OVERVIEW
The Roughriders boasted two first-time 1,000-yard receivers — Shawn Bane Jr. and Samuel Emilus — in 2023. Factor in Kian Schaffer-Baker, who contributed 1,037 yards from scrimmage in 2022, and there is an array of inviting targets. Intense competition is expected for the remaining starting spots, one of which could be reclaimed by Jerreth Sterns. “One of the receiver positions, if not two of them, is going to be up for grabs,” Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day says.
PERSONNEL
CFL Returnees
MARIO ALFORD (A-#2): The Roughriders’ primary returner was also the target on the team’s first pass attempt of 2023.
SHAWN BANE JR. (A-#15): A free-agent signing in 2023, he is coming off a 93-catch, 1,104-yard season.
SAMUEL EMILUS (N-#19): Emilus enjoyed a 70-catch, 1,097-yard breakout year.
BRAYDEN LENIUS (N-#84): Lenius registered a team-high four TD catches during the COVID-shortened 2021 campaign.
KALIJA LIPSCOMB (A-#85): Caught a touchdown pass in the Roughriders’ 2023 pre-season finale.
MITCH PICTON (N-#81): Ultra-reliable University of Regina grad can contribute at all five receiving positions.
KIAN SCHAFFER-BAKER (N-#89): 38 receptions for 430 yards in nine games last season.
JERRETH STERNS (A-#83): 44 catches for 449 yards in 12 games as a CFL rookie in 2023.
KENDALL WATSON (A-#88): 17 receptions for 154 yards, including a key two-point convert in a victory over Edmonton, in four appearances last season.
Newcomers
AJOU AJOU (N-#75): Seventh-round draft pick in 2024.
GERONIMO ALLISON (A-#80): 89 receptions for 1,045 yards and six TDs over four seasons (2016-19) with Green Bay.
O’JOSHUA BUNTON (A-#77): Speedster was a track star at Lane College.
DHEL DUNCAN-BUSBY (N-#18): Roughriders’ third-round Draft pick in 2024 after catching 11 TD passes as a senior at Bemidji State.
BRAYDON JOHNSON (A-#82): Former Oklahoma State speedster covers the 40-yard dash in the 4.40-second range.
KeeSEAN JOHNSON (A-#86): Drafted in sixth round by Arizona Cardinals in 2019.
DOHNTE MEYERS (A-#71): First-team Gulf South Conference All-Star at Delta State in 2022.
D’SEAN MIMBS (N-#72): Sixth-round draft pick in 2024 out of the University of Regina.
JAKE PARKER (A-#74): 52 catches for 1,113 yards and 13 TDs in 10 games at Howard Payne University in 2021.
A—American
N—National
FAST FACTS
- Parker is back for another tryout with the Roughriders after being injured early in last year’s training camp. Trivia time: Parker and Kansas City Chiefs superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes are close friends. They were teammates at Whitehouse High School in Texas. Previously, Mahomes and Parker played on the same Little League baseball team.
- As a first-year Roughrider, Bane Jr. registered the eighth-highest receptions total (93) in Roughriders history.
- Emilus hit 1,000 receiving yards faster than any Canadian-born Roughrider. He reached the milestone as a second-year Roughrider. The previous pace was set by Ray Elgaard in 1985, during his third CFL season.
- The fathers of Lenius and Mimbs were teammates with the 1995 Roughriders. Troy Dickey, Lenius’s father, was a receiver with the Green and White in 1995. Robert Mimbs was a Roughriders running back in 1995, 1996 and 1997.
- With Western Kentucky in 2022, Sterns led the NCAA in catches (150) and receiving yards (1,902).
QUOTABLE
“We’re excited. We think it’s going to be an explosive playbook and we’re just ready to get rolling.” — Samuel Emilus
