished that feat four times, most recently in 1991.
“Brett is excellent at his job,” Mace says. “We’re really excited to get him out there.
“We joked a little bit — but not really — about trying to get him that record.”
That record being for the longest field goal in CFL history. Saskatchewan’s Paul McCallum set the bar with a 63-yarder in 2001.
“Brett has got the leg to do it,” Mace says. “It’s nice to have a weapon like that in your back pocket.”
The “weapon” description also applies to returner Mario Alford, who in 2022 was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
Super Mario followed up in 2023 by earning divisional All-CFL honours.
Last year, Alford scored on a 101-yard kickoff return, took off on a 74-yard missed field goal return, and averaged 10.1 yards per punt return.
“He’s a household name,” Mace says. “I know Rider Nation loves him. We obviously love him. “He’s an outstanding human being and he’s still dangerous.”
Exemplary humanity was taken into consideration when Jorgen Hus was decorated last November with the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award.
The award recognizes a Canadian CFL player who best demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans — strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contributions to Canadian communities.
The Saskatoon-born Hus has inexhaustibly lent his time to community and charitable events since joining the Roughriders and becoming their long snapper in 2015.
Hus’s duties a decade later will include delivering the football, in typically unerring fashion, to a member of what is currently an all-Australian punting trio.
Adam Korsak, Bailey Flint and Joe Couch are Global players and denoted by (G) in the roster that appears below.
(N) refers to a National (Canadian) player. Americans are referenced by an (A).
KICKERS
#12 BRETT LAUTHER (N): Most accurate placekicker in Roughriders history (83.1%).
#71 BEN HADLEY (N): U Sports First-Team All-Canadian kicker at St. Francis Xavier in 2023, 2024; completes Roughriders’ all-Nova Scotia placekicking duo.
PUNTERS
#10 ADAM KORSAK (G): Averaging 47.6 yards per punt after two CFL seasons.
#26 BAILEY FLINT (G): 45.1-yard average for Hamilton in 2023.
#76 JOE COUCH (G): Spent 2024 season on practice roster.
LONG SNAPPER
#46 JORGEN HUS (N): Longest-serving current Roughrider.
RETURNER
#2 MARIO ALFORD (A): Franchise-record eight return TDs in just three seasons as a Roughrider.
The veterans cited above all have sterling reputations.
“It’s going to be up to them to not only continue the standard they’ve been on, but also to set a new bar for how we do things around here,” Mace says.
“Hopefully people are chasing at their heels. It makes the team better.”
