OVERVIEW
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are hoping to find the right candidate to man the left side. “We’re going to have a competition at left tackle,” Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day says. “We’ve got to see how some of our new recruits go there. I’m going to be very interested at training camp in who’s going to step forward.” Right tackle is set thanks to the addition via free agency of two-time CFL All-Star Jermarcus Hardrick. Peter Godber is ticketed to start at centre. As for the guards, three candidates — Philip Blake, Logan Ferland and Ryan Sceviour — could be competing for two starting spots. Mind you, there is another option, if need be. “Hopefully someone does really well in that (left tackle) position,” O’Day says. “If not, we always have the ability to move Philip Blake out there. That’s not something that we’re planning on doing to start camp.”
PERSONNEL
CFL Returnees
PHILIP BLAKE (N-#53): Reliable veteran can contribute at any offensive line position.
LOGAN FERLAND (N-#63): Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2022 and 2023.
ZACK FRY (N-#67): Roughriders’ second-round Draft choice in 2022.
PETER GODBER (N-#51): Spent four seasons with B.C. before signing with Saskatchewan in 2023.
JERMARCUS HARDRICK (A-#52): Ex-Blue Bomber was West Division’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2023.
JERALD HAWKINS (A-#65): Left tackle candidate was Pittsburgh Steelers’ fourth-rounder in 2016.
RYAN SCEVIOUR (N-#58): West Division All-Star guard with Calgary in 2022.
JORDAN TUCKER (A-#62): Towering left tackle returns after injury-marred 2023 season.
NOAH ZERR (N-#68): 6-foot-7 Langenburg product was B.C.’s second-rounder in 2022.
Newcomers
RYAN BERTA (N-#69): Undrafted free-agent signing out of Queen’s.
JACOB BRAMMER (A-#66): Started at tackle in NCAA with North Texas and Vanderbilt.
D’MITRI EMMANUEL (A-#61): Started 27 games over the past two seasons at Florida State; can play guard or tackle.
EVAN FLOREN (N-#59): Roughriders’ seventh-rounder in 2023 played at Queen’s last season.
JONATHAN HUBBARD (A-#64): Left tackle hopeful had NFL stints with Miami and Tampa Bay.
SADARIUS HUTCHERSON (A-#57): Left tackle spent 2021 NFL season with Tampa Bay.
TREVOR REID (A-#60): Another prospective left tackle, Reid had NFL tryouts with Philadelphia and Atlanta.
A—American
N—National
FAST FACTS
- The past four recipients of the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award are graduates of the PFC’s Regina Thunder. Dan Clark was recognized in 2019 and 2021. Ferland got the nod in 2022 and 2023.
- Godber was a fan in the stands when the Roughriders defeated Winnipeg 23-19 in the 2007 Grey Cup Game, which was played at Rogers Centre in his hometown of Toronto.
- Hardrick rejoins the Roughriders after spending eight seasons with Winnipeg. In 2015, he dressed for eight games with the Green and White.
- Brammer and Roughriders quarterback Mason Fine are reunited. They were college teammates at North Texas.
QUOTABLE
“Winning is contagious. Once you have a formula of winning, you know how it looks and how it feels.” — Philip Blake
