Jamie Nye’s Saskatchewan Roughriders quarter-century team

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have enjoyed some success over the past 25 years.

The CFL club won Grey Cups in 2007 and 2013, and appeared in the championship game two more times.

Plenty of great players have donned the green and white jerseys for the club since 2000.

The Green Zone‘s Jamie Nye unveiled his quarter-century team this week, revealing who he ranks as the best among the Riders over the past 25 years.

Quarterback: Darian Durant

Durant’s run as the Riders’ starting pivot from 2009 until 2016 saw the team enjoy some of its most successful years. Durant was the starting quarterback during the 2009 and 2010 Grey Cup losses, but led the team to the ultimate prize in 2013 – a Grey Cup victory at the old Mosaic Stadium.

Durant was the Riders’ most-outstanding player in 2009 and 2010, and held the CFL’s passing record in 2010 with 5,542 yards. In his career, Durant played in 174 career games, throwing for 31,740, 164 touchdowns, and 115 interceptions.

Running back: Wes Cates

Cates joined the Riders in 2007 after a trade and became a fan favourite during his time in Saskatchewan. The rusher was a key part of the team’s 2007 Grey Cup run.

In 2008, he followed that up with a 1,229-yard campaign.

During his five seasons with the Riders, Cates rushed for 4,761 yards and 41 touchdowns.

Wide receivers/slotbacks: Chris Getzlaf, Matt Dominguez, Weston Dressler, Andy Fantuz

The Canadian Air Force was one of the most iconic CFL wide receiver groups ever, and three of those members made Nye’s quarter-century list.

While he was from Bismarck, N.D., Dressler became an honourary Canadian as a part of the group that also featured Chris Getzlaf and Fantuz.

Dressler joined the Riders in 2008 and went on to catch 539 passes for 7,797 yards and 50 touchdowns over eight seasons as a member of the Green and White. He was recently inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Getzlaf, a Regina product, was traded to the Riders in August of 2007, and spent the next eight seasons playing with his hometown team. Getzlaf caught 409 passes for 6,149 yards and 40 touchdowns in his time as a Rider. He was named the Most Outstanding Canadian in the 2013 Grey Cup.

Fantuz was drafted by the Riders third overall in the 2006 draft and remained with the team through the 2011 season. He was a key member of the 2007 Grey Cup team, hauling in 56 catches for 978 yards and seven touchdowns that year, and was named the 2007 Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian. He recorded 4,311 yards and 23 touchdowns during his six seasons with the team.

Matt Dominguez played in 59 games from 2003 to 2008 with the club. While he dealt with a number of injuries, Dominguez was one of the most consistent receivers when he was on the field, hauling in 250 catches for 3,741 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Chris Getzlaf was one of the team’s all-time best pass catchers. (980 CJME file photo)

Offensive line: Gene Makowsky, Brendon LaBatte, Jeremy O’Day, Andrew Greene, Ben Heenan

Makowsky, LaBatte, O’Day, Greene, and Heenan make up the quarter-century offensive line.

Makowsky played 17 seasons in the CFL (1995-2011), all with the Riders. He was named a CFL all-star five times (2004, 2006, 2008, and 2009) and helped lead the Riders to the 2007 Grey Cup. His 284 games as a Rider give him the all-time record.

LaBatte spent his first four seasons in the CFL as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but joined the Riders in 2012. The Weyburn product went on to become a mainstay along the offensive line for the next decade, and was named the team’s most outstanding offensive lineman in 2013.

O’Day joined the club in 1999, and remained the team’s starting centre until 2010. O’Day was a three-time CFL all-star (2006, 2007, 2009). During his career with the Roughriders, he dressed for 202 regular-season games.

Greene was with the Riders in 1997 and then once again with the team from 1999-2006. He was a CFL all-star at the guard position four times (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005).

Heenan wasn’t with the Riders for long, but made a major impact along the offensive line. He joined the Riders in 2012 and only played three seasons, but locked down the right tackle position for the team’s 2013 Grey Cup run.

Defensive line: John Chick, Scott Schultz, Nate Davis, Charleston Hughes

Chick, Schultz, Davis and Hughes round out Nye’s picks for the top defensive linemen from the past 25 years.

Chick was named the 2009 CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player after a campaign that saw him record 11 sacks. He has 53 quarterback sacks as a Rider, putting him fourth in the team’s record books. He was with the Riders from 2007-09 and again from 2013-15.

Schultz joined the Green and White midway through the 2001 season after attending an NFL training camp. He finished his regular season career with 178 defensive tackles, 35 sacks and nine tackles for losses. He added another 20 defensive tackles and six sacks in the playoffs. He retired in 2009.

Davis joined the Riders in 2001 after a few years in the NFL. He spent the next six seasons with the Riders, starting in 91 regular season games and recording 32 sacks.

Hughes wasn’t in Saskatchewan for long, but made a big impact. In 2018, Hughes recorded 15 quarterback sacks and then followed that up with 16 more in 2019. He rejoined the Riders in 2022, recording four sacks in limited playing time.

Linebackers: Reggie Hunt, Maurice Lloyd, Jackie Mitchell

Hunt, nicknamed “The Reaper” was one of the most feared defenders during his six seasons with the Riders. He recorded 452 tackles in his career as a Rider – the third-most ever by a Roughrider.

Lloyd was with the Riders from 2006-08 and was one of the key contributors to the 2007 Grey Cup team. He was a CFL all-star in 2008.

Mitchell was one of the best cover linebackers to play for the club. His career lasted from 2000 to 2006 and he was named a CFL all-star in 2003.

Defensive backs: Omarr Morgan, Nic Marshall, Ed Gainey, Eddie Davis, Tyron Brackenridge

Morgan played in Saskatchewan from 2000-10 with only the 2007 season played in Edmonton. He was a three-time CFL all-star (2002, 2003, 2005). Morgan had 25 interceptions while with the Riders and is the team’s all-time leading tackler (493).

Marshall appeared in 73 games as a Rider and has 20 career interceptions. His five pick-sixes are the most in Riders’ history.

Gainey was with the Riders from 2016-21 and was a CFL all-star from 2017-18. Gainey had 21 interceptions during his five seasons with the team.

Davis joined Saskatchewan in 2001 where he played until his career came to an end in 2009. He was a CFL all-star in 2004-06.

Brackenridge was with the Riders from 2011-15 and appeared in 75 games for the club, recording 254 tackles and 10 interceptions.

Special teams: Brett Lauther, Jorgen Hus, Corey Holmes, Jon Ryan

Lauther has been the team’s kicker since 2018. In his first year with the Riders, he was good on 90 per cent of his field goal kicks, and ranks third on the Riders’ all-time scoring list.

Hus is the longest-serving member of the current Riders team, and has been a stalwart at the long-snapper position since joining the Green and White in 2014.

Holmes was a member of the Riders from 2001-05 and then once again in 2007. He was one of the premier returners in the league, recording six kick return touchdowns. He had his best year in 2005, finishing with 899 rushing yards, 523 receiving yards, 1,157 kickoff return yards and 835 punt return yards. Holmes set a Roughrider record for combined yards with 3,455. He was named the CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player that season (he also won the award in 2002) and was the West Division’s Most Outstanding Player nominee. His 3,440 punt return yards and 4,077 kick return yards are still Rider records.

Ryan joined the Riders after a lengthy NFL career in 2019. He played two seasons for the team, averaging 48.8 yards per punt in 2019 and 46.9 yards in 2021.