Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
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It’s not front of mind for Rhett Vavra with the calendar flipping over to October, but the finish line of his university football career is creeping closer by the day.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies wide receiver is in the midst of his senior year with the program as one of the team’s longest tenured players on offence.
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Part of three Hardy Cup championship teams and a trio of trips to the Vanier Cup, the Swift Current speedster has experienced his fair share of ups and downs in the college game.
“Six years playing football, you never think it’s going to be over this quick,” Vavra said. “It feels quick, but you learn a lot of stuff along the way.”
These past two years have taught Vavra more than a few lessons on and off the field, with injuries wiping out the majority of his 2024 and 2025 seasons.
That included a torn ACL and meniscus in Saskatchewan’s Week 2 game against the UBC Thunderbirds last year.
What followed was extensive rehab and work with the Huskies training staff to get him ready for his final season in Huskies colours this fall.
“I live in their tent or facility as I go see them every day,” Vavra said.
“I put on three pounds of tape every day. I’ve gotten to be good friends with them and they put me right where I need to be.”
Vavra hasn’t missed a step with the Huskies this year, as he’s hauled in 243 yards receiving in four games as one of quarterback Anton Amundrud’s most reliable options.
6 more to end the half! pic.twitter.com/9hDdQbvGVW
— Huskie Football (@skhuskies) September 19, 2026
Huskies head coach Scott Flory said the return of Vavra to the lineup has made their entire offence more dangerous this year, with the ability to spread out the ball more effectively.
“You just see a little bit of that rapport growing with him and Anton here just day by day,” Flory said. “Us having the ability to have multiple ways to be able to strike is very beneficial for our offence.”
Vavra wasted no time in Saskatchewan’s first game of the season on Sept. 5 in what ended as a 40-22 loss for the Huskies, as he led the team in defeat with six catches for 92 yards through the air.
“That first hit, that first catch, that first touchdown,” Vavra said.
“I can do all of it, I’m back to my normal self. There’s no mental game there for me now anymore, I know I’m 100 per cent where I want to be.”
University of Saskatchewan Huskies wide receiver Rhett Vavra is fifth in Canada West receiving with 243 yards receiving and two touchdowns in four games. (Electric Umbrella/Huskie Athletics)
A key piece of Saskatchewan’s offence dating back to 2022 when he racked up 782 yards receiving and seven touchdowns, Vavra was limited to just two touchdown receptions over his previous two seasons.
On Sept. 18 visiting the Alberta Golden Bears, Vavra equalled that production in just four quarters with a pair of touchdown catches for the Huskies in a decisive 65-12 win in Edmonton.
Amundrud said any doubts around Vavra’s ability to show up in big moments again have been erased.
“I couldn’t be more happy for the guy,” Amundrud said.
“Being able to get two touchdowns (against Alberta), seeing him (celebrate) in the end zone, Rhett’s back. It’s awesome to see.”
Vavra wasn’t alone in his recovery however, as Huskies defensive back Taz Smith-Windsor suffered a similar knee injury last year, which required nearly the same rehabilitation process.
“Him and Taz Smith-Windsor, they both did it around the same time,” Flory said.
“They were kind of workout buddies and to see both those guys back having success, man it’s awesome. It’s hard, they’re resilient, they’re tough.”
Those hours in the gym and in the trainer’s room helped fuel the pair last year towards getting to share the field at Griffiths Stadium once again, according to Vavra.
“It’s unfortunate that (Smith-Windsor) had to go through this as well,” Vavra said.
“It was nice in the sense that we had each other to work on, to test each other, to push each other to make sure we’re both going to be back and ready for the season.”
The Huskies will be looking for more big plays through the air on Saturday night from Vavra and their receiving core with first place on the line against UBC.
Saskatchewan is coming off a 38-31 victory over the Regina Rams last weekend at Mosaic Stadium which included a big day from receiver Dawson Lennea with 108 yards receiving and two touchdowns, while Nathan Casimir and Porter Hanson combined for a 46-yard fumble recovery touchdown.
Now, the Huskies will take on a Thunderbirds team which has also won three consecutive games and is tied atop the Canada West standings with a 3-1 record.
“We don’t want to play down or play up to anybody,” Vavra said. “We want to play Huskie football and even a game where we have a big win, there’s little mistakes that we need to refine.”
After three of their first four games were played on the road, the Huskies will spend nearly all of October at Griffiths Stadium with a trio of home dates starting Saturday.
Amundrud said being able to reach the midway mark with three wins in four games has set them up well for the back half of the regular season, but admits they need to perform with home field advantage for playoffs likely on the line.
“It’s really big being able to start the season off strong like that and we hope to keep it rolling this weekend,” Amundrud said.
The Huskies and Thunderbirds will kick off their Week 5 matchup tonight at 7 p.m. from Griffiths Stadium as part of Football Day in Saskatchewan.
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