SASKATOON — Tevaughn Campbell insists there is ample room for improvement.
Opposing quarterbacks, beware.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders cornerback is coming off a spectacular season in which he finished in a tie for the CFL lead in interceptions (six) despite missing five games due to injury.
He led the league in interception return yards (205), on the strength of scoring sprints of 112 and 89 yards.
A first-time All-CFL selection, he made one of the biggest plays of the 112th Grey Cup Game — forcing a fumble deep in Saskatchewan territory to extinguish a Montreal Alouettes rally late in the fourth quarter. Saskatchewan won, 25-17.
Having raised the trophy for the first time, the next objective is to raise the bar.
“There are a lot of things people might not have seen — things that I definitely want to get better at,” Campbell said after Wednesday’s Coors Light Training Camp workout at Griffiths Stadium.
“There are plays that I left on the table … plays that I could have made but I didn’t. I think that makes a difference in coming back and repeating, as opposed to coming back and not being as good.
“I just want to grow from last year. If I can grow from last year, who knows?”
It is an intriguing notion.
Campbell, who turns 33 on June 14, had toyed with retirement before signing a new contract on Jan. 12. After missing the start of training camp for personal reasons, he practised with the team on Wednesday and was warmly welcomed.
“It’s definitely something that you miss in the off-season — being around the boys and getting to play the game you love,” the former University of Regina Rams standout said.
“I’ve just got to get the rust off, pretty much, and get back to it.”
SCHAGER SPARKLES
The same day the Roughriders won the 2025 Grey Cup Game, Brayden Schager observed a one-year anniversary.
He had not played in a football game since Nov. 16, 2024, as a member of the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.
The wait continued for another six months before Schager took over at quarterback for the Green and White late in the third quarter of Monday’s pre-season game against the host Calgary Stampeders.
“I’d been away from football for a little bit, so it was a lot of fun to get out there with my teammates,” said Schager, who spent part of last October on the Roughriders’ practice roster.
“My favourite thing to do is to be out on that field. It was a blast to be able to take some hits again and play football with the guys.”
Schager completed 10 of 18 passes for a game-high 139 yards. He ran 20 yards for the Roughriders’ lone touchdown in a 20-15 Stampeders victory.
“I was just sitting there, waiting for my opportunity,” he said. “I told myself to be ready whenever it came. That’s what the coaches preach.”
Another opportunity isn’t far away. The Roughriders are to return to action on Saturday against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5 p.m., Griffiths Stadium).
Tickets for the first Saskatoon-based CFL pre-season game since 1991 are AVAILABLE HERE.
WHISTLE-BLOWERS
The Roughriders’ practice on Wednesday included a team of five officials.
“If we could have those guys here every day, that would be awesome,” Head Coach Corey Mace said. “It helps with accountability.
“It’s really good for these refs as well. There’s a bunch of new stuff going on. We worked through that in the pre-season game as well. Everybody was learning new things.
“The more reps, the better, for everybody.”
The presence of officials helped to accentuate the importance of the Roughriders’ first practice following the collision with Calgary.
“We wore pads today, two days after a pre-season game,” Mace said, “and we’ve got another one coming up.
“For us, it’s just callusing up a bit for mental toughness, for physical toughness and for accountability, obviously, with the refs here.
“I found that it brought great compete out there today and maintained the standard.”
WEDNESDAY HIGHLIGHTS
• The quarterbacks — Schager, Trevor Harris, Jack Coan and Tommy Stevens — were a combined 17-for-23 in 12-on-12 drills. Harris was the busiest of the four, going 11-for-13. One of his completions was a touchdown toss to Samuel Emilus, who made a leaping catch near the front right corner of the end zone and kept his feet in bounds.
• Daniel Wiebe (from Coan) and Jaylen Johnson (from Schager) also had TD receptions during Wednesday’s workout. Wiebe, from the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, made a leaping catch near the back of the end zone.
• Rolan Milligan Jr. and Trae Tomlinson had interceptions.
• Kian Schaffer-Baker made four receptions. Jaylen Johnson had three. KeeSean Johnson, Abdul Janneh Jr. and D’Sean Mimbs had two each.
JOHNSON & JOHNSON & JOHNSON & JOHNSON
Jaylen Johnson touched the football four different ways in his CFL pre-season debut.
Versus Calgary, he had a nine-yard reception, a 17-yard punt return, a 17-yard kickoff return and a 40-yard missed field goal return.
“He’s working his tail off,” Mace said. “These guys (at training camp) stay ready for whatever they’ve got. Whether you’re first on the depth chart or you’re fifth, it doesn’t matter. What are you doing with those reps?
“He has been doing amazing things. With the intangibles we look for in receivers, he does all the things that you love, such as blocking. He had a hell of a game playing special teams — not just returning the ball, but in other aspects.
“We like people who work and take care of the team, and he has been doing that.”
