Veteran defenders look to keep rolling as Riders’ camp begins

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are remaining mostly consistent along the defensive side of the ball.

After seeing major improvements last season under first-year head coach and defensive co-ordinator Corey Mace, the club’s goal this offseason appeared to be to bring back many of their players from 2024 instead of trying to retool that side of the ball.

That includes signing defensive back Marcus Sayles to an extension as well as locking up the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Rolan Milligan Jr. through 2026.

After taking a look at the offence, let’s take a look at the defensive and special-teams players the Riders will be bringing into camp.

Defensive line

On the roster: Liam Hoskins, Habakukk Bladonado, Eric Black, Malik Carney, Charles Kendy, Charbel Dabire, Alex Gubner, Justin Jefferson, Micah Johnson, Lake Korte-Moore, Benoit Marion, Aaron Patrick, Shane Ray, Mike Rose, Caleb Sanders, Jordan Smith

The defensive line was a strength for Saskatchewan in 2024. The club only gave up 1,446 yards on the ground — the fewest in the CFL.

One of the biggest offseason additions in the CFL was adding Rose to the Riders, reuniting him with Mace. Rose has been a CFL West all-star four the past four seasons, but he was released by the Stamps. He had six sacks last season.

He will line up next to veteran Johnson. The 36-year-old also had six sacks last season and was a CFL all-star.

Sanders had three sacks in 11 games in his second CFL season. National defensive tackle Dabire is also set to return after missing 14 games last season due to a knee injury.

At the defensive end spots, the Riders will look for Carney to lead the way off the edge. He had four sacks in 13 games and was battling injuries.

The other end spot has a bit more competition. Nationals Korte-Moore and Marion, as well as global player Baldonado, all had playing time last season and will look to get even more in 2025.

Also the team brought in Ray, a former first-round NFL Draft pick. He was a member of the Toronto Argonauts from 2021-22 before going back to the NFL for the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Mike Rose signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders after eight years in Calgary. (CFL/Submitted)

Linebackers

On the roster: A.J. Allen, C.J. Avery, Jordan Herdman-Reed, Justin Herdman-Reed, Braxton Hill, Seth Hundeby, Aubrey Miller Jr., Melique Straker, Jameer Thurman, Nick Wiebe, C.J. Reavis

The Riders bring back two of their main starters in the linebacker core and a ratio change appears to pave the way for another American to join the starting group.

Thurman will once again come in as the middle linebacker. Thurman had 76 tackles in 17 games last season en route to being named a CFL West all-star.

Reavis took another step last season as he became one of the premier cover linebackers in the CFL. Reavis, who is entering his fourth CFL season, had 89 tackles and four sacks en route to being named a CFL all-star in 2024.

With the Riders expected to start two national defensive backs this season, that opens the door for Avery to receive more playing time.

While splitting snaps with national linebacker Adam Auclair last season, Avery still recorded 50 tackles and three interceptions.

Wiebe was the team’s second-round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft, even though he suffered a torn ACL late in his final season with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He also suffered an injury last season and will look to bounce back this season.

A.J. Allen, Jordan and Justin Herdman-Reed, and Melique Straker all provide great Canadian depth and special teams players.

Linebacker Jameer Thurman was a CFL West all-star in 2024. (Britton Gray/980 CJME)

Defensive backs

On the Roster: Gideon Agyei, Antoine Brooks Jr., Tevaughn Campbell, Jayden Dalke, Kerfalla Exumé, DaMarcus Fields, Jaxon Ford, Nicario Harper, Eddie Heckard, Robert Javier, Leon Jones, Nelson Lokombo, Tyrique McGhee, Rolan Milligan Jr., Kosi Onyeka, Phalen Sanford, Marcus Sayles, Mark Webb

The Riders’ secondary is set to return a lot of starters — including one who hasn’t played in the CFL since 2018.

Campbell, a former University of Regina Ram, has been in the NFL since 2019 but makes his return to the CFL this season. Campbell was a member of the Riders from 2016-17.

Elsewhere, halfback Milligan Jr. will once again look to be the cause of sleepless nights for opposing quarterbacks. The 30-year-old had eight interceptions last season to lead the league and was named the CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

Sayles was released by the B.C. Lions after training camp last season. The Riders signed him and in return, the 30-year-old ended up putting together a CFL all-star season with four interceptions. He signed a two-year extension with Saskatchewan.

Fields is once again expected to hold down one of the halfback spots after starting all 18 games as a rookie.

At safety, Lokombo will look to improve on last season, his first as a CFL starter at safety. Lokombo recorded his first CFL interception in the West semifinal against the B.C. Lions.

Defensive back Marcus Sayles signed a two-year extension with the Riders. (Saskatchewan Roughriders/Submitted)

Special teams

On the roster:  Brett Lauther, Jorgen Hus, Joe Couch, Bailey Flint

On special teams, the Riders will need to find a new starting punter. Adam Korsak was moved to the retired list just ahead of rookie camp, meaning Couch and Flint will battle it out for the starting spot.

Couch was on the team last year on the practice roster while Flint spent 2023 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats but didn’t play last season.

Lauther is still set to be the team’s kicker after he finished last season strong despite a rocky start.

Hus, who is the longest-serving member of the Riders, is expected to once again handle long-snapping duties.