The Saskatchewan Roughriders are proud to lengthen a star-studded list that has long included Greene and White.
Andrew Greene (guard) and George White (linebacker) were both first-time All-CFL selections in 2000, as was Saskatchewan receiver Curtis Marsh.
Three more Roughriders standouts — guard Logan Ferland, cover linebacker C.J. Reavis and defensive halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. — debut on the league’s 2024 dream team, which was announced Thursday.
Saskatchewan is also represented by cornerback Marcus Sayles (previously an All-CFLer in 2022) and defensive tackle Micah Johnson (whose glittering resume also includes All-CFL honours in 2016, 2017 and 2018).
All of this is a preamble to … (cue fanfare) … Random Observations and Nerdy Tidbits Brought to You by a (T)rusted Historian! (trademark registered).
LOGAN FERLAND
Born in Melfort, Ferland is the 12th Roughrider to make an All-CFL team after honing his football skills in the Saskatchewan amateur, high school, junior and/or university ranks.
The list also includes Roger Aldag (a five-time All-CFL selection), Mike Anderson (one), Bill Baker (twice with Saskatchewan; twice more with the B.C. Lions), Dan Clark (one), Brendon LaBatte (five times with Saskatchewan; once with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers), Gene Makowsky (five), Ken McEachern (one), Lorne Richardson (four), Scott Schultz (one), Wayne Shaw (one) and Ted Urness (six).
Collectively, those 12 players account for 18.7 per cent (32 of 171) of the Roughriders’ All-CFL selections, dating back to 1962.
The closest parallels to Ferland:
• Makowsky in 2008. He was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman after seeing action at three different positions; Ferland has lined up at four spots this season en route to being named the West’s MOOL.
• Clark in 2019. Ferland and Clark are graduates of the PFC’s Regina Thunder.
MICAH JOHNSON
Johnson, who was recently named a divisional all-star for the seventh time, is now a four-time All-CFL selection.
“It’s always awesome,” he said on Thursday. “You put in a lot of work during the off-season and all throughout the year. To get acknowledgement for what you’re doing is always fun.”
The first three all-star nominations were earned when he was a defensive tackle with the Calgary Stampeders. Calgary’s defensive line coach at the time: Corey Mace, who is now the Roughriders’ head coach and defensive co-ordinator.
A fourth All-CFL nod ties Johnson with American-born Canadian Football Hall of Fame defensive linemen Grover Covington and Bobby Jurasin on the all-time list.
In terms of All-CFL nominations, Johnson ranks ahead of U.S.-born Hall of Fame defensive linemen Junior Ah You (three), Ed McQuarters (three), Mike Walker (three), John Bowman (two), Ron Estay (two), Rodney Harding (two) and Angelo Mosca (two).
“It kind of builds up,” Johnson said. “You just kind of focus on the moment year by year, trying to stay on top of your game and be an effective player. Then you look back and they’re kind of piling up.
“It’s an awesome feeling, because I’ve been through a lot to get to this point. I had a lot of adversity earlier on in my career and I had a lot to overcome, so that makes it huge.”
Johnson is the first Saskatchewan defensive player to make the All-CFL team at 36 (or older, for that matter). The following offensive players were 36 for all or part of the season when they were chosen: Aldag (1989), Greene (2005), Makowsky (2009) and Ron Lancaster (1975).
ROLAN MILLIGAN JR.
Yes, more laurels for Milligan Jr., who was recently named the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player and (whew!) Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
He is also a division finalist for MODP after registering a league-high eight interceptions.
Milligan Jr. has enjoyed a career year while rebounding from a 2023 season that was limited to four games by a toe injury that necessitated surgery. He had enjoyed a robust start to the 2023 campaign before being sidelined.
(Idle, tangential thought: Milligan Jr. and quarterback Trevor Harris have been vital contributors to the Roughriders’ resurgence in 2024. Harris, like Milligan Jr., is also coming off an injury-shortened season. This year’s results underline the oft-overlooked impact of missing both Milligan Jr. and Harris for most of last season.)
The closest parallel for Milligan Jr.? Let’s go with safety Bruce Bennett, a 1969 All-CFL pick. Milligan Jr. hails from Lake Wales, Fla., where Bennett was a successful high school football coach.
Or, how about the 1989 version of Don Narcisse? Injuries hampered the future Hall of Fame receiver for many of the 10 games in which he played in 1988. Fully recovered one year later, he enjoyed an 81-catch, 1,409-yard, 11-touchdown breakout season.
C.J. REAVIS
Reavis was a rotational player for part of the 2023 season before establishing himself as an every-down factor.
Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day took note, signing Reavis to a new two-year contract — a deal that was announced last December. He had been eligible to test CFL free agency in February.
As the unrivalled starter at strong-side linebacker, which is essentially a sixth defensive back spot, Reavis recorded four sacks and 89 defensive tackles. The latter total placed him fifth in the league and first among 2024 West Division playoff participants.
It has been quite the comeback for Reavis, who suffered two Achilles tendon injuries within a six-month span in 2022.
Closest parallel? Hmmmm … let’s go with Kory Sheets — an All-CFL running back during the Roughriders’ championship season of 2013.
Sheets suffered an Achilles injury during a training-camp session with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins in 2010. He was waived by the Dolphins just over a year later.
Next stop: Saskatchewan, where Sheets amassed rushing-yardage totals of 1,277 (in 2012) and 1,598 (2013). Sheets was an automatic choice for the 2013 All-CFL team.
(Another tangent: Reavis was born on Nov. 27, 1995 — eight days after a Grey Cup Game was first played at Taylor Field. Where does the time go?)
MARCUS SAYLES
Sayles and Reavis have overcome different forms of adversity in impressive fashion.
In the case of Sayles, he signed with Saskatchewan in early June, only two days after being released by B.C. He went on to register four interceptions, tying a career high he set with B.C. in 2022 — when he made the All-CFL team for the first time.
“It definitely feels good,” Sayles said on Thursday. “I’m blessed to be here and I’m blessed to be a part of this team.”
Sayles is the fifth first-year Roughriders defensive back to be recognized, following Richardson (1973), Paul Williams (1976), Fran McDermott (1982) and Barry Wilburn (1993).
In 2024, Sayles registered 12 pass knockdowns. The Argonauts’ Benjie Franklin led the league with 13.
Sayles is preparing for his third Roughriders-Blue Bombers playoff matchup — Saturday’s Western Final (5:30 p.m., Princess Auto Stadium). He played for Winnipeg against Saskatchewan in the 2018 and 2019 post-seasons.
He subsequently joined the Lions and, this past Saturday, celebrated an interception against his former team as Saskatchewan won the 2024 Western Semi-Final, 28-19.
Should the Roughriders get past Winnipeg on Saturday, Sayles will once again revisit a previous CFL home. The 111st Grey Cup Game is to be played on Nov. 17 in Vancouver.
“At the end of the day, our job’s not finished,” Sayles said. “Our end goal is winning the Grey Cup and that’s what I’m going to be working toward.”
