OUT OF THE TUNNEL: RIDER ROSTER BREAKDOWN

BY: RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF

We are in the midst of the winter doldrums of the CFL off-season.

The bulk of free agents have been signed, there are a few free agent camps going on right now, the spring camps were eliminated by the CFL, the combine isn’t for another month, and the college draft isn’t until late April.

On the bright side, training camps are less than three months away and although it’s tough for Rider fans in Saskatoon, training camp will be in Regina for the first time since 2013. This is a good thing because Griffiths Stadium is replacing their long worn-out turf and improving their facilities.

So while we’ve got the time, let’s look at the current Saskatchewan Roughriders roster.

As of the writing of this article there are 76 players on the roster and by the beginning of training camp on May 17, CFL clubs are allowed to carry 85. This means there is room for the Riders to play with on their roster.

Fast facts before we head to a quick position-by-position breakdown:

–       There are 63 players on the roster that were on the Riders roster at the end of the season. This includes quarterback Justice Hansen, who was signed in the playoffs.

–       Just 13 new faces but two of those are retreads in former Roughriders Otha Foster and Josiah St. John.

–       The roster is made up of 40 Americans, 34 Canadians (like we have stated before, we hate the term national) and two global players.

–       Arkansas State is the most represented NCAA school with three (Hansen, Justin McInnis and Lanard Bonner). 

–       Calgary is the most represented USports school with five (Micah Tietz, Braden Schram, Elie Bouka, Jake Harty and Mike Edem)

To The Offence:

*denotes Canadian

#denotes global

Quarterbacks (5): Cody Fajardo, Bryan Bennett, Isaac Harker, Justice Hansen, James Franklin

This is as strong and as deep of a group the Riders have had in a long time. Fajardo broke out in 2019 and cemented himself as the number one pivot. Harker and Bennett saw a lot of time on the field last year with Harker starting one game. Free agent signee Franklin will battle those two for the back-up spot while Hansen is a raw rookie.

Running backs (5): William Powell, Jamal Morrow, *Atlee Simon, *Kienan LaFrance, *David Savard

Powell is one of the last bell cow running backs in the CFL but there is a good reason for it. He can run, catch and block as well as being a solid leader. The three Canadians will fight for the tiny amount of playing time while Morrow spent last season on the practice roster.

Receivers/tight ends (17): Kyran Moore, Jordan Williams-Lambert, Shaq Evans, Kenny Stafford, Carlos Henderson, Rashad Greene, Xavier Ubosi, Paul McRoberts, Demarcus Ayers, Randy Satterfield, *Justin McInnis, *Jake Harty, *Brayden Lenius, *Mitch Picton, (TE) *Patrick Lavoie, (TE) *Albert Awachie, #Max Zimmerman

This is a deep and strong group with a pile of familiar faces. Barring a breakout training camp performance, Moore, Williams-Lambert and Evans will be in the week one starting lineup. Stafford is a veteran who will fight for the fourth American receiver spot that was left vacant by Naaman Roosevelt heading to Montreal via free agency.

This is a solid group of Canadians and if Harty is healthy after another devastating knee injury, this would be a great addition. We know the roster says Lavoie and Awachie are fullbacks, but let’s be real here, they are tight ends. Out of the Tunnel loves the tight end position and wants a healthy Lavoie and Awachie both to gain more of a role in the offence.

Offensive line (14): Takoby Cofield, Terran Vaughn, Devon Johnson, Cameron Jefferson, Lanard Bonner, *Dakoda Shepley, *Brendon LaBatte, *Dan Clark, *Braden Schram, *Jake Bennett, *Josiah St. John, *Logan Ferland, *Vincent Roy, #Rene Brassea

This group will look a little different in 2020 with Philip Blake and Thad Coleman not returning to the fold. The middle of the offensive line should be 2019 West all-star Dan Clark with LaBatte and Shepley at guard. The other five Canadian offensive linemen with 2020 draft picks will battle it out for the reserve spot.

Cofield and Vaughn will be in the driver’s seat at the tackle spot but expect a couple more linemen to be signed to go along with the Americans currently on the roster.

To The Defense:

Defensive back (10): Ed Gainey, Nick Marshall, L.J. McCray, Loucheiz Purifoy, Blace Brown, Hamp Cheevers, *Mike Edem, *Elie Bouka, *Shamar Busby, *Jacob Dearborn

This will be the strength of the defence again in 2020. The potential starting five are Gainey, Marshall, Purifoy, McCray and Edem. There is solid Canadian depth with Bouka, Dearborn and Busby and expect a couple more Americans to be added here and a potential 2020 draft pick.

Linebacker (7): *Cam Judge, Solomon Elimimian, Otha Foster, *Alexandre Chevrier, *Micah Tietz, Oluwaseun (Seun) Idowu, Gary Johnson Jr.

Cam Judge was one of the biggest names to be re-signed for the Riders and the same can be said for the ageless wonder in Solomon Elimimian. Depth will be a problem here. Foster was brought in to possibly replace Derrick Moncrief but there will probably be more players on the way to fight for this spot. Idowu was solid as a 22-year-old rookie in 2019.

Look for another Canadian linebacker to be drafted to add to the depth here. Craig Dickenson loves him some Canadian linebackers to fill out his special teams.

Defensive line (13): Charleston Hughes, A.C. Leonard, *Zack Evans, *Makana Henry, Jeremy Faulk, Chad Geter, Kelcy Quarles, Pete Robertson, *Jordan Reaves, *Charbel Dabire, *Mathieu Breton, Pete Robertson, Demetrius Harris, Cory Thomas

Sneaky good group here led by another ageless wonder in 36-year-old defensive end Charleston Hughes. A.C. Leonard will play the other defensive end while the rotation of Evans, Henry and Dabire (who might be the steal of the 2019 draft) will fill out the middle.

Tackles Quarles, Thomas, Faulk and Breton will battle for a spot in the roster while Reaves is one of the top special teams contributors on the squad.

To The Special Teams:

Specialists (3): *Jon Ryan (P), *Brett Lauther (K), *Jorgen Hus (LS)

No change here for one of the best special teams batteries in the CFL.

(RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF)