SASKATOON — Shortly after signing with the Roughriders as an undrafted free agent, Brayden Misseri dropped everything and headed to Saskatchewan.
He doesn’t drop anything else.
The sure-handed receiver has quickly made an impression during the CFL team’s rookie camp, which concludes Friday at Griffiths Stadium. Coors Light Training Camp commences Sunday on the University of Saskatchewan campus.
Misseri is delighted to wear green and white after spending four seasons with the Western University Mustangs, based in London, Ont.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder did not drop a single pass last year, when he registered 36 receptions for 569 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.
The overall tally includes just two dropped passes over 38 games of U Sports football.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t even know you could track that stat,” Misseri said with a laugh.
“I think it’s a blessing. I’ve always known where my strengths and weaknesses lie. I’ve not always been the fastest individual, but the one thing I’m going to do is make sure every aspect of my game is the best it can be.
“I’ve always prided myself on having strong hands and being able to catch whatever’s in my radius. If you look at my film, you can see it directly on there.”
To what does he attribute the well-established reliability?
“I think it all started off just working with my dad — doing landscaping, doing different housework and working on cars,” Misseri explained. “All those things helped me work on my grip strength.
“Once I decided to take football a little more seriously, I kept working at it. I use a grip-strength trainer every single day, so I just do that a bunch of times.
“After that, it has just been a matter of being on the JUGS machine. After every practice at Western, I was catching 50 to 100 passes. It has been a long grind for that, but it’s something I pride myself on and I always want to make sure I do my best at it.”
That mindset has served him well at rookie camp, where his skills and sharpness have impressed Marquay McDaniel.
“One thing I saw is that he’s a worker,” the Roughriders’ Receivers Coach said. “He wants to be out here.
“He might have a little chip on his shoulder because he didn’t get drafted — I’m not sure — but he comes out working. He had really good film (from Western). He made tough catches. He’s a football player.
“You can tell he’s having fun. He wants to be out there. You want to be around guys who love football. That’s kind of why we do what we do. We love it, too, so it’s definitely good to see.”
Misseri didn’t love the events of April 29th, when he was not chosen in the CFL Draft. However, the Roughriders were quick to reach out and a free-agent deal — announced on Monday — was consummated.
“It was definitely a big sigh of relief,” Misseri said. “I’ve been working for this since I was seven years old. I’ve always wanted an opportunity to play at the professional level and now I’m here.
“There were a lot of emotions, especially from Mom and Dad. They’re happy I’m here and they’re proud of me. I’m just going to keep doing everything I can to make them proud.”
Misseri aspires to become only the second receiver from Western to move directly to the CFL and ultimately earn a roster spot with the Roughriders.
The first was Andy Fantuz, whom Saskatchewan drafted third overall in 2006. He entered the SaskTel Plaza of Honour in 2021.
Misseri would also like to follow the path of Rob Bagg, who joined Fantuz as part of the Roughriders’ renowned Canadian Air Force.
Bagg, an alumnus of the Queen’s Gaels, spent a decade with the Roughriders after signing with them as an undrafted free agent.
“You hear a lot of those stories, whether it be from the NFL, the CFL or in U Sports,” Misseri said. “You have guys who start late or join teams late and they end up having great long careers.
“The way I look at it, it’s just an opportunity, no matter where I am. It didn’t matter whether I got signed or drafted. I can only control what I can control.
“I’m going to come out here and bust my ass every day and show the coaches that I’m here to work and compete. Hopefully everything else takes care of itself.
“It’s great to hear those stories and everything, but I try to remain humble and modest. I don’t want to compare myself to others and their stories because, at the end of the day, we’re all our own individuals.
“That was his chapter and I’m just trying to write mine.”
