The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ entourage pulls into Saskatoon and sets up shop on the USask campus Monday, in advance of Wednesday’s start of rookie camp at Griffiths Stadium.
Main training camp begins Sunday. Seven of the first-year Green and White hopefuls, who were drafted into the fold last week, were announced Monday as having signed with Saskatchewan. Six of the seven Canadian Draft selections are on board, including former Saskatchewan Huskies’ linebacker Nick Wiebe and first round Global choice, defensive lineman Tyrone Taleni. The only Canadian Draft pick not signed is third overall pick Kyle Hergel out of Boston College who is signed to an N-F-L try-out by New Orleans. In addition, the Riders say import receiver Braydon Johnson will attend camp, along with Global punter Joe Couch out of Australia. Following are the news releases from the Roughriders…..
DATE: May 6, 2024
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR24-063
RIDERS INK SEVEN 2024 DRAFT SELECTIONS
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are pleased to announce the signing of seven of their selections from the 2024 CFL Drafts.
From the 2024 CFL Canadian Draft:
- Nick Wiebe (LB – Saskatchewan) – 2nd round, 12th overall
- Dhel Duncan-Busby (WR – Bemidji State) – 3rd round, 23rd overall
- Melique Straker (LB – Arkansas State) – 4th round, 32nd overall
- D’Sean Mimbs (WR – Regina) – 6th round, 50th overall
- Ajou Ajou (WR – Garden City Community College) 7th round, 59th overall
- Richard Aduboffour (DB – Western) – 8th round, 68th overall
From the 2024 CFL Global Draft:
- Tyrone Taleni (Defensive Lineman – Samoa) – first round, third overall
Wiebe (6’1-207) spent three seasons (2021-2023) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) where he suited up for 31 games with the Huskies. He registered 199 defensive tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and one pass deflection. In his final season with the Huskies, Wiebe led the Canada West conference with 77 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. His stellar 2023 season earned him a Canada West All-Star distinction and the 2023 USask Kent Phillips trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding male athlete. He also played in the 2023 East-West Bowl.
Before joining the Huskies, Wiebe spent three seasons with the Oregon Ducks (2018-2020), where he played four games and made eight tackles. In 2020, he was named the Ducks Special Teams Player of the Year.
Duncan-Busby (6’3-210) spent five seasons (2018-23) at Bemidji State University where he suited up for 47 games with the Beavers. Over that time, he made 171 receptions for 2,839 yards and 27 touchdowns. Duncan-Busby had a career-high senior season, tying his previous high of 49 passes for 825 yards and setting a new career mark of 11 touchdowns. His standout play earned him First-Team All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) honours and D2CCA All-Super Region 4 Second Team. Busby was also named All-NSIC North First Team in 2022.
Straker (5’10-210) spent the past three seasons (2021-23) at Arkansas State, playing in 33 games and tallying consistently strong stats as a Red Wolf all three years. In total, he registered 216 defensive tackles, 18 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, two pass deflections and two forced fumbles. He earned his first career touchdown in 2023, when he returned an interception 87 yards. The versatile defensive player spent time as both a linebacker and safety over his time in Arkansas.
Prior to Arkansas State, Straker spent one season at Carleton, suiting up for seven games. He recorded seven tackles on defence and returned three kickoffs and three punts on special teams.
Mimbs (6’1-180) spent the past three seasons with the University of Regina (2020-23) where he played 23 games for the Rams. Over that time, the Regina native recorded 89 receptions for 1,236 yards and eight touchdowns. The receiver had a notable 2023 season where he led the Rams in both Receptions (30) and receiving yards (480). After his standout 2023 season with the Rams, Mimbs was invited to participate in the East-West Bowl.
In 2021, he started all six Canada West games for the Rams and led the team in both receiving yards (288) and touchdown catches (5). That same year, Mimbs set a program record for most touchdown catches in a season by a first-year player and was named the University of Regina’s Male Rookie of the Year.
Ajou Ajou (6’2-211) played the past season (2023) at Garden City Community College (GCCC) where he suited up for seven games with the Broncbusters. He hauled in 17 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns.
Ajou began his college football career at Clemson (2020-22) where he played 22 games, making eight receptions for 114 yards and recording one touchdown. Ajou also attended South Florida University in 2022. He played one game before missing the rest of the season due to injury.
Aduboffour (6’3-220) spent the last three seasons at Western University where he played 31 games with the Mustangs, recording 51 tackles, 3 interceptions, 15 pass deflections and one forced fumble. As a senior, Aduboffour set career highs in tackles (23), interceptions (2) and pass deflections (9). His two interceptions ranked him fifth in Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Aduboffour was an OUA All-Star cornerback in 2022 and 2023 and attended the 2023 East-West Bowl.
Taleni (6’2-280) 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. In 2022, he was named All-Pac-12 Second Team after a breakout season on defence.
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. The Samoa native started his collegiate career at Mt. San Antonio College where he earned 26 tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks over one season.
DATE: May 6, 2024
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR24-064
RIDERS ADD OKLAHOMA STATE SPEEDSTER BRAYDON JOHNSON
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American wide receiver Braydon Johnson.
Johnson (6’0-200) joins the Roughriders after signing with the Buffalo Bills as undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. He declared for the draft after a strong senior season at Oklahoma State that culminated in an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
Johnson spent five seasons (2017-22) as a Cowboy, playing in 46 career games and starting 24. He tallied 1,298 career receiving yards, eight touchdowns and a 16.9-yard per catch average. He also contributed on special teams, returning 24 kicks 431 yards and an 18-yard per return average. As a senior, the Texas native made seven catches of at least 40 yards, ranking sixth in the FBS and second in the Big 12. He completed the year with a career high 32 catches for 566 yards and ranked fourth in the Big 12 with an average of 17.7 yards per catch.
On OSU’s Pro Day, Johnson posted an unofficial 40-yard dash time of 4.40 seconds on his first attempt and 4.38 on his second, a time that would have placed him among the top five of the draft class.
DATE: May 6, 2024
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR24-065
RIDERS SIGN ALL-AMERICAN PUNTER JOE COUCH
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed Global punter Joe Couch.
Couch (5’11-210) spent three collegiate seasons (2021-23) at Ouachita Baptist University, playing in 29 games as a Tiger. Over that time he punted 76 times, earning 3,397 yards and a 44.7-yard average. The Australian landed 30 punts inside the 20 yard line and sent 26 punts 50+ yards including a career long 63 yards. Couch also kicked off 13 times for 751 yards and 57.8-yard average.
After a strong second season in 2022, he was named a D2CCA Second Team All-American, D2CCA First Team All-Region and First Team All-Great American Conference. He also led Ouachita to a No. 1 national ranking in net punting as a team. He followed it up with Second Team All-Great American Conference honours in 2023 and invite to the College Gridiron Showcase.
Prior to coming to the United States, Couch played Australian rules football for Geelong College in Australia.
