Rob Vanstone: Saluting the small schools — from Wofford to Wooster to Wittenberg to Wisconsin-Whitewater …

Small schools have been a big deal from the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ perspective.

Although many CFLers emanate from large American universities — as documented in the preceding submission on Riderville.com — less-prominent colleges have also been an incubator for prime talent.

Consider Edinboro University, which has provided the Roughriders with a centre-turned-GM (Jeremy O’Day) and their current starting quarterback (Trevor Harris).

The Pennsylvania school is also the alma mater of defensive lineman Robert Harmer and offensive lineman Tony Tighe, both of whom attended the Roughriders’ training camp in 1994. Tighe was also at camp in 1996.

With four players in total, Edinboro boasts a larger representation than all the schools listed below:

ARMY

Herb Johnson is the only Army grad to suit up for the Roughriders, as he did quite effectively in 1953. His 109-yard punt return, against Edmonton on Aug. 31, 1953, is still a Club record.

NAVY

Linebacker Diego Fagot, who attended Coors Light Training Camp in 2024, is the lone Navy product in Roughriders history.

AIR FORCE

George (Sonny) Jones (training camp, 1957) is the one Roughriders hopeful with United States Air Force connections.

RUTGERS

Adam Korsak, our current punter, is the only Roughrider to join the team from Rutgers.

WAGNER COLLEGE

Wagner, based in Staten Island, N.Y., registered a stat in this tabulation when defensive tackle Charbel Dabire (2019—present) joined the Roughriders.

CATAWBA

Cornerback L.J. McCray played for the Roughriders in 2019. Even before joining the Green and White, he had an appreciation for the Green and White. Bob Lancaster (Ron’s youngest of two sons) was the defensive backs coach at Catawba College in Salisbury, N.C. In fact, Bob Lancaster recruited McCray.

WITTENBERG

The McCray item is a perfect lead-in to Wittenberg University, which was Wittenberg College when Ron Lancaster quarterbacked the team from 1956 to 1959. Wittenberg, based in Springfield, Ohio, also developed future Roughriders tight end Jim Worden. In fact, Saskatchewan’s first touchdown in the 1966 Grey Cup Game was an all-Wittenberger — Lancaster to Worden from six yards away. At training camp in 1965, the Wittenberg Tigers were represented by Lancaster, Worden and offensive lineman Lew Lenkaitis, who had a brief tryout.

EVANSVILLE

Randy Mattingly was Lancaster’s backup in 1974 and 1975. Randy’s brother, Don, is a New York Yankees legend. Receiver Rory Hennings (training camp, 1982) is the only other Evansville connection.

NORTH CAROLINA A&M

Lancaster was the head coach when Tom Higgins started seven games at middle linebacker for the 1980 Roughriders. Higgins, a future CFL head coach and GM, remains our one tie to North Carolina A&M.

MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR

This private Christian school from Belton, Tex., makes the list thanks to linebacker Jerrell Freeman (2009-11), who was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player during the latter season.

CORTLAND STATE

R-Kal Truluck (1998-2000) registered three sacks in the first (and heretofore only) debut game for a collegian from Cortland, N.Y.

BLUFFTON

Ohio-based Bluffton University last had a presence at training camp in 1959, when Elbert Dubenion tried out at running back. In mid-July, Dubenion left camp to tend to a family emergency and did not rejoin the Roughriders. The next year, he joined Buffalo of the fledgling American Football League and spent nine seasons with the Bills. Check out these numbers from 1964: 42 catches for 1,139 yards — an average of 27.0 yards per reception — and 10 touchdowns in 14 games. No wonder his nickname was Golden Wheels.

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

Quarterback Jake Dolegala (2022-23) introduced Central Connecticut to Riderville. His grandfather, former Bills standout Al Bemiller, is in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame — as is Dubenion.

AZUZA PACIFIC

As is the case with Central Connecticut, Azuza Pacific supplied one player — a quarterback — to Saskatchewan. Neo Aoga dressed for two games in 2001. Other one-school, one-quarterback instances: Johnny Showalter (Gonzaga; 1946), Jack Hartman (Oklahoma A&M; 1950), Jerry Gross (Detroit; training camp, 1964); Ed Buzzell (Ottawa College, Kansas; practice squad, 1966 training camp, 1967), Don Weiss (Juniata; 1970) and Antonio Pipkin (Tiffin; 2023).

SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE

Another quarterback connection, sort of. Defensive back/linebacker Carlton Lance was named the Roughriders’ top rookie in 1993. His son, Trey Lance, was selected third overall by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is now a reserve quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys.

COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES

The Roughriders have twice mined this school for a quarterback. See: Chad Friehauf (2007-08) and Isaac Harker (2019, 2021).

OTTERBEIN

Otterbein University (Westerville, Ohio) brought us a Hall of Fame defensive lineman and a future GM, Bill Baker (1968-73, 1977-78). Also, Leif Pettersen (1974-77) had a game-high seven receptions for Saskatchewan in the 1976 Grey Cup Game. The only other Otterbeiner: Quarterback Larry Cline (training camp, 1963).

NORTHERN MICHIGAN

A la Otterbein, Northern Michigan delivered three prospects, two of whom excelled for the Roughriders. Defensive linemen Bobby Jurasin (1986-97) and Chuck Klingbeil (1989-90) both started in the 1989 Grey Cup Game. Also from Northern Michigan: Receiver Scott Sible (training camp, 1983).

NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE

Another 2-for-3! Linebacker Chad Kilgore (2014) and receiver Shawn Bane Jr. (2023-present) made the active roster. Defensive lineman Roberto Davis was on the practice roster in 2011.

TENNESSEE-MARTIN

Receiver Mark Guy (1989-90) was the first Roughrider to emanate from the University of Tennessee at Martin. He had four catches for a team-high 100 yards in the 1989 Grey Cup victory. Also in that game, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ Tony Champion — a fellow Tennessee-Martin grad — caught two TD passes, the latter of which was a spectacular grab in the last minute. Also from Tennessee-Martin: Defensive lineman Montori Hughes (practice roster, 2017).

WOFFORD 

Defensive lineman Miles Brown (2022-present) is the only Roughriders active-roster player from Wofford College, based in Spartanburg, S.C. Brown was preceded by Wofford quarterback Shawn Graves (training camp, 1993).

VALDOSTA STATE 

The first two Valdosta State products in Roughriders history both attended training camp in 2022. Defensive back Stephen Denmark was released in early June. Linebacker Larry Dean was poised for his first of two consecutive seasons with 100-plus defensive tackles. BREAKING NEWS! On Tuesday, the Roughriders announced the signing of offensive lineman Brandon Kemp … from Valdosta State! (Isn’t this a timely exercise?!)

SLIPPERY ROCK

Slippery Rock University (Butler County, Pa.) grades out at 100 per cent (3-for-3). All three members of The Rock to land in Saskatchewan ended up playing for the Roughriders. Most notably, D.J. Flick caught 70 passes for 1,020 yards and 10 TDs for the 2007 Grey Cup champions.

Linebacker Donovan Wright was a member of the 1989 championship team. Linebacker Mike Waszczuk, whose surname produces the second-best Scrabble score (35) in Roughriders history, dressed for one game in 2001.

HARVARD

Like Flick, defensive lineman Tim Fleiszer was a member of the 2007 CFL kingpins. Regina-born halfback Ron Kram (training camp, 1968) is the other Harvard rep.

PRINCETON

Continuing with the Ivy League, the Regina Rugby Club’s first head coach (Fred Ritter) was Princeton-educated. Ritter was a player-coach from 1910 to 1913. Also from Princeton: Regina-born defensive back Dave McEachern (training camp, 1986) and defensive lineman Samuel Wright II (training camp, 2022).

YALE

Completing the Ivy League trifecta, we bring you former Roughriders defensive back Marshall Hamilton (1981-83). One should note, however, that Hamilton attended Yale on a hockey scholarship. (Fittingly, Hamilton’s first CFL interception was against Hamilton.)

TUSCULUM

Tusculum University (Greenville, Tenn.) is the alma mater of linebacker Brandyn Bartlett (2017 to 2019) and receiver Joe Robustelli (2024-present).

WOOSTER

The College of Wooster (Ohio) developed kicker/punter Bob Macoritti, a Roughrider from 1976 to 1980. I get up at the crack of dawn, every day, hoping for a second player from Wooster.

WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER

The Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks reached a high-water mark in 2009, when defensive lineman A.J. Raebel and running back Justin Beaver attended training camp. Raebel’s time in Saskatchewan was limited to training camp, whereas Beaver — who was placed on the practice roster — had a longer stay. In the case of Beaver, in particular, we wonder: Where Are U Now? (Sorry …)