ROBSERVATIONS: The news on Hughes … TD list was a major undertaking … something is fishy here … quote of the “weak”!  

SASKATOON — JuJu Hughes, who had a highlight-reel interception during rookie camp, is already the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ career leader in picks.

Toothpicks, to be precise.

The 27-year-old defensive back had a toothpick in his mouth while making a succession of impressive plays on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Griffiths Stadium.

“It’s just something I started as a sophomore in high school,” Hughes said. “Originally, it was to help me stop biting my nails. It worked for two weeks. I still bite my nails to this day.”

Dave Thomas, CKRM’s voice of the Roughriders, followed up by asking Hughes if the toothpick is part of games as well as practices.

“That’s classified information,” he replied with a laugh. “I’m not going to say too much, but it’s definitely a comfortability thing. I train like that every day.

“It’s just part of me at this point. I keep it with me at all times.”

Isn’t it dangerous, I wondered, to play a physical sport with a toothpick in your mouth?

“It takes some getting used to for some people,” Hughes said. “I’ve had coaches who were against it. For the average person, it might be a little dangerous, but I’m so comfortable with it. I train like this and work out like this every day.

“I’ve got five brothers at home (in Hanford, California). I wrestled with them and fought with them and stuff. It’s not dangerous for me at this point. I’m blessed to have had no problems as of yet.

“My mom, as scary as she is about a lot of things, she’s OK with this toothpick. She has seen me and this toothpick do a lot of things, so everybody’s good with it. I make it work.”

The toothpick was part of the picture when Hughes attended Hanford High School and Fresno State University. At Fresno State, he was a teammate of current Roughriders receiver KeeSean Johnson from 2016 to 2018.

After graduating from Fresno State, Hughes spent time with the Los Angeles Rams (2020-21), Detroit Lions (2022) and Arizona Cardinals (2022-23) before joining the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions in 2024.

Now in Riderville, Hughes enjoys renewing ties with Johnson, linebacker Antoine Brooks Jr. (a former Rams teammate) and defensive back Jerry Jacobs (Detroit).

Roughriders Run Game Co-ordinator and Linebackers coach Travis Brown also has a history with Hughes. They were allies at Fresno State when Brown coached there.

“He asked how I could get so comfortable and adapt so quickly,” Hughes said of Brown. “It’s easier when you’ve got some familiar faces to talk you through it and tell you what to expect.”

There won’t be anything easy about lining up opposite Johnson, a 2025 All-CFL receiver, when the main component of Coors Light Riders Training Camp opens on Sunday.

“That’s going to be fun,” Hughes said. “We used to have great battles in college. He was part of getting me out here. His pitch definitely sold me on it.

“We’re both ultra-competitors, so it’ll be good to get back out there. This is his territory right now. He’s more comfortable than me here, so it’s going to be exciting to get at it.”

Hughes creates excitement with his play and outgoing personality, with an accompanying catchy name.

How did “JuJu” come to be?

“You’ve got to ask my dad and my older brothers,” he said. “They’re all going to take credit for it. They’re all going to say they called me JuJu first.

“My government name is Juwuane, but I just go by JuJu day in and day out with everything.”

TD TALLY

Throughout Roughriders history, 55 players — prospects included — have caught at least one touchdown pass in an NFL regular-season game.

Three of those individuals are on the 2026 Coors Light Training Camp roster: Johnson (one TD), fellow receiver Freddie Swain (six) and running back Darrell Henderson Jr. (four).

Among players who have tried out for the Riders, Gino Cappelletti leads the list with 42 touchdown receptions. Cappelletti, who attended training camp here in 1958, was a member of the Boston (now New England) Patriots from 1960 to 1970. The Patriots were an American Football League team for nine seasons before the NFL merger took effect in 1970. (The NFL now recognizes stats compiled in the AFL and the All-America Football Conference. The latter loop existed from 1946 to 1949.)

Elbert Dubenion is second on the list, with 35 touchdowns (all with the AFL’s Buffalo Bills). Dubenion attended the Roughriders’ training camp in 1959 before being called home to Ohio because of a family emergency.

Former Cleveland Browns star Mac Speedie is third with 33 TDs. Speedie, a 2020 inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, played for Saskatchewan in 1953 and 1954.

Jim Keane follows with 24 TDs — including 10 for the Chicago Bears in 1947. He had a two-game stint with Saskatchewan in 1952.

The rest of the NFL-TD-catch list is as follows:

15 — Jack Russell (1951 Roughriders).

9 — Chaz Schilens (2014); Charlie Jones (2003 training camp).

8 — Bob Bruer (1977-78); Daryl Hobbs (2000); Calvin Muhammad (1990 TC).

7 — Dave Williams (1977 TC).

6 — Swain (current); Ken Carpenter (1954-59); Cookie Gilchrist (1958); Geronimo Allison (2024 TC).

5 — Shawn Collins (1996 TC).

4 — Henderson Jr. (current); Jim Cason (1953); Robert Holmes (1976).

3 — Rodney Parker (1978-79); Harlan Huckleby (1979); B.K. Williams (1991-93); Sinorice Moss (2012); Trent Richardson (2017); Jacoby Ford (2017 practice roster); Joe Morgan (2017 PR).

2 — Tydus Winans (1997); Eric Guliford (1999-2001); Derick Armstrong (2001-02); Roell Preston (2001); Joe McKnight (2016); Ryquell Armstead (2024); Robert Woods (1981 TC); Quentin Griffin (2008 TC).

1 — Johnson (current); Paul Dudley (1966); R.C. Gamble (1970); Rick Eber (1973); Rhett Dawson (1974-76); Tommy Reamon (1977); Jamie Holland (1995); Kenton Keith (2003-06); Karsten Bailey (2004-05); Marcus Thigpen (2009 PR, 2017-19); Naaman Roosevelt (2015-19); Tre Mason (2016); Duke Williams (2021-22); Ka’Deem Carey (2025); Tom Barnett (1962 TC); Randall Burks (1976 TC); Secedrick McIntyre (1977 PR); Sylvester Stamps (1985 21-day trial); Reggie Rembert (1997 PR); Mario Bailey (1998 PR); Dwayne Jarrett (2012 TC).

FISHING FOR IDEAS

The varied skills and interests of rookie defensive tackle Thor Griffith were outlined in a story we posted on Friday.

I did not include a tangential tidbit from his bio on the Harvest Crimson website, but this one simply had to appear somewhere: “Enjoys exotic fish keeping, weightlifting and medieval samurai history.”

Griffith is, as far as we can determine, the first exotic fish keeper in Roughriders history.

“My dad, when I was younger had all kinds of different tanks with cool fish,” he said. “That’s where my love for exotic fish came from. I haven’t been able to partake in the hobby, just because of school and travelling and playing sports. Hopefully, once I get settled down, I can kind of re-start — or start my true collection.”

Which brings us to … (drumroll, please) … great fishy names in Roughriders history!!!

• Doc Stringer — halfback, middle wing, outside wing; 1910-14.

• Curtis Bates — middle wing, inside wing, halfback; 1923-28. (Bates played junior rugby for the Regina Boat Club, so we have appointed him as the team captain.)

• Orville (Fishy) Heron — outside wing, halfback, inside wing; 1931-34, 1942.

• George Herring — quarterback/defensive back; 1959.

• Robert (Tank) Holmes — running back; 1976.

• Tim Hook — offensive lineman; 1979.

• Randy Gill — linebacker; 1980 training camp.

• Daryl Bowles — running back; 1983 14-day trial, 1984 training camp.

• Rod Fisher — defensive back; 1987.

• Marlin Williams — defensive lineman; 1989 practice roster, 1992 training camp.

• Reggie Slack — quarterback, 1997-99.

• Pa’tell Troutman — receiver; 2001 practice roster.

• Jake Waters — quarterback, 2016.

• TeGray Scales — linebacker; 2021 practice roster.

• Lake Korte-Moore — defensive lineman, 2023-present.

• Shane Ray — defensive lineman, 2025.

And, of course, “tackle” and “line” apply to everything.

ZERR’S ZINGER

The quote of the week goes to Director of Communications Arielle Zerr.

As reporters gathered around Head Coach Corey Mace on Friday, I was a little late to join the group.

The aforementioned Dave Thomas stood to the left of Mace. Rawlco Radio’s Scott Roblin was on the right. Everyone else was behind the cameras.

I faced a decision: Do I stand on the left or the right? Poised to create an imbalance regardless of the choice, I proclaimed: “My presence will determine the strong side and the weak side.”

To which Arielle responded: “Whatever side you are on will be the weak side.”

EXTRA POINTS

• Kudos to the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation for infusing more than $5 million into communities across our province in 2025. That amount includes $3.3 million that was earmarked for amateur football.

• Darius Bell, the Roughriders’ third-round selection in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft, played 565 of a possible 566 snaps at the University of Maine in 2022. So what happened on that one snap? I had to know. “I honestly couldn’t tell you,” Bell replied. “I have no idea.”

• First injury of camp: Lacerated right middle finger. My right middle finger. While opening a toiletries kit after checking into the University of Saskatchewan dorms, I managed to slice my finger on an uncapped disposable razor. Without wading into too much detail, well, it was ugly. (See also: First cut of camp.)

• The toothpick tale reminded me of shortstop U.L. Washington, who played for the Kansas City Royals (1977-84), Montreal Expos (1985) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-87). Check out footage of the 1980 World Series and you will see Washington with the Royals, a toothpick in his mouth the entire time.

• Another athlete associated with a toothpick: Veteran linebacker Wynton McManis, now of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. If all goes well for McManis and Hughes, the CFL’s first Toothpick Bowl could be held on July 12 at Mosaic Stadium.

• Days remaining until the CFL’s regular season opener: 26.

• Countdown to the Roughriders’ June 13 regular-season opener against the visiting B.C. Lions: 35 days.

ROLL CREDITS …

• Nice people who deserve a plug: Thor Griffith, JuJu Hughes, Jonathan Kim, Michael Hughes, Reed Hughes, Kendy Charles, Jack Coan, Brynn Jarvis, Tracey Elgert, Erik Andersen, Greg Yuel, Jorgen Hus, Alex Thomas, Jaylen Pate, Tommy Stevens, Ty Robinson, Larry Dean, Arielle Zerr, Dwayne Bzdel, Kevin Mitchell, Hannah Rugg, Amelie Sarauer, Mary Adarkwa, Dan Farthing and, with best wishes on his recent 75th birthday, 2009 SaskTel Plaza of Honour inductee Norm Fong.