Comeback kids St. Joseph defeat Holy Cross in city 6A football finals
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With the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders entering the Corey Mace era, general manager Jeremy O’Day has been busy rebuilding the roster.
The Green and White experienced a second straight 6-12 season last year. A seven-game losing streak proved to be the team’s downfall for the second season in a row as well.
That led to the team not renewing the contract of then-head coach Craig Dickenson, and Mace was named the man who would be the new bench boss.
With the first-time head coach now helming the ship, he and O’Day are shaping how the 2024 roster will look with a number of key free agency signings.
Saskatchewan reportedly agreed to terms with six players during the seven-day negotiation window. With free agency opening Tuesday, the Roughriders could make most of those signings official.
They previously announced the signing of one of those players: Linebacker Adam Auclair.
Hammer time
One of the big signings for the Riders is running back A.J. Ouellette. He signed a two-year contract.
The 28-year-old from Covington, Ohio, enjoyed a breakout season in 2023 as a member of the Argos, rushing for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns. He has been with Toronto since 2019, winning the 2022 Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium with the Double Blue.
On the prairies, you can see a storm coming. pic.twitter.com/V9oPo9TE0F
— Saskatchewan Roughriders (@sskroughriders) February 13, 2024
Ouellette has played in 37 career CFL regular-season games, rushing for 1,782 yards and 10 touchdowns in his CFL career. After one of his TDs last season, Ouellette — — who, with his long blond hair, beard and muscular build, resembles Thor — celebrated the major by carrying Thor’s hammer in the end zone.
AW NAH THEY BROUGHT OUT THOR'S HAMMER 😭😭@oktire #LDWeekend pic.twitter.com/1L3pkap4sT
— CFL (@CFL) September 4, 2023
Ouellette and Mace have history together, as Mace was the Argos’ defensive co-ordinator in 2022 and ’23.
Ouellette will join a Riders backfield that features Frankie Hickson, who signed an extension this off-season, along with Canadian Thomas Bertrand-Hudon and American Jerrion Ealy.
Man in the middle
Linebacker Jameer Thurman (6) has signed a free-agent contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. (CFL/Submitted)
The Riders are bringing a new piece to the middle of their defence.
Jameer Thurman is leaving Hamilton to come to Saskatchewan to fill the middle linebacker position.
Thurman, a 29-year-old product of Chicago, spent his first four CFL seasons with the Calgary Stampeders (2017-18, 2021-22), winning a Grey Cup with them in ’18.
He had 98 tackles with Hamilton last season – good for seventh in the league — and added five sacks, two interceptions, one tackle for a loss, four pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery
In 82 career regular-season games, Thurman has registered 367 tackles, 31 special-teams stops, 11 sacks, eight interceptions and 10 forced fumbles.
Thurman is another player who is familiar with Mace. The Riders’ new head coach was the Stamps’ defensive line coach from 2016 through ’21.
It is reported Thurman’s contract is a one-year deal worth more than $175,000.
He is expected to replace Larry Dean, who had 104 tackles for Saskatchewan last season. The 35-year-old Dean was named the Riders’ most outstanding player and top defensive player last season.
Tackling the issue
Jermarcus Hardrick (51) is returning to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The veteran O-lineman signed as a free agent with the team on Tuesday. (CFL/Submitted)
The Riders are adding a big addition to their offensive line, bringing back Jermarcus Hardrick for a second stint as a Rider.
Hardrick, 33, has been with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers since 2016. He was the CFL’s West Division nominee for most outstanding offensive lineman in 2023.
The Batesville, Miss., product began his CFL with the B.C. Lions in 2014 before joining the Riders in 2015. The 6-foot-5, 317-pounder appeared in eight games for Saskatchewan that season.
He has played in 133 CFL games in his career.
Hardrick will try to help bolster a line that gave up 54 sacks last season, the third-highest total in the CFL.
Livin’ on the edge
Malik Carney has signed as a free agent with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He spent the past three seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. (CFL/Submitted)
Edge rusher Malik Carney will be looking to get after quarterbacks as a member of a new-look Riders defence.
The 28-year-old defensive end has spent his three-season CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, with whom he recorded 13 sacks, including five in 17 games last season.
The @sskroughriders have signed DE Malik Carney ⬇️ (@Scoop53_) #CFLFA
— CFL (@CFL) February 13, 2024
Prior to coming to the CFL, Carney spent time with the NFL’s Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos in 2019 and ’20.
Carney attended the University of North Carolina and played football with the Tar Heels. In 36 games, he had 176 tackles and 17 sacks.
He’ll line up alongside defensive tackles Anthony Lanier II, Micah Johnson and Canadian Charbel Dabire, all three of whom signed contract extensions with the team.
Jammin’ with Jalon
Jalon Edwards-Cooper has signed a free-agent contract with the Roughriders. (CFL/Submitted)
In what could be one of the more underrated moves of free agency, the Riders have signed defensive back Jalon Edwards-Cooper.
The 26-year-old played 30 games over the past three seasons with B.C. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder out of Spring, Texas, recorded 36 tackles, one special-teams stop, one interception and one forced fumble in 14 games with the Lions last season.
On Twitter, Bryson Vesnaver with Pro Football Focus said Edwards-Cooper didn’t allow a touchdown last season.
Big get for SSK, was one of the top free agents imo, got a little overshadowed by virtue of playing across from Garry Peters
JEC one of the highest graded corners, 0 TDs allowed last year, 8 PBUs, 14 solo stops in the pass game (2nd in the league) https://t.co/5HSCpZfc4L
— Bryson Vesnaver (@PFF_Bryson) February 6, 2024
Family reunion
The Roughriders have reunited the Herdman-Reed brothers, extending the contract of Justin and signing Jordan as a free agent.
Justin is entering his fourth season with Saskatchewan after initially signing with the club in 2021. He has played in 38 career regular-season games as a Roughrider, recording 25 special-teams tackles and adding 10 defensive tackles over three seasons.
Jordan returns to Saskatchewan after spending the 2023 season with the Calgary Stampeders. He played in 16 games last season with the Stamps, registering 10 special-teams tackles.
He played two seasons with the Roughriders in 2021 and ’22, making six special-teams tackles in 17 games.
Former Falcons fullback in the fold
Late Tuesday, the Roughriders announced they had signed American fullback Clint Ratkovich.
Collegiately, the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder played four seasons at Western Illinois and one at Northern Illinois.
He signed with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in December of 2022 and spent most of the 2023 off-season and pre-season with them.
Heading out of town
The Stampeders announced the signing of linebacker Micah Teitz, who spent his first five seasons in the CFL with the Roughriders.
The Calgary product, who played his university football with the Calgary Dinos, returns home to continue his career.
Receiver Tevin Jones, who spent the previous two seasons in Saskatchewan, has signed with the Montreal Alouettes.
Fullback/special-teamer Albert Awachie, who joined the Riders in 2017, signed with the Argos.
Reports also suggest Calgary signed tailback Jamal Morrow, who spent the previous three seasons in Saskatchewan. As well, Hamilton reportedly signed Regina-born offensive lineman Evan Johnson, who was a Rider for the past three seasons.