Five positions to keep an eye on at the Saskatchewan Roughiders’ rookie camp

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are getting set to defend their Grey Cup title.

One of the first steps to doing that is getting some rookies onto the field to start learning what it means to be a professional football player in the CFL. Saskatchewan opens its rookie camp on Wednesday at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon. The main camp will begin on Sunday.

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While the Riders have a lot of veteran talent returning for the new season, there are a number of positions fans will want to keep an eye on during rookie camp.

Canadian wide receiver depth

With the Riders expected to start three Canadian receivers, and following the release of Ajou Ajou, the Canadian receivers will need to show what they can do at rookie camp.

Wide receiver Daniel Wiebe was named the Canada West player of the year last season for his performance with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. He hauled in 78 receptions for 1,257 yards, averaging 16.1 yards per catch and scoring 13 touchdowns. The Saskatoon product was selected by Saskatchewan in the eighth round (69th overall) of the 2025 CFL Draft.

The Riders also added two Canadian wide receivers in the draft, selecting Dylan Djete 18th overall and Shemar McBean 65th overall. Djete made 28 catches for 422 yards and four touchdowns over 12 games in his senior season with Alabama State. McBean was one of the top receivers in Canada West as a member of the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, catching 43 catches for 706 yards and three touchdowns.

Setting the tone along the offensive line

After starting four American offensive linemen in the Grey Cup, the group might see the ratio changed this season as a number of Canadian draft picks will look to stake their claim to during rookie camp.

Leading the way is Erik Andersen, who was the team’s 2025 second-round draft pick. He will be at his second Riders camp as the top Canadian offensive lineman at the U Sports level. His senior season at Western saw him win the J.P. Metras Trophy. As a left tackle, he shored up a Mustangs’ offensive line that led the country in points scored per game (45.1) and produced the second-most offensive yards per game (503.5). Before coming to the Riders’ 2025 camp, he attended a rookie minicamp with the New York Giants. He suffered a hip injury at Riders’ camp last season.

Coming into their first CFL camps will be centre Darius Bell and Jez Janvier. Bell comes in with experience at the position, after starting 13 games as a centre for the East Carolina University Pirates along with six at the left guard spot. Janvier played his senior collegiate season at Southern Mississippi, appearing in six games, after spending four years at Eastern Michigan.

Percy Lewis IV, Justin Osborne, Thomas Perry, Dartanyan Tinsley and Jaison Williams are a few of the Americans coming to camp trying to claim a spot.

Filling the American receiver spot

With Dohnte Meyers getting a chance with the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals after a great 2025 season, one of the few starting spots up for grabs will be an American receiver spot. KeeSean Johnson, who was named an all-CFLer last season, comes in as one of the team’s two expected starters.

Siaosi Mariner could have the inside track to the job, as he is now entering his fourth CFL season, spending time with the Ottawa Redblacks prior to joining the Riders last year.

With a few of the candidates bringing NFL experience with them, it remains to be seen if they will be attending the rookie camp or just the main camp.

One of those is Freddie Swain, who spent time in the NFL from 2020-2024, recording 42 catches for 576 yards and six touchdowns.

Juwann Winfree was a draft pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2019 NFL Draft. During his years in the American league, he jumped around between teams and he appeared in 23 games, recording nine catches for 75 yards.

Tyrie Cleveland also spent time in the NFL from 2020-2024, recording eight catches for 91 yards. He’s got some kick returning experience as well.

Jaylen Johnson spent most of 2024 on the Los Angeles Chargers’ practice roster. Collin Brunstein attended a minicamp with the Los Angeles Rams, while Ali Jennings III was at minicamp with the Green Bay Packers.

Getting after opposing quarterbacks

Riders head coach Corey Mace made his living in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball, so the battle along the line is always one he has a close eye on.

The defensive end spot opposite veteran James Vaughters is another position where a new player will need to emerge as a starter. Last year’s starter, Malik Carney, has left Saskatchewan for a spot on the Ottawa Redblacks.

A few rookies to keep an eye on at the defensive end spot will be Sundiata Anderson, Desmond Evans, Marcus Haynes, Kevin Orange Jr., Jaylen Pate and Justin Weaver.

Anderson was one of the final cuts by the Seattle Seahawks after attending the team’s 2024 training camp. Evans, meanwhile, was at 2025 training camp with the Tennessee Titans.

Haynes has the most pro experience of the possible defensive ends at rookie camp. He signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2023, playing in three NFL preseason games. He went on to spend time with the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns. In 2025, he joined the UFL’s San Antonio Brahmas and suited up for two games, registering seven tackles, two tackles for a loss and one sack before he was signed by the NFL Indianapolis Colts. He attended the Colts’ training camp in 2025.

Kicker duel

For the first time since 2018, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will enter the season without Brett Lauther as their primary kicker.

The team released the veteran kicker this past offseason after he struggled in 2025. He has since signed with the Redblacks

Michael Hughes has a leg up on the competition, as he was signed last October and has kicked in a CFL game. He made both his field goal attempts and convert attempts in the only game he played.

Jonathan Kim signed with the Riders in February. He played at Michigan State and spent a portion of 2025 training camp with the Chicago Bears.

Alex Hale was signed by the Riders in April after a stint with the Green Bay Packers. He was with the Green Bay Packers from August, 2024 to July, 2025.