Riders select Boston College’s Kyle Hergel third overall in CFL draft

The Saskatchewan Roughriders selected offensive lineman Kyle Hergel with their first-round pick, despite him signing an NFL contract.

“It’s exciting. It’s a great legacy and a great program to be a part of and I’m really looking forward to it,” Hergel said.

The Roughriders, who were picking third for a second straight season, selected the Toronto product with their pick. The Boston College offensive lineman signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints after he went undrafted in the 2024 NFL draft.

“I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve done my whole career. Just being prepared for any opportunity — any opportunity is an opportunity, and it’s kind of what you make it,” Hergel said.

“A lot of times it’s about being ready for that opportunity and staying ready for that opportunity.

“I’m an ultimate competitor … I just want to show what I can do and compete and be prepared and ready to go when my time is called. I’m looking forward to (Saints camp).”

Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Jeremy O’Day said Hergel can play any of the interior lineman spots.

“Someone that started a little bit lower in division one football and just kept getting bigger opportunities, and every time he got the opportunity, he rose to the occasion,” O’Day said. “Excited to be able to draft him. There is some risk involved that you have to be willing to accept, and we feel like the reward will pay for that if we have an opportunity to get him.”

While he has played in the United States for a while now, Hergel said he grew up playing the Canadian version of the game.

“I remember going to a bunch of games in the local area — going to Argo games just down the street and Hamilton games (also) just down the street. Just being bred in that CFL environment,” Hergel said.

The 315-pound offensive lineman was a four-year starter between North Dakota and Texas State before joining Boston College.

His strength coach in North Dakota was Will Ratelle, who was with the Riders in 2017, playing fullback.

“He always told me that’s a place — Mosaic Stadium — (that) gets pretty loud, and they have the best fans in the league,” Hergel said. “It’s really exciting and a great opportunity.”

Hergel was an ALL-ACC Honourable Mention in 2023, and was also invited to participate in the 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl.

In the second round, the Riders stayed a little closer to home and selected University of Saskatchewan Huskies standout linebacker Nick Wiebe 12th overall.

Wiebe, a Calgary product, was named a Canada West all-star in 2023, recording 65 tackles and a sack.

But once again the Riders’ pick comes with a risk, as the team will need to wait to see Wiebe in action after he suffered a torn ACL during the Hardy Cup playoffs in a 40-17 loss to the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

“It’s someone we will have to wait a little while on, but we saw the benefit of him coming back from injury and we are excited to get him,” O’Day said.

Prior to coming to the U of S, Wiebe played for the Oregon Ducks.

In the third round, the Riders selected receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby 23rd overall. The Bemidji State Beaver had 49 catches for 825 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

With the 32nd overall pick, linebacker Melique Straker was taken by the Green and White. The Arkansas State Red Wolves defender started 11 of 12 games for the team. The Brampton, Ontario product finished third on the team with 85 tackles.

Saskatchewan school selections

While Wiebe was the first member of a Saskatchewan program to be selected, he wasn’t the last.

The Huskies’ George Idoko went in the third round (28th overall) to the Calgary Stampeders. The defensive lineman had three sacks with the Huskies last season.

Global Draft

Earlier in the day, the Riders selected two players during the CFL’s global draft.

With the third overall pick, Saskatchewan added defensive lineman Tyrone Taleni from Savaii, American Samoa, and then added Traralgon, Australian punter Jordy Sandy.

Taleni spent two collegiate seasons at the University of Southern California (2022-23), suiting up for 22 games as a Trojan. He tallied 36 tackles, eight tackles for loss, six sacks, and one forced fumble.

Prior to transferring to USC, Taleni spent two seasons (2021-22) at Kansas State, where he played four games and tallied five tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks.

Sandy spent five collegiate seasons at TCU, playing in 61 career games. He made 261 punts totalling 10,611 yards and a 40.7-yard average.

Ninety-one of his punts were dropped inside the 20-yard line and 35 were launched over 50 yards.

Sandy joins fellow Australian punter Adam Korsak, who was taken third by the Riders in the 2023 global draft.