HARRIS, THURMAN EARN BACK-TO-BACK TEAM AWARD NOMINATIONS

The Saskatchewan Roughrider nominees for the 2026 CFL Awards have been announced with six Roughriders being recognized for their outstanding performances on the field: Quarterback Trevor Harris, linebackers Jameer Thurman and Melique Straker, receivers Kian Schaffer-Baker and Daniel Wiebe and offensive lineman Logan Ferland.  

In this first ballot, Football Reporters of Canada representatives from each CFL city plus the respective head coach submitted votes for the six categories. Voters were asked to select players from their local CFL club who, through on-field performance excellence, best represent the award titles.   

As part of a revamped awards process, every player who received a vote in a category has advanced to the final ballot for that CFL Award, which will be voted on by the same 36 local members of the FRC who determined team award winners, as well as 20 national members of the FRC, for a total of 56 votes. In place of the two traditional division award winners, three finalists for each category – regardless of division – will be named. 

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ team nominees are: 

*Denotes a unanimous selection   

TREVOR HARRIS 

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER 

Trevor Harris has earned the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Player nomination for the second straight year after putting together one of the best regular seasons by a quarterback in team history. He enters the final weekend with a league-high 5,370 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes. There are only three other instances of a Roughrider passing for 5,000-plus yards in a season. 

The 2025 Grey Cup MVP has thrown for 300 or more yards in nine games this season, including two outings with more than 400 yards. He has also thrown four touchdown passes in a game twice. Most recently, Harris connected with KeeSean Johnson for a 17-yard touchdown late in the game to give Saskatchewan a 16-12 win over Montreal and clinch a playoff berth. 

Harris is the first Roughrider to win back-to-back MOP nominations since Cody Fajardo in 2019 and 2021. Other Roughriders quarterbacks to win the nomination in consecutive years include Frank Tripucka (1957-58), Ron Lancaster (1972-73, 1976-77), Kent Austin (1990-92) and Darian Durant (2009-10). Harris is the 12th Roughrider, regardless of position, to win the award in at least two straight years. Austin (1990-92) and George Reed (1967-69) are the only players in team history to win three consecutive MOP awards. 

JAMEER THURMAN* 

MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER 

Jameer Thurman has been named the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the second straight year after another productive season anchoring Saskatchewan’s defence. The team captain ranks fifth in the CFL with 99 defensive tackles through 17 games, surpassing his previous career high of 97, set with Hamilton in 2023. Thurman has also recorded three sacks, five tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and two pass knockdowns. He has five or more defensive tackles in 13 games this season and has recorded 100 total tackles, including special teams. 

Thurman recorded a season-high nine defensive tackles and added a sack in Saturday’s 16-12 win over Montreal, helping the Roughriders clinch a playoff berth. His 99 defensive tackles put him within reach of becoming the latest Roughrider to record a 100-tackle season, a milestone reached just 12 times previously in franchise history. Thurman has been a key contributor to a Saskatchewan defence that has allowed an average of 27.3 points per game. 

With his second straight Most Outstanding Defensive Player award, Thurman becomes the first Roughrider to win the honour in consecutive years since Tyron Brackenridge in 2012 and 2013. Thurman is the seventh player in franchise history to earn the award in back-to-back seasons. 

KIAN SCHAFFER-BAKER 

MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN 

Kian Schaffer-Baker has been named the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Canadian after putting together the best season of his career. In just 11 games, he has caught 67 passes for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 91.5 receiving yards per game, third-best in the CFL. 

Schaffer-Baker has recorded four 100-yard games this season, including a career-high 185 receiving yards against Edmonton on July 23. He had multiple touchdown receptions in two games and caught at least five passes in seven games. His season-high 11 receptions came in Saskatchewan’s season-opening win over the B.C. Lions, when he also recorded 165 receiving yards. 

Schaffer-Baker’s 1,000 receiving yards in 11 games ties him for the second-fastest pace in Roughriders history. Entering Saturday’s regular-season finale against Edmonton, Schaffer-Baker needs one reception to match his career high of 68, set in 2022. It is Schaffer-Baker’s second time winning the nomination, following his first selection in 2022. He was also named the team’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 2021. 

LOGAN FERLAND 

MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN 

Logan Ferland has been named the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for the fourth time in five seasons, helping anchor a Roughriders offensive line that has allowed the second-fewest sacks in the CFL this season, with 24 through 17 games. The protection has helped Trevor Harris lead the league with 5,370 passing yards. Ferland has also played a key role at centre for short-yardage specialist Tommy Stevens, who has rushed for 15 touchdowns this season. 

Ferland recently played his 100th game with Saskatchewan after becoming a starter on the offensive line in 2021. Born in Saskatoon, he grew up in Kindersley and Melfort before moving to Regina to play for the Prairie Football Conference’s Regina Thunder. He spent his graduating year with the Thunder in 2019 on the Roughriders’ practice roster. Ferland was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2024. 

Ferland is the fifth Roughrider to be nominated at least four times, joining Roger Aldag (nine), Gene Makowsky (five), Jeremy O’Day (four) and Brendon LaBatte (four). 

DANIEL WIEBE 

MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE 

Daniel Wiebe has made the most of his opportunity with the Roughriders, earning the team’s Most Outstanding Rookie nomination after being selected in the eighth round of the 2025 CFL Draft. In 13 games, Wiebe has caught 20 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 15.8 yards per reception. He has also returned 19 punts for 230 yards, an average of 12.1 yards per return, while starting five games. 

Wiebe made an immediate impression in his CFL debut on June 26 against the Toronto Argonauts, recording his first catch, a 31-yard reception, and his first touchdown (on a 17-yard pass). He has recorded six catches in a game twice, including a season-high 88 receiving yards against the Calgary Stampeders on Oct. 2, when he also caught a touchdown pass. His longest reception of the season was a 72-yarder in the Labour Day Classic win over Winnipeg. He has also fielded 19 punts for 230 yards, including a 37-yard return on Aug. 7 against Ottawa. 

Born in Rosetown and raised on a farm near Herschel, Wiebe is the sixth Saskatchewan-born player to earn the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Rookie nomination and the first since Levi Steinhauer in 2013. Wiebe and Steinhauer are also the only University of Saskatchewan Huskies graduates to receive the honour. 

MELIQUE STRAKER 

MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER 

 Since being selected in the fourth round (32^nd overall) of the 2024 CFL Draft by the Roughriders, Melique Straker has quickly established himself as one of the CFL’s top special teams contributors. Through 17 games this season, he ranks third in the league with 21 special teams tackles, recording at least one in 14 games.  

Straker matched his career high with four special teams tackles in Saskatchewan’s 32-26 overtime victory over Winnipeg in the Labour Day Classic on Sept. 6. He first reached that mark on Aug. 3, 2024, against Edmonton. Straker has made his presence felt through his physical play and relentless effort, helping set the tone for Roughriders special teams units, that currently sit first in the league in kickoff returns (23.85-yard average) and opponent punt returns (11.1 yards), second in opponent kickoff returns (19.5 yards) and third in punt returns (13.3 yards).