James Letcher Jr. is looking forward to (almost) every aspect of his first game with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Letcher Jr., you see, spent last season with the Montreal Alouettes — the team Saskatchewan defeated 25-17 to win a CFL title on Nov. 16 in Winnipeg.
The Roughriders’ 2025 Grey Cup championship banner is to be unveiled at Mosaic Stadium shortly before Saturday’s regular-season opener against the B.C. Lions. (Tickets are AVAILABLE HERE.)
“It’s going to be a little rough for me because they’re going to be showing that banner,” says Letcher Jr., whose smile indicates he is a good sport about it all. “They beat me and my old team.
“But it’ll be fun, for sure, to come out of the tunnel. It’s going to be electric. I’m excited to finally be able to run out on this side of the green.”
Letcher Jr. derives comfort from knowing he already has a Grey Cup ring, earned with Montreal in 2023.
“It has been fun to see the guys (with the Roughriders) get their rings, whether it’s their first or second or third,” he says. “I already have a ring as well. Not to brag, but I understand how it feels to win a ring and experience that.
“Now I get to see what it’s like on the other side, with losing one, and I get to see how they feel on one side as well.
“It has all been fun and exciting. I’ve been excited since I first signed. I’m just ready to get in my pads and cleats on Saturday and have my way.”
The 5-foot-7, 180-pound receiver/returner signed with Saskatchewan on Feb. 3.
Roughriders fans hope he makes another quick adjustment to new surroundings.
In only four regular-season games with Montreal in 2023, he scored on a 99-yard punt return and a 125-yard missed field goal return. He added a 105-yard kickoff-return TD in the Eastern Final against the Toronto Argonauts.
Letcher Jr. followed up in 2024 by leading the league in all-purpose yards (2,329) and being named the Alouettes’ Most Outstanding Special Teams player. He scored on a 100-yard punt return and a 128-yard missed field goal return as a second-year CFLer.
The latter major — the seventh-longest missed field goal return in league history — was registered at Mosaic Stadium on Aug. 16, 2024.
In nine games last season, Letcher Jr. averaged 11.0 yards per punt return and 25.1 yards per kickoff return. He also caught his first CFL touchdown pass.
“His abilities obviously speak for themselves, but he’s such a great personality,” Roughriders Head Coach Corey Mace says. “I think everybody is ready to see him do it with the live bullets.”
Especially since Letcher Jr. was rested for both the Roughriders’ pre-season contests.
“I’m looking at the timer upstairs every day,” he says while being interviewed in the Roughriders’ locker room. “Every time I walk past it, I take a picture of it.
“I’m ready to go. I’m ready to play with the guys. New colours. New team. New coaches. I’m excited.
“I love the facilities and the atmosphere on the team. My teammates are welcoming and I’m meshing well with the guys. It’s just a matter of bringing it all together and going out there and fighting for one another on game day.”
