The Saskatchewan Roughriders are proud to add to a star-studded roster that has long included Greene and White.

Andrew Greene (guard) and George White (linebacker) were both first-team All-CFL selections in 2000, as was Saskatchewan receiver Curtis Marsh.

Three other Roughriders stars – guard Logan Ferland, cover linebacker CJ Reavis and defensive halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. – are making their debut on the league’s 2024 Dream Team, which was announced Thursday.

Saskatchewan is also represented by cornerback Marcus Sayles (formerly a member of the All-CFL team in 2022) and defensive tackle Micah Johnson (whose stellar resume also includes All-CFL honors in 2016, 2017 and 2018 ).

This is all a preamble to… (fanfare reporting)… Random observations and nerdy information presented by a rusty (trusted) historian! (registered trademark).

LOGAN FERLAND

Born in Melfort, Ferland was born on the 12th^th Roughrider will be a CFL All-Star after honing his football skills in Saskatchewan’s amateur, high school, junior and/or university ranks.

The list also includes Roger Aldag (five-time CFL selection), Mike Anderson (one), Bill Baker (twice with Saskatchewan; two more times with the BC Lions), Dan Clark (one), Brendon LaBatte (five times with Saskatchewan; once with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers), Gene Makowsky (five), Ken McEachern (one), Lorne Richardson (four), Scott Schultz (one), Wayne Shaw (one) and Ted Urness (six).

Collectively, these 12 players represent 18.7 percent (32 of 171) of the Roughriders’ All-CFL selections, dating back to 1962.

The closest parallels with Ferland:

• Makowsky in 2008. He was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman after playing three different positions; Ferland lined up at four spots this season en route to being named MOOL of the West.

• Clark in 2019. Ferland and Clark graduated from the PFC Regina Thunder.

MICAH JOHNSON

Johnson, who was recently named a division all-star for the seventh time, is now a four-time All-CFL team selection.

The first three nominations came while he was a defensive tackle with the Calgary Stampeders. Calgary’s defensive line coach at the time: Corey Mace, who is now the Roughriders’ head coach and defensive coordinator.

A fourth CFL nomination ties Johnson with Canadian Football Hall of Fame defensive linemen Grover Covington and American-born Bobby Jurasin on the all-time list.

In terms of All-CFL nominations, Johnson ranks ahead of American-born Hall of Fame defensive linemen Junior Ah You (three), Ed McQuarters (three), Mike Walker (three), John Bowman (three). two), Ron Estay (two). , Rodney Harding (two) and Angelo Mosca (two).

Johnson is the first defensive player from Saskatchewan to make the CFL All-Star team at age 36 (or older, for that matter). The following offensive players numbered 36 for all or part of the season when they were selected: Aldag (1989), Greene (2005), Makowsky (2009) and Ron Lancaster (1975).

ROLAN MILLIGAN JR.

Yes, more laurels for Milligan Jr., who was recently named Roughriders Most Valuable Player, Most Valuable Defensive Player and (phew!) Most Valuable Special Teams Player.

He is also a division runner-up for MODP after recording a league-high eight interceptions.

Milligan Jr. had a career year while bouncing back from a 2023 season limited to four games due to a toe injury that required surgery. He had a solid start to the 2023 campaign before being sidelined.

(Idle, tangential thought: Milligan Jr. and quarterback Trevor Harris have been key contributors to the Roughriders’ resurgence in 2024. Harris, like Milligan Jr., is also coming off an injury-shortened season. The results of This year highlights the often overlooked impact of missing Milligan Jr. and Harris for most of last season.)

The closest parallel for Milligan Jr.? Let’s go with safety Bruce Bennett, a 1969 All-CFL pick. Milligan Jr. is from Lake Wales, Florida, where Bennett was a successful high school football coach.

Or how about the 1989 version of Don Narcisse? Injuries hampered the future Hall of Fame wide receiver for several of the 10 games he appeared in in 1988. Fully recovered a year later, he had a breakout season of 81 catches, 1,409 yards and 11 touchdowns.

CJ REVISED

Reavis was a rotation player for part of the 2023 season before establishing himself as a factor in each drop.

Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day took note when signing Reavis to a new two-year contract – a deal that was announced last December. He had been eligible to test CFL free agency in February.

As an all-time starter at the strong linebacker position, which is essentially a sixth defensive back position, Reavis recorded four sacks and 89 defensive tackles. The latter total places him fifth in the league and first among 2024 West Division playoff participants.

It’s been quite a comeback for Reavis, who suffered two Achilles tendon injuries in six months in 2022.

The closest parallel? Hmmmm…let’s go with Kory Sheets – an All-CFL running back during the Roughriders’ 2013 championship season.

Sheets suffered an Achilles injury during a training camp session with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins in 2010. He was waived by the Dolphins a little over a year later.

Next up: Saskatchewan, where Sheets has total rushing yards of 1,277 (in 2012) and 1,598 (2013). Sheets was an automatic pick for the 2013 All-CFL team.

(Another tangent: Reavis was born November 27, 1995 – eight days after the first Gray Cup game at Taylor Field. Where does the time go?)

MARCUS SAYLES

Sayles and Reavis have overcome different forms of adversity in impressive ways.

In Sayles’ case, he signed with Saskatchewan in early June, just two days after being released by British Columbia. He then recorded four interceptions, matching a career high he set with BC in 2022 – when he made the CFL all-star team for the first time.

Sayles is the fifth Roughriders first-year defensive back to be recognized, joining Richardson (1973), Paul Williams (1976), Fran McDermott (1982) and Barry Wilburn (1993).

In 2024, Sayles recorded 12 pass knockdowns. Benjie Franklin of the Argonauts led the league with 13.

Sayles is preparing for his third playoff game between the Roughriders and Blue Bombers — the West final on Saturday (5:30 p.m., Princess Auto Stadium). He played for Winnipeg against Saskatchewan in the 2018 and 2019 playoffs.

He then joined the Lions and last Saturday celebrated an interception against his former team as Saskatchewan won the 2024 West semifinal, 28-19.

If the Roughriders get past Winnipeg on Saturday, Sayles will once again return to a former CFL home. The 111th Gray Cup game will take place on November 17 in Vancouver.