OVERVIEW
The Saskatchewan Roughriders enter camp with an established starter at two of the three linebacking positions — Jameer Thurman (middle) and C.J. Reavis (strong side). Thurman, who spent the 2023 season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, was a high-priority free-agent signing this past February. Reavis enjoyed a breakout season with Saskatchewan in 2023. Who will start on the weak side? Adam Auclair, a recent free-agent addition who spent his first three CFL seasons with the Ottawa REDBLACKS, will get a long look. “Are we going to stick with our ratio being Canadian (at that position), with Auclair, or are we going to go with an American there?” Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day says. “That’s going to get ironed out. We signed him for a reason. He gives us flexibility and he has proven he can play in this league, so that’ll be interesting.”
PERSONNEL
CFL Returnees
A.J. ALLEN (N-#32): Led the Roughriders with 19 special teams tackles last season.
ADAM AUCLAIR (N-#42): Amassed a career-high 10 defensive tackles when Saskatchewan visited Ottawa on Sept. 22.
T.J. BRUNSON (A-#47): Forced a fumble while covering a punt in his CFL debut — Aug. 20 against the visiting B.C. Lions.
MATT DEAN (N-#33): Roughriders’ third-round Draft choice (21st overall) in 2023.
JORDAN HERDMAN-REED (N-#48): With Calgary last season, he hit double digits in special teams tackles for third time in six CFL seasons.
JUSTIN HERDMAN-REED (N-#58): Jordan’s twin brother had a twin stat last season. Both Herdman-Reeds registered 10 special teams tackles for their respective teams in 2023. Jordan has spent the past three seasons with Saskatchewan.
MARK McLAURIN (A-#35): Versatile defender appeared in 13 games with Edmonton over the past two seasons.
C.J. REAVIS (A-#1): 59 defensive tackles (second on the team), five tackles for a loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception last season.
JAMEER THURMAN (A-#6): Established career highs in defensive tackles (98) and sacks (five) with Hamilton last season.
Newcomers
C.J. AVERY (A-#30): Louisville Cardinals’ top defensive player in 2019.
JAXON CIRAOLO-BROWN (N-#70): Hamilton’s eighth-round Draft choice (73rd overall) in 2022.
K.D. DAVIS (A-#41): 139 defensive tackles with North Texas Mean Green in 2022.
DIEGO FAGOT (A-#59): Navy star was East-West Shrine Bowl’s defensive MVP in 2022.
ZAKOBY McCLAIN (A-#57): Led SEC in defensive tackles (113) as a junior at Auburn in 2020.
JAYLEN MOODY (A-#29): Former Alabama Crimson Tide standout spent most of October on Roughriders’ practice roster.
MELIQUE STRAKER (N-#28): Roughriders’ fourth-round Draft choice (32nd overall) on April 30, out of Arkansas State.
NICK THOMAS (N-#72): Saskatchewan’s seventh-round Draft choice (60th overall) in 2023, from the University of Manitoba.
A—American
N—National
FAST FACTS
- Thurman had seven defensive tackles and a sack of Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray for the Calgary Stampeders in the 2017 Grey Cup Game. Thurman spent four seasons (2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022) with Calgary before joining Hamilton in 2023. Thurman was part of the Stampeders when Corey Mace, now the Roughriders’ Head Coach, was the Defensive Line Coach in Calgary.
- Auclair’s older brother, Antony, was the Roughriders’ fourth-round Draft choice (30th overall) in 2017. He went on to spend four seasons as a tight end with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and helped them win Super Bowl LV.
- The Herdman-Reeds’ father is James Reed, who was a CFL linebacker with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1979-81, 1983), Montreal Concordes (1983), Toronto Argonauts (1985) and Roughriders (1985). He had two interceptions in three games with Saskatchewan.
- Brunson appeared in five games with the 2020 New York Giants, registering two solo tackles and one assist.
- Davis and current Roughriders quarterback Mason Fine were teammates at North Texas in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
QUOTABLE
“I truly believe in Coach Corey Mace.” — Adam Auclair
