People were clamouring to interview the most obvious non-rookie on Day 1 of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Rookie Camp at Coors Light Riders Training Camp.
Trevor Harris, a CFLer since 2012, cordially conversed with reporters after Wednesday’s session at Saskatoon’s Griffiths Stadium.
“Why is everybody here?” a smiling Harris said shortly before fielding a deluge of questions. “Is it my first day or something?”
Well, yeah … sort of.
Main training camp does not begin until Sunday.
Harris did not take a single rep on Day 1, although quarterbacks — regardless of their level of experience — are welcome to participate in rookie camp order to limber up their throwing arms, establish chemistry, and enhance their command of the playbook.
Although Harris didn’t throw a pass on Wednesday, he was nonetheless conspicuous while interacting with teammates, coaches and, ultimately, the media.
“It was fun to just get out there and run around and feel the energy of Day 1,” Harris said three weeks in advance of his 37th birthday.
“It’s like the first day of school, so you get to feel like a kid again. And then people are like, ‘How long have you been in the league?’ I’m like, ’12 or 13 years,’ and they’re like, ‘Oh, you’re old!’ It’s one of those things where I’m like, ‘I’m not that old, guys!’
“I didn’t get any reps today, but it’s just fun to get out here and feel the energy, feel the flow, feel the huddle, see defences, and feel the leverage of DBs again.”
Harris is one of six American quarterbacks in camp — the others being Mason Fine, Jake Dolegala, Shea Patterson, Zerrick Cooper and lefty Levi Lewis.
Fine is entering his third CFL season. Dolegala is a sophomore in the world of professional three-down football.
Patterson spent time with the B.C. Lions in 2021. Lewis signed with the Roughriders in October, one month before Cooper agreed to terms.
“Getting to know each other, I feel that’s the most important thing at this time, along with just seeing the level of talent that is around,” said Harris, who signed with Saskatchewan as a free agent on Feb. 14.
“You see a little movement Levi makes out there athletically, and how well Zerrick moves and how strong of an arm and how live of an arm that he has.
“With Jake and Mason, you can see their veteran presence, even though they’re young guys. With the questions they ask, they’re a little bit more than that first level. And then Shea, I feel, is a super all-around talented quarterback.
“With all the things they bring to the table, they’re going to be able to help each other and help me out a lot this year, so I’m excited about all of them.”
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The pass-catching was eye-catching during Wednesday’s workout.
Tabashi Thomas made a pair of nice grabs during receiver-versus-defensive-back drills, while also demonstrating an ability to get open.
One of the best moves of the day was by Jake Parker on a corner-post route.
Kendall Watson made an impressive over-the-middle catch on an intermediate route.
Keith Corbin III lunged for a football and tipped it in the air before making a diving catch.
Also of note was the exemplary manner in which Corbin went out of his way to encourage his teammates throughout the morning session. He deserves a pat on the back for the repeated pats on the helmet.
During the offence-versus-defence period, the first pass — by Fine — was the nicest. He fired a dart to Kalija Lipscomb over the middle.
Lipscomb followed up a little later with a leaping catch.
On the other side of the ball, defensive back La’Andre Thomas stood out with a pass knockdown.
Those are my two cents (1.4954 cents US). Did anyone stand out for Craig Dickenson?
“Nobody really individually, but I did think the D-line looked good,” the Roughriders’ head coach said in response to a question from legendary broadcaster Les Lazaruk.
“There’s a lot of guys down there, so they’re a little bit more fresh. We think we’ve got a couple of good ones down in that group.”
FORD FAMILY FACT
Jaxon Ford — the 22-year-old grandson of Roughriders legend Alan Ford — made his debut at rookie camp.
It was the first on-field session for a member of the Ford family as a Roughrider since Oct. 24, 1976.
That afternoon at Taylor Field, Alan Ford played what turned out to be his 182nd and final CFL regular-season game — a 21-19 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The halftime show was part of George Reed Day. Reed, the Roughriders’ legendary fullback, had retired on May 31, 1976.
As part of the ceremony, Ford — on behalf of his Roughriders teammates — presented Reed with a grandfather clock that is still prominently displayed in George and Angie’s Regina residence.
However, Ford did not suit up for the remainder of the 1976 season due to a neck injury that had bothered him for several weeks.
Jaxon was selected by the Roughriders in the second round (11th overall) of the 2023 CFL Draft, out of the University of Regina Rams.
In Canada West football, Jaxon wore his grandfather’s trademark No. 21. However, that number currently belongs to Roughriders defensive back Nelson Lokombo, so Jaxon is resplendent in a No. 17 jersey.
Regardless, Jaxon still proudly displays No. 21, which adorns the Rams backpack that he wore to and from Griffiths Stadium on Wednesday.
For the record, a total of 16,999 days elapsed between the aforementioned Ford sightings. Nearly 17,000!
