ROBSERVATIONS: Kim kickstarts camp highlights … rain won’t stop Dwayne … Logan’s run … and a road to recovery
SASKATOON — Jonathan Kim didn’t miss the 58-yard field goal … but I did.
For reasons that remain inexplicable, I was somehow oblivious to a long-distance attempt that took place during a Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp workout at Griffiths Stadium on Wednesday.
By all accounts, Kim’s 58-yarder would have been good from a length that corresponds with his uniform number (72).
“It was fun,” Kim told this attentive correspondent. “I had a little wind at my back. It was a nice, warm day, so there were good conditions. I was just able to let it fly.
“We were actually doing a cover drill so, even if the ball goes between the uprights, you’re supposed to cover downfield and pretend that someone was going to return it.
“But I hit it, looked at it, and saw that it was going through, so in my head, I was like, ‘All right. I’m done. The job’s over,’ but I was actually supposed to cover, so I made sure I did that.”
In game situations, a Roughrider has kicked a field goal of 58 or more yards only five times:
63 — Paul McCallum vs. Edmonton, Oct. 27, 2001 (CFL record).
60 — Dave Ridgway vs. Winnipeg, Sept. 6, 1987.
59 — Paul Watson vs. Winnipeg, July 12, 1981.
59 — Brett Lauther vs. Hamilton, Aug. 16, 2025.
58 — Paul McCallum vs. Hamilton, Oct. 24, 1999.
Fifty-eight yards is also Kim’s personal best in a game. He boomed a 58-yarder for the Michigan State Spartans against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Sept. 30, 2023. That was one of four field goals of 50-plus yards he made that season.
“The longest I’ve attempted and made is 70 yards,” he noted. “It was when I was in Michigan and I had a little bit of a wind behind me. We didn’t have a heavy day the next day, so we were like, ‘Let’s just go out, have fun, and see how far we can hit from.’ ”
Kim would love to turn heads again on Monday, when he makes his CFL pre-season debut. The Roughriders are poised to oppose the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.
“I don’t think I have words,” Kim, who hails from Fredericksburg, Va., said with a smile. “I’m pumped.
“Being at home all last season and not getting to play anything but one pre-season game (for the NFL’s Chicago Bears) really put into perspective how much I enjoy this game.
“I’m going to take every game as a gift and just try to give praise to the Lord for every opportunity I get.”
WEEK 1 CAMP HIGHLIGHTS
• A 40-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Harris to University of Saskatchewan Huskies grad Daniel Wiebe during Day 1 (Sunday). Wiebe ran a corner route and Harris displayed his typically impeccable touch.
• Rolan Milligan Jr’s leaping, one-handed interception (Monday).
• Rookie quarterback Brayden Schager’s picture-perfect, 40-yard touchdown pass to KeeSean Johnson (Monday). Schager improves with each day.
• Duels between two veterans — receiver Samuel Emilus and defensive back DaMarcus Fields — in one-on-one drills (Tuesday).
• A jarring hit by Nelson Lokombo during Tuesday’s padded practice. Moreover, Lokombo intercepted the pass after dislodging the football. Lokombo and fellow safety Jaxon Ford have both enjoyed excellent camps.
• Kim’s 58-yard field goal — you should have seen it! — and a 6-for-6 performance by Australian-born placekicker Alex Hale (Friday).
• Needless interjection: So far, the Roughriders’ 2026 training camp has included rain, snow and Hale. Onwards …
• An interception by Carson Sombach, an undrafted free-agent signing from the University of Regina Rams (Thursday).
• Dhel Duncan-Busby’s two-reception, two-touchdown performance in 12-on-12 drills (Friday).
• Consistent excellence from left offensive tackle Payton Collins, who demonstrated his mettle on a freezing Friday by practising in shorts.
• Milligan Jr., a two-time All-CFL defensive back, treating each practice as if it were the Grey Cup. See also: Cornerback Marcus Sayles.
• Jameer Thurman, period. When the veteran middle linebacker isn’t demonstrating how it is done during drills, he is offering pointers to teammates and exhorting them all to perform at the highest level.
EARLY APPRAISAL
What has impressed Corey Mace during six days of main training camp?
“The returning vets just having full understanding and conviction of what it’s supposed to look like and how quickly the rookies have adapted to that,” the Roughriders’ Head Coach said.
“This rookie class has been probably the best as far as their understanding of the playbook. It’s a very, very smart group. It’s allowing them to play fast and make plays early. We’re just raising the floor for the team.”
What does Harris make of his fourth training camp as a Roughrider?
“The depth of talent here is pretty great,” the Roughriders’ starting quarterback said. “I really feel like this team is highly focused. I haven’t felt any sort of contentment (after a Grey Cup championship season).
“Guys really want to come out here and compete every single day. Guys who have come in from other teams have mentioned the level of competition in camp has been pretty high compared to where they’ve been. It has been really fun to hear that.
“I know we’ve got a great group of guys who want to come out and keep competing and keep getting better every day.”
“It’s going to be a ton of fun to watch us go out there on Monday and hopefully execute at a high level.”
DWAYNE AND THE RAIN
Dwayne Bzdel isn’t a fair-weather fan.
I knew that before his beloved Roughriders practised in the wind and rain on Friday.
Nonetheless, I marvelled at his presence once more.
Dwayne, you see, walks to and from each training-camp workout — 4.7 kilometres in each direction.
He was undaunted by the conditions.
In fact, he arrived at Friday’s practice much earlier than I did … and I am staying in a nearby dorm.
“The biggest part was dodging the traffic and the water splashes along the way, along with going through the mud,” Dwayne said. “One foot in front of the other and, an hour later, I’m here.”
Dwayne has attended every rookie-camp and training-camp workout since 2024. Considering Friday’s conditions, though, was there even the slightest temptation to take the day off?
“No,” he stated. “This is one of the things I look forward to. No matter what the weather is, I’m walking.”
LONGEVITY = LOGAN
• Offensive lineman Logan Ferland, only 29, is the Roughriders’ leader in continuous service. His uninterrupted affiliation with the Green and White dates back to 2019, when he was on the practice roster during his graduating season with the PFC’s Regina Thunder. COVID-19 resulted in the cancellation of the 2020 season. Ferland has been a starter since Day 1 of the 2021 campaign.
• Fullback Albert Awachie has spent most of his CFL career (2017 to present) with Saskatchewan. However, he spent a portion of the 2024 campaign with the Toronto Argonauts.
• Rewinding much further: Long snapper Aaron Crawford attended the Roughriders’ training camp in 2013 … offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick was with the team in 2015 … cornerback Tevaughn Campbell played in 17 games with Saskatchewan in 2016.
EXTRA POINTS
Former Roughriders defensive lineman Glenn Kulka will be the keynote speaker on May 30 at an inaugural event — Regina’s Youth-Young Adults Battle for Recovery.
The initiative has been organized by the Empower 2 Recover Foundation, which supports people who battle with addiction.
To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit empower2recover.com.
ROLL CREDITS …
• Nice people who deserve a plug: Michael Hughes, Jonathan Kim, Jaylen Pate, Aaron Crawford, KeeSean Johnson, Donnavan Carter, Dayton Black, Jack Coan, Rolan Milligan Jr., James McFarland, James Vaughters, Kian Schaffer-Baker, Josh Woods, Marcus Sayles, Rylee Cohen, James Thompson, Nadiya Dragneva, Cam Pelzer, Tim Switzer, Trevor Smith, Curtis Fedrau, Rob Rodriguez, Marty Burke, Travis Reddaway, Taylor Altilio, Dwayne Bzdel, Dave MacLean, John Nelson and, with profuse thanks for 27 years (plus one day) of marriage, Chryssoula Filippakopoulos.
