Roughriders select OL Hergel, seven others in the 2024 CFL Draft
A look at who the Saskatchewan Roughriders selected in the 2024 CFL Draft on Tuesday night.
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The Saskatchewan Roughriders selected offensive lineman Kyle Hergel with the third overall pick in the 2024 CFL Draft — but there’s a chance he doesn’t wear a green and white jersey anytime soon.
After starting his college career at North Dakota, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound Toronto native went on to play two seasons at Texas State University before finishing his college career at Boston College, where he started at left guard.
Hergel was the No. 4-ranked prospect on the CFL Scouting Bureau’s spring rankings, but it doesn’t appear he will be coming to the CFL immediately as he signed an undrafted free agent contract with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints following the NFL Draft on the weekend.
However, the 24-year-old is still grateful for the chance to be drafted by Saskatchewan and would certainly make the move to the CFL if the NFL doesn’t work out.
“I’m looking forward to getting down to New Orleans,” said Hergel. “Any opportunity is an opportunity and it’s kind of what you make of it.”
After linebacker Joel Dublanko went No. 1 to the Edmonton Elks and receiver Nick Mardner went No. 2 to the Ottawa Redblacks, Roughriders general manager Jeremy O’Day said the risk of selecting an NFL-calibre player like Hergel is worth the reward of him potentially coming to Saskatchewan.
“He’s got some flexibility to play all the spots in the interior offensive line,” O’Day told reporters on Tuesday night after making the pick. “Physical player; someone that started a little bit lower in Division 1 football and just kept getting bigger opportunities and every time he got the opportunity, he rose to the occasion.
“Obviously there is some risk involved that you’ve got to be willing to accept and we feel like the reward will pay for that if we get an opportunity to get him.”
While the NFL is top priority right now for Hergel, the CFL was certainly on his radar growing up in Ontario. Along with attending CFL games in Toronto and Hamilton, Hergel was also coached by four-time Grey Cup winning coach and executive Adam Rita in high school.
“We were able to be in that CFL system as young players and being able to do that, it’s been really cool,” said Hergel.
There was also a CFL connection — and a connection to the Roughriders — during Hergel’s first college stop in North Dakota.
“There was a strength coach we had in North Dakota by the name of Will Ratelle,” said Hergel. “And he played fullback actually for Saskatchewan (in 2017).
“He always told me that’s a place, Mosaic Stadium, where it gets really loud and they’ve got the best fans in the league.”
With the 12th overall pick in the second round, the Riders selected linebacker Nick Wiebe out of the University of Saskatchewan.
Like Hergel, Wiebe won’t be attending training camp this season as he is coming off a torn ACL suffered last season with the Huskies in the Hardy Cup playoffs.
“Again, someone we’ll have to wait a little while on, but we saw the benefit of him coming back from injury and we’re excited to get him,” said O’Day. “Some discussions obviously on the injury and whether he’d be good to go, and we feel like we’ve done enough work on his medical background and how he’s going with his injury.”
Last season, the Calgary product was named the Canada West defensive player of the year while also receiving all-star honours after leading the conference with 60.5 tackles while also adding one sack and one forced fumble. In 31 career games, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound linebacker has recorded 162 tackles.
After starting his college career with the University of Oregon where he played three seasons for the Ducks, Wiebe transferred to the U of S and was named a captain in his first season.
The Riders selected an offensive player in the third round as they drafted receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby with the 23rd overall pick.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound Bemidji State product was ranked No. 18 on the CFL Scouting Bureau spring rankings. In 47 career games with the Beavers, the Toronto product had 171 catches for 2,839 yards and 27 touchdowns.
In the fourth round, 32nd overall, the Riders selected linebacker Melique Straker.
The 5-foot-10, 183-pound Brampton, Ont. native was the 17th ranked prospect according to the CFL Scouting Bureau’s spring rankings after playing at Arkansas State University for the past three seasons.
In 33 career games with the Red Wolves, Straker racked up 216 tackles, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
In the fifth round, 41st overall, Saskatchewan selected offensive lineman Daniel Johnson.
The 6-foot-5, 307-pound London, Ont. product played college football at Purdue University and Kent State University but has been limited with injuries.
In the sixth round, 50th overall, the Riders shopped locally as they drafted Regina Rams receiver D’Sean Mimbs.
In 21 career games with the Rams, the son of former CFLer Robert Mimbs has racked up 1,205 receiving yards on 85 catches. Last year, he led Regina in receptions (30) and yards (460).
The Riders selected another receiver, their third of the night, in the seventh round as Saskatchewan drafted Ajou Ajou with the 59th overall pick.
The 6-foot-2, 211-pound Brooks, Alta. product played for Garden City Community College last season after previously suiting up for South Florida and Clemson.
And with their final pick of the draft, in the eighth round, the Riders drafted defensive back Richard Aduboffour with the 68th overall pick.
The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Toronto product has played 31 games over the last three seasons with the Western Mustangs.
In total, Saskatchewan drafted two offensive linemen, two linebackers, three receivers and a defensive back.
Sombach to the Stamps
With the 60th overall pick in the seventh round, the Calgary Stampeders selected Regina Rams defensive back Jackson Sombach.
The Regina product has played 25 games over the last five seasons with the Rams, racking up 74 tackles, 15 pass deflections and two interceptions.
CFL Global Draft
The CFL Global Draft was held on Tuesday morning with the Riders also holding the third overall pick.
And with their first choice, the Riders drafted Samoan defensive lineman Tyron Taleni. At No. 12 overall, the Green and White drafted Australian punter Jordy Sandy.
The 6-foot-2, 280-pound Taleni is coming off two seasons at the University of Southern California, where he racked up 36 tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble in 22 games as a Trojan. Prior to his time at USC, Taleni played two seasons at Kansas State.
After drafting punter Adam Korsak last year, the Riders added Sandy in this year’s draft.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is coming off a five-year career at TCU, where he punted 261 times over 61 career games for an average of 40.7 yards.
Riders add American defensive lineman
The Riders also added an American defensive lineman on Tuesday prior to the draft as the team signed Sidney Houston Jr.
The 6-foot-2, 246-pound Illinois native played the last two seasons at Ball State University, where he recorded 126 tackles and 12 sacks in 24 games. In his senior season, he led the Mid-American Conference in tackles for loss with 17 while being named a first-team All-MAC.
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