The population of Tar Heel, North Carolina is, depending on which Google search result you prefer, 85, 87, 90, 116 or 117.
It is a stretch to mention the tiny town in a larger dimension unless the subject is one of its proudest residents — 6-foot-4, 328-pound Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive tackle Brandon Council.
“It’s a great little community,” Council said leading up to Thursday’s CFL game against the Edmonton Elks (7 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
“You know everybody. It’s peaceful and quiet.
You get to do a lot of fun things — like drive four-wheelers and go fishing — and never be bothered.”
One would have to go to extreme lengths to bother the seemingly imperturbable Council, who is easygoing and instantly likeable.
He also left a positive first impression on the Roughriders’ brain trust, as evidenced by the fact that he is poised to make his third start in his first season of professional football.
“He has been a pleasant addition,” Head Coach Craig Dickenson said. “We didn’t know what we were going to get, but when he came to camp, we could tell right away that he’s a good football player. He has just gotten progressively better, so we’re excited to see him go.”
Council was signed by the Roughriders on May 25 — 11 days into main training camp — after attending rookie mini-camp with the NFL’s New York Jets.
Everything took off from there, in a CFL context.
A mere 17 days after being introduced to Canadian professional football, Council was in the Roughriders’ starting lineup for their regular-season opener in Edmonton.
He was also a Week 2 starter before Jerald Hawkins, who had been away from the team while dealing with a family issue, rejoined the Roughriders and started at left tackle on June 24 against the host Calgary Stampeders.
The Roughriders had envisioned Hawkins as an opening-day starter from the outset of camp, so his appearance in the lineup was not a commentary on Council’s performance over the first two weeks.
Now, with Hawkins sidelined by a serious knee injury he suffered in the Calgary game, Council is back in the starting lineup.
“We knew we had to get better at tackle in the off-season,” Dickenson said. “I think Jeremy (O’Day) and Kyle (Carson) and Paul Jones and our football (operations) crew brought in some good ones, but we’ve had some injuries there as well.
“So having Brandon play, and play well, at tackle has been great.”
Council has carried over a high level of performance from his time at Auburn University. A three-year member of the Auburn Tigers, he was named the NCAA team’s top offensive lineman in 2022.
“It’s probably one of the best college atmospheres out there,” Council said. “I think everybody in their lifetime should visit an Auburn football game. It’s an atmosphere like no other when it comes to football.
“It’s next-level. I think it’s even better than some NFL games. There’s 96,000 people out there cheering for you. It’s packed out.
“They take care of you. It’s a family over there. You can’t beat it.”
He can compare it, though, having noticed a similar fervour for football in Saskatchewan.
“It’s a great fan base here as well, so it’s like I’m used to it,” Council said. “When I’m here, lining up for the snap, I’m used to cancelling out the noise, so I love it.
“I love the support system they have out here. There’s never a dull moment.”
ROTATION IN RIDER NATION
Injuries have been a major factor behind the personnel being in flux along the offensive line and in the receiving corps.
On Thursday, the Roughriders will employ their eighth starter of the season in each five-person group.
Mitch Picton is to see front-line duty at slotback in place of Jake Wieneke (knee), who has been placed on the six-game injured list.
Picton will be flanked by Shawn Bane Jr., Samuel Emilus, Tevin Jones and Kendall Watson.
Bane Jr. and Emilus have been assigned front-line duty for each game this season. Jones is preparing for his third contest of the year. Watson is about to play in his second CFL game.
The six-game list includes five receivers — Wieneke, Derel Walker (knee), Juwan Brescacin (shoulder), Kian Schaffer-Baker (hip) and Brayden Lenius (lower back). In other words, an entire No. 1-calibre receiving corps is on the shelf.
With that in mind, quarterback Trevor Harris was asked if the injuries change the dynamic of the offence.
“Of course, it does, but we ain’t flinching,” Harris said. “We like the guys we have and we’re excited.”
Bane Jr. already has 15 catches for 245 yards. The latter total puts him just 43 shy of his career single-season high, set in nine games with Calgary last season.
Emilus enjoyed a breakout game with three touchdown catches against the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 16,
In two games this season, Jones has 14 catches for 196 yards, including a 44-yard TD that helped Saskatchewan register a 29-26 double-overtime victory in Calgary on June 24.
On the play before Jones scored, Harris hit Watson for a key 21-yard gain on second-and-seven.
“You see them have great camps,” Harris said of the receivers in general when asked specifically about Watson.
“It’s the same thing with Mitch Picton. He was one of the guys in training camp. I was like, ‘Why hasn’t this guy been playing?’ He’s a beast and he had a tremendous training camp for us. He knows every position and he’s super-valuable for us.
“Kendall Watson was flashing every day and was always winning in one-on-ones. The guy doesn’t lack confidence, he knows what he’s doing, and he’s a jovial guy to be around.”
As for the offensive line, the guards — Evan Johnson and Logan Ferland — will on Thursday become the Roughriders’ only four-game starters this season.
Logan Bandy steps in at centre for Peter Godber, who has a hand injury. Council and Colin Kelly will be the first-string tackles.
Hawkins and Eric Lofton have also started at tackle during this young season.
Asked about the offensive line in general, Dickenson responded: “We feel good about the group.”
SHORT SNORTS
- Roughriders running back Jamal Morrow has 95 yards on 13 fourth-quarter carries this season, for an average of 7.1 yards. Over the first three quarters of the opening three games, he has rushed 29 times for 138 yards (4.8-yard average).
- Harris, a CFLer since 2012, is about to make his 100th career start.
- With a victory on Thursday, Saskatchewan would be able to celebrate a 3-1 start for the third season in succession.
- The Roughriders are second in the CFL in average yards per game (390).
- Roughriders defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. has registered two of his three career interceptions against Edmonton.
- Edmonton’s last seven victories have been on the road.
