Rosetown to Riderville: Daniel Wiebe is a Saskatchewan success story
Rob Vanstone
Only three of the 26 eighth-round draft picks in franchise history have gone on to suit up for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the regular season.
One of the rare exceptions, Daniel Wiebe, didn’t just leave it at that.
On Thursday, the former University of Saskatchewan Huskies star was named the Roughriders’ Most Outstanding Rookie for 2026.
The 5-foot-9, 185-pounder — selected 69th overall in the 2025 CFL Canadian Draft — has 20 receptions for 315 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games for his home-province team. He has started in five of those contests.
As well, Wiebe has averaged 12.1 yards on 19 punt returns.
Since the Most Outstanding Rookie award was first presented in 1972, six Saskatchewan-born players have earned the team’s nomination — Lorne Richardson (from Moose Jaw; 1973), Ken McEachern (Regina; 1974), Mark Urness (Regina 1985), Terry Cochrane (Regina; 1987), Levi Steinhauer (Moose Jaw; 2013) and, now, Wiebe.
“It means so much,” said Wiebe, 23, who was born in Rosetown and grew up on the family farm near Herschel.
“My family and all my friends are really close, so it has been awesome. The support from everyone has been absolutely crazy. I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
“To do it in the home province and play for the Riders, it’s a dream come true.”
After debuting in the high school ranks with the Rosetown Royals, for whom he played six- and nine-a-side football, he joined the Saskatoon Holy Cross Crusaders and continued to excel. He subsequently dominated at the university level.
The fourth-last player drafted in 2025, Wiebe attended his first CFL training camp in the spring of that year before returning to the Huskies and being named the top player in Canada West.
The tone was set for 2026 when Wiebe caught the game-winning touchdown pass with 42 seconds left in a pre-season game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 30 on the Huskies’ home field, Griffiths Stadium.
Wiebe made his regular-season debut in fine style on June 26 against the Toronto Argonauts at Mosaic Stadium.
His first CFL reception produced a 31-yard gain.
His second catch was a 17-yard TD connection with Trevor Harris.
Since then, Wiebe has added several more chapters to the success story.
“I’m super proud,” he said. “We’ve still got lots of work to do. We’ve got a Grey Cup to win but, just to sit back and appreciate that, it does mean a lot.
“That belief all the way through that I’m meant to be in here has helped me, along with being present. I’m trying to learn from every little mistake and grow from all the good things, too.”
Wiebe has joined punter/kicker Mike Vanderjagt (chosen 58th overall in 1992) and receiver Joshua Stanford (62nd, 2016) in an exclusive fraternity that consists of eighth-round Roughriders active-roster players.
Now he is part of an esteemed sextet — the Roughriders’ 2026 award winners — that also includes …
TREVOR HARRIS: Most Outstanding Player
Harris, the 2025 Grey Cup MVP, has received the team’s MOP nomination for the second year in a row.
“It’s an honour,” Harris said. “I’m not too concerned about (awards). I always want to make sure I’m doing the best that I can to lead this team and be the best quarterback I can for this organization and this province.
“It’s something I don’t take lightly, so I’m very, very thankful and grateful. Praise to Jesus and also to my teammates.”
After 17 games, Harris leads the CFL in passing yards (5,370). With 32 touchdown passes, he sports the second-highest total in franchise history. Kent Austin threw for 35 scores in 1992.
KIAN SCHAFFER-BAKER: Most Outstanding Canadian
Like Harris, Schaffer-Baker is a second-time recipient of the award he received on Thursday. He was previously recognized as the Roughriders’ top Canadian in 2022.
In only 11 games this season, Schaffer-Baker has amassed a career-best 1,006 receiving yards. He needs one more catch to equal his career high of 68, set in 2022.
“The first thing that comes to my mind is that the job’s not finished,” Schaffer-Baker said. “There’s still a lot more on the plate for us to go out there and take.”
The Roughriders are to return to action on Saturday against the visiting Edmonton Elks in the CFL’s regular-season finale.
A victory would give Saskatchewan (9-8) third place in the West Division and a first-round playoff date with the host B.C. Lions on Oct. 31.
In the event of a loss, the defending Grey Cup champions will be fourth in the West and cross over into the East Division for an opening-round road game against the Toronto Argonauts.
JAMEER THURMAN: Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Another second-time winner! Thurman earned the Roughriders’ MODP award last season. This time around, he was a unanimous choice.
“I’m very thankful and appreciative of the honour,” the veteran middle linebacker said. “I guess it shows the work that I put in each and every week. At the same time, I wouldn’t be here without the guys on the team pushing me every single week to be who I am.”
With a career-high 99 defensive tackles, he is poised to reach 100 — a total a Roughrider has achieved only 12 times.
Thurman has picked up where he left off on Nov. 16, 2025, when he recorded a career-best 11 defensive tackles in Saskatchewan’s 25-17 Grey Cup victory over the Montreal Alouettes.
He had nine tackles and one sack on Saturday to help the Roughriders defeat the visiting Alouettes 16-12 and clinch a playoff berth.
LOGAN FERLAND: Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman
Although Ferland is not a back-to-back winner, he has more than a passing familiarity with the award. He has now won it four times in a span of five seasons.
Ferland was recognized as the West Division’s top offensive lineman in 2024. Teammate Jermarcus Hardrick received that honour in 2025 and, for good measure, captured league honours.
“I’m very honoured, very grateful, but there are a lot of guys who are very deserving of this award,” Ferland said. “It really is a team award on the offensive line. No guy can win this without the help of the other guys beside him, so it really goes out to those guys.”
MELIQUE STRAKER: Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
Straker is third in the CFL in special teams tackles (21). He trails Calgary Stampeders teammates Jesulayomi Ojutalayo (26) and Kelon Thomas (22).
The third-year Roughriders linebacker ascended into the upper echelon by registering seven special teams stops in a two-game span, covering late August and early September. Now he is a first-time award recipient.
“It’s real when you are who you think you are,” Straker said. “I think that’s the best way that I can put. Being noticed in that way is cool and it’s nice, but it just lines up with how I see myself. I see myself as the best. With the fact that it lines up on the stats sheet and with how I’m viewed by my peers and my coaches and other people around the league, it’s awesome.”