Nic Demski says he wants to prove himself during the 2017 CFL season.
He’s certainly off to a good start.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ third-year receiver set single-game career highs in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (87) in his team’s 17-16 season-opening loss to the Montreal Alouettes at Percival Molson Stadium.
League observers have been waiting for the former University of Manitoba Bisons star to consistently deliver on the potential he has shown since being Saskatchewan’s first pick (sixth overall) in the 2015 CFL draft. As it turns out, Demski shares their view.
“It’s my third year; it’s time to show what I can do,” the 24-year-old product of Winnipeg said after Thursday’s game. “I thought I had good flashes before, but this is, in my head, the year to have a bigger impact, the year to start winning games and the year to take this team to the playoffs. All of us in (the locker room) feel that way.”
Demski was a four-time Canada West all-star and a four-time U Sports All-Canadian during his well-rounded career at Manitoba. He played running back and slotback with the Bisons and also was a stellar return man.
He has been a jack-of-all-trades since signing with the Roughriders as well, but on a lesser scale.
The 6-foot-0, 210-pounder joined a receiving corps that was laden with talent — Canadians and Americans alike — and was used sparingly as a pass-catcher.
In 14 games as a CFL rookie in 2015, he had 13 receptions for 165 yards, six carries for 30 yards, 45 punt returns for 377 yards (including a 60-yard touchdown), 14 kickoff returns for 284 yards and three missed field-goal returns for 122 yards (with a 93-yarder).
In 2016, he caught 37 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns, rushed three times for eight yards, returned 16 punts for 125 yards and returned two kickoffs for 47 yards over 17 games.
But, still feeling like he had to do something to get over the hump, Demski changed his preparations for his third season in Green and White.
“I definitely trained harder this year,” he said. “I also looked at a little bit more film this off-season and tried to make sure I knew the whole playbook.
“This is the first time I’ve come into consecutive years with the same playbook (due to a coaching change after the 2015 season), so I had a better grasp of that and was better prepared that way. But you’ve still got to play football and execute.”
Demski’s revamped approach to the 2017 season obviously produced benefits for him. But in reality, it also ramped up the pressure that he puts on himself — and that others put on him — to live up to his advance billing.
“There’s always that little inner ego telling you to play like you used to,” Demski admitted with a grin. “I just try to treat my pro career like university. You learn by steps. You take the bad things and make them into good things.
“I’m a third-year vet now and it’s time to put the pedal to the metal. I’ve got my opportunity and I can’t look back.”
Demski’s opportunity Thursday came in large part because of the absence of Rob Bagg, who normally would start at the wide receiver spot Demski filled in Montreal.
Bagg injured an ankle during training camp and was scratched from both Saskatchewan’s pre-season finale June 16 against the B.C. Lions and the regular-season opener Thursday.
The 32-year-old product of Kingston, who was on the Roughriders’ one-game injured list for Week 1, is expected to be back at practice this week as Saskatchewan prepares for its home opener July 1 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
If Bagg is ready for that contest, Demski could return to a backup role. But on Thursday, he was Saskatchewan’s most dangerous weapon in the first half.
With the Alouettes concentrating on Roughriders slotbacks Bakari Grant, Caleb Holley and Naaman Roosevelt, Demski took advantage of single coverage.
He had five catches for 72 yards in the opening 30 minutes, including a 33-yard grab in traffic late in the second quarter. His 16 yards after that catch got the Roughriders into range for a 34-yard field goal by Tyler Crapigna that gave them a 10-7 halftime lead.
All Demski wanted to do in the contest was make the most of his chances.
“It’s just football for me; I’ve been playing it since I was a kid,” said Demski, who also returned one punt for 13 yards. “Obviously, you have a different mindset going into it knowing the opportunity you’re getting, but at the end of the day, it’s just a football game and I prepared like any other day.”
Was his showing in Montreal a good building block for what he believes to be his most important CFL season yet?
“I’d say so,” he replied. “But right now, the loss is on my mind. I want to take it back to the film room and see what went wrong.”
