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A number of football players will take their first steps toward a CFL career on Wednesday.
Saskatchewan Roughriders rookie camp gets underway at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon with a number of Canadian, American and global players looking to showcase their skills to the Riders’ brass during the three-day camp.
The Riders will see seven of their eight 2022 draft picks at camp: Offensive linemen Zack Fry and Diego Alatorre Montoya, defensive backs Tristan Fleury, Jayden Dalke and Zach Herzog, linebacker Tommy Bringi and receiver Riley Boersma.
Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day admits it’s tough to make an impact as a Canadian rookie.
“It’s not the easiest. We have our Canadians from five (or) six years ago and guys that we’ve signed from other teams,” O’Day said.
But there are some opportunities for a few rookies to push for a starting spot.
“If you look at receiver, we’ve lost two receivers – (Brayden Lenius) to the NFL and (Terrell Jana retiring). We have Mitch Picton and we signed Wesley Lewis so they are going to be competing for that second (Canadian) receiver spot,” O’Day said.
“Then the offensive line, it’s always a competition. We have our three inside guys back that were our starters last year (centre Dan Clark and guards Logan Ferland and Evan Johnson) but we will always create competition there.”
One player from the Riders’ rookie class who will be looking to add to the competition along the offensive line is Fry.
The Riders took the Western product in the second round of the draft and O’Day, who is a former offensive lineman himself, said Fry has the best footwork of the recent draft class.
“You can’t coach feet,” O’Day said. “You can get stronger, but your foot speed is usually what it is.
“We’re excited to get him. He was a very good offensive lineman on a team that won the Vanier (Cup), (he’s a) very decorated offensive lineman in U Sports and we’re excited to have him.”
Saskatchewan’s first-round pick, receiver Samuel Emilus, hasn’t signed a contract with the team but he is taking part in a mini-camp with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
Along with the Canadian rookies, a number of other CFL newcomers are expected to be at camp as well.
That includes Central Connecticut quarterback Jake Dolegala, who signed with the Riders in February. Dolegala was a four-year starter for the Blue Devils, throwing for 8,129 yards and 48 touchdowns.
It’s unknown how many of the players at rookie camp will move on to the Roughriders’ main training camp. It’s slated to start Sunday.
Rookie camp is to begin Wednesday at 10 a.m.