C.J. Reavis was all smiles after receiving All-CFL divisional honours.
“It makes you think of your hard work all off-season and your belief in yourself,” the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ standout cover linebacker reflected after the West Division’s dream team was announced on Wednesday.
“It’s what I planned on all off-season. It’s what I thought about. I dreamed about it and now it’s here.”
Reavis was able to savour the best of both worlds — excelling individually while helping the team place second in the division and secure a home playoff game.
“I think you want to be known as the best at whatever you do,” Reavis said. “I haven’t seen my family for eight months, so I’m not out here just to play football. I’m out here to play football well.
“I think that’s the big thing. You want to make it worth it. I think now it’s worth it.”
Reavis was quick to express gratitude to his teammates, including the fellow Roughriders who received West All-CFL laurels.
Rolan Milligan Jr. earned rare double distinction. He was recognized for excellence as a defensive halfback and a special teams player.
Defensive tackle Micah Johnson, linebacker Jameer Thurman, cornerback Marcus Sayles, quarterback Trevor Harris, receiver Samuel Emilus and guard Logan Ferland also received the good news on Wednesday.
Reavis, Ferland, Thurman and Emilus are first-time honourees.
The pool of voters included head coaches, members of the media and fans.
“The fans came through and voted for us, so they appreciate what we do for the team, and for the province,” Emilus said. “We’re proud of that.”
Sayles was introduced to Rider Pride, first-hand, in early June when he was signed by Jeremy O’Day. The Roughriders’ Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager was quick to reach out to Sayles after he was released by the B.C. Lions.
Now Sayles is preparing to face his previous team in the West semi-final. The Roughriders-Lions game is set for Saturday, 4:30 p.m., at Mosaic Stadium. Tickets are available HERE.
“I’ve been blessed to be on this team, blessed to be in this position, and blessed to be around all these guys,” Sayles said. “I can’t ask for anything more.”
Sayles was named to the West’s divisional team for the third time. He was previously honoured while with Winnipeg (2019) and B.C. (2022). Also in 2019, he made the All-CFL team.
All-CFL is a new designation for what were previously known as league and divisional All-Stars.
“I feel like we could have more,” Johnson said after making a divisional squad for the seventh time. “We’ve got a lot of good players on this team. We’re a real deep team.
“It’s one of those things where you kind of want to build up the people around you who didn’t get it, because there are always other people who are deserving as well.
“I just think this is an incredibly good team. We have all-stars at every level. Just a shout-out to the job J.O. did putting the team together and assembling the talent we’ve got in the building right now.”
O’Day earned distinction as the division’s top centre in 2009 — one of the six previous seasons in which Saskatchewan fielded nine West all-stars. He also made the league’s All-CFL team in 2009.
Saskatchewan also occupied nine spots in 1954, 1968, 1975, 1989 and 2013.
The 1954 season was one of three in which Saskatchewan’s Martin Ruby was recognized as a lineman on both sides of the ball. Ruby was also a two-way all-star in 1953 and 1956.
Milligan Jr. is the first Roughrider since Ruby to be recognized twice in the same year.
Saskatchewan fielded a team-record 11 all-stars in 1966 and 1976. Ten Roughriders were named to the select squad in 1969.
The 2024 All-CFL team, league-wide, is to be announced on Nov. 6.
