The Saskatchewan Roughriders are pleased to announce that four of their players have been chosen to the CFL All-Star team. Two players from the Green and White were selected on offence while two were selected on defence.
The CFL All-Stars were selected by members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches.
DURON CARTER (WR): Carter led the Roughriders with 1,043 receiving yards, while tying for the team lead with eight receiving touchdowns. The 26-year-old, first-year Rider collected three 100-yard games including a single-game league high of 231. This is Carter’s second CFL All-Star nomination after picking up league honours in 2014 while with the Montreal Alouettes. Carter was also named the Riders 2017 Most Outstanding Player.
BRENDON LABATTE (OL): LaBatte just completed his 10th CFL season and sixth with the Riders. The University of Regina product played 18 regular-season games, spending time at left guard and centre. This is LaBatte’s fifth CFL All-Star selection after previously being selected from 2012-15. The Riders’ 2017 Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman has been previously selected a Division All-Star on eight occasions.
WILLIE JEFFERSON (DE): Jefferson started all 18 regular-season games on the Riders’ defensive line. The 26-year-old Texas native registered career highs with 45 defensive tackles and a team-leading eight quarterback sacks. Jefferson also led the CFL with 37 quarterback pressures. This is Jefferson’s first career CFL All-Star selection.
ED GAINEY (HB): Gainey led the CFL with a career-high 10 interceptions, accumulating 114 return yards with one touchdown. The 27-year-old set a Riders single-game record by registering four interceptions on August 13th versus the B.C. Lions. Gainey added 48 defensive tackles, two fumble recoveries and one special-teams tackle while starting all 18 regular-season games in the Riders’ secondary. He was also named the Riders 2017 Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
2017 CFL All-Stars:
QUARTERBACK – MIKE REILLY (Edm)
RUNNING BACK – ANDREW HARRIS (Wpg)
RECEIVER – BRANDON ZYLSTRA (Edm)
RECEIVER – GREG ELLINGSON (Ott)
RECEIVER – DURON CARTER (Ssk)
RECEIVER – BRYAN BURNHAM (B.C.)
RECEIVER – S.J. GREEN (Tor)
TACKLE – STANLEY BRYANT (Wpg)
GUARD – MATT O’DONNELL (Edm)
CENTRE – SEAN McEWEN (Tor)
GUARD – BRENDON LABATTE (Ssk)
TACKLE – CHRIS VAN ZEYL (Tor)
DEFENSIVE END – CHARLESTON HUGHES (Cgy)
DEFENSIVE TACKLE – ALMONDO SEWELL (Edm)
DEFENSIVE TACKLE – MICAH JOHNSON (Cgy)
DEFENSIVE END – WILLIE JEFFERSON (Ssk)
LINEBACKER – ALEX SINGLETON (Cgy)
LINEBACKER – SOLOMON ELIMIMIAN (B.C.)
LINEBACKER – KENNY LADLER (Edm)
CORNERBACK – CHRIS RANDLE (Wpg)
HALFBACK – ED GAINEY (Ssk)
SAFETY – TAYLOR LOFFLER (Wpg)
HALFBACK – T.J. HEATH (Wpg)
CORNERBACK – CIANTE EVANS (Cgy)
PUNTER – TY LONG (B.C.)
KICKER – RENE PAREDES (Cgy)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER – ROY FINCH (Cgy)
