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Aaron Crawford experienced a bit of déjà vu ahead of the opening of Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp over the weekend, walking into the dormitories on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon with a familiar feeling.
“It’s been nostalgic,” Crawford said. “I think I’m in the same dorm I was in back then. It was a complete coincidence, but I’ll take it.”
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The 39-year-old long snapper is back in Saskatchewan colours for the first time in 13 years at training camp. A span of 4,676 days between contracts signed with the Roughriders which the team says is the most in franchise history.
Back in 2012, Crawford was a young athlete looking to get his professional football career off the ground when the Riders signed him to the practice roster in the first of two stints with the team.
“I came in late in the season during expansion and didn’t stick,” Crawford said.
“In 2013, got another chance and didn’t quite stick. I can rectify that, actually get some games for the Riders under the belt and make it right.”
Crawford is battling in training camp to replace Jorgen Hus, after the longtime Roughriders long snapper announced his retirement from the sport in late April following 10 seasons in Saskatchewan.
Roughriders special teams coordinator Kent Maugeri said Crawford’s 166 games of CFL experience will be important as the team moves into the post-Hus era.
“He’s a leader as well,” Maugeri said.
“He’s been there, he’s done it, but it’s going to be hard to replace Jorgen. To me, he’s been the best long snapper for 10 years, every year. He’s been elite not only on the field, but he’s an even better leader, person, teammate off the field. Big shoes, but we’re going to do our best to try to fill them.”
Crawford has played his last five seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, though his 2025 campaign was limited to just three games due to a knee injury.
Fresh off surgery in September, Crawford will be fighting with former Auburn University long snapper Reed Hughes for the starting job come kickoff to the 2026 season next month.
Saskatchewan Roughriders special teams players, from left, Jonathan Kim, Oscar Chapman and Michael Hughes at rookie camp on May 7, 2026. (Scott Roblin/650 CKOM)
Long snapper is just one of several positions on the Riders’ special teams unit which will look a lot different this summer following Hus’ retirement and the team moving on from longtime kicker Brett Lauther and kick returner Mario Alford.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but the standard is the standard,” Maugeri said.
“Those guys, a couple of them are to me Hall of Fame type players if not all three. We’ve got to find some guys that are going to be able to compete at that level and do a good job.”
For the first time since the 2017 season, the Roughriders will head into Week 1 without Lauther as their expected kicker after he was not offered a contract and signed with the Ottawa Redblacks.
Two kickers remain at Saskatchewan training camp following invite Alex Hale being moved to the retired list, with both Michael Hughes and Jonathan Kim advancing from rookie camp.
Hughes dressed in one game for the Roughriders last season in a 27-21 loss to the B.C. Lions, where he converted on both of his field goal attempts.
While it’s only a single game of experience, Hughes has been helping along newcomers to the special teams group this week.
“They’ve been leaning on me the last few days to explain some of the stuff,” Hughes said.
“That’s exciting, because I was that guy last year asking all the questions. To be able to piggyback off that from last year and help these guys, show them the ropes a little bit is a good feeling.”
As for Kim, he joined the Roughriders after a standout NCAA career between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Michigan State Spartans where he was named to the Big Ten’s all-second team in 2024 and spent time on the NFL’s Chicago Bears roster.
“You come up to a place like Canada and it’s cold, it’s windy,” Kim said. “Being able to lean onto those experiences is going to be really helpful for me up here.”
The duo were matched up on the final day of rookie camp on Friday for an impromptu kicking competition, which Kim said is where his passion for the sport lives.
“Competition is something that really drives me,” Kim said. “Being around a bunch of guys who are really good, it’s going to be not only good for me but good for all of us.”
Hughes said Lauther showed him how to be a professional last season and aided his transition to the professional level, though he said that’s where the comparisons end with a roster spot open.
“Brett had a great career here,” Hughes said. “I can’t be Brett, I can only be Michael Hughes. That’s my goal every single day, is to be myself.”
Two punters remain in camp in returnee and Grey Cup champion Jesse Mirco, as well as fellow Australian Oscar Chapman.
With Alford leaving in free agency to join the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Roughriders signed ex-Montreal Alouettes star James Letcher Jr. to fill the kick returner role.
Maugeri said the CFL veteran is getting most of the touches early, but isn’t counting out a younger speedster like Daniel Wiebe, D’Sean Mimbs or Shemar McBean.
“The best guy is going to win the job,” Maugeri said.
“(Letcher Jr.) has a leg up on the competition I would say, but we’re going to give these guys a chance and let them rip. Hopefully we can find the next Letcher or the next Mario, somebody like that.”
Riders training camp notes
Defensive back Tevaughn Campbell missed a second day of training camp on Monday for what the team calls ‘personal reasons.’
Roughriders head coach Corey Mace meanwhile commented on reports defensive back prospect and Saskatchewan first round pick Malcolm Bell did not earn an invite to training camp with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns.
“We’ll see,” Mace said. “I had heard that, but I’m not in communication with him. Obviously we’ll welcome him with open arms, but however that’s sorted out between his representation and (general manager Jeremy O’Day) and (assistant general manager Kyle Carson). We’ll see what happens.”
The Roughriders made one transaction on Monday, as they released national defensive back Billy Jonas Pernier.
Mace also confirmed they’re planning for Tuesday’s practice to be the first of training camp with players in full pads.
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