Rob Vanstone: Rider Nation caught up in Draft day excitement
01/05/2024 21:40
There was a buzz … as in Busby.
Dhel Duncan-Busby, to be precise.
The Bemidji State receiving star was chosen by the Saskatchewan Roughriders shortly after the CFL team wrapped up a Tuesday night draft party to which season-ticket members were invited.
The end of the party — an event that attracted a spirited, standing-room-only crowd to Mosaic Stadium's Harvard Studio 620 Lounge — coincided with the conclusion of two hours of live coverage on TSN1.
As the crowd dispersed, the tension level was increasing in the Roughriders' Draft room.
From the moment Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O'Day notified the league that University of Saskatchewan Huskies linebacker Nick Wiebe would be a second-round pick (12th overall), fingers were crossed.
Initially, it seemed like a longshot, but O'Day, Assistant GM Kyle Carson and associates hoped Duncan-Busby would still be available when it was Saskatchewan's turn in the third round.
When CFL insiders conducted mock drafts, Duncan-Busby was a consensus second-round pick. It would not have been a stretch for someone to select him in Round 1.
This is someone, remember, who led the entire 2024 Draft pool in receiving yardage — 2,839, on 171 catches over four seasons and 47 games at Bemidji State.
His receptions count over the last three seasons: 49, 48, 49.
Yardage: 725, 896, 825.
He also caught 11 touchdown passes in 12 games last season for the Minnesota-based Bemidji State Beavers.
His draft year corresponded quite nicely with the Roughriders' interest in drafting a receiver.
At the same time, it was a priority to adhere to the rankings on a Draft board that was the product of more than a year's work.
With that in mind, the Roughriders chose Boston College offensive lineman Kyle Hergel third overall. Wiebe was selected nine picks later.
And then … the wait.
Complicating matters, there were two additional selections at the end of the second round — bonus picks that were awarded to the B.C. Lions (19th overall) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (20th) for the having the league's two highest totals of National snaps in 2023.
As a result, the Roughriders had to wait for 10 more players to be chosen before they could, hopefully, select Duncan-Busby.
"He was someone who we thought would be gone before then," said O'Day, who picked Arkansas State linebacker Melique Straker in the fourth round. "The same could be said of Straker.
"We liked them all, because we picked them. I'm sure that every team, as they go through the Draft, has guys that fall. There's always some surprises.
"The first couple of rounds were kind of what we had projected on the board as far as grades. There wasn't anything that was out of whack, at least with how we evaluated them compared to the other teams.
"But, after a certain round, it can go anywhere with evaluations."
Focusing on Round 3, the Roughriders knew exactly where they wanted it to go. At that point, though, all you can do is wait and hope.
"By the time you make your pick, you're already starting to think about the next pick," O'Day said.
"We end up talking pretty quickly about, 'Who's our next target?' Then you try to see whether other teams have the same priorities and whether they have already taken a player at that position.
"It's an anxious moment. You get guys who you hope will fall. I think we had a couple of them who were definitely surprises for us."
Talk about a surprise party!
It was that kind of night — with merriment all around.
At Mosaic Stadium, the festivities began at 5 p.m., when the doors opened for the second annual Draft Party.
Attendees were greeted by Gainer the Gopher, the Rider Pep Band and the Rider Cheer Team — the latter two groups performing under the umbrella of CKRM.
At 5:30, O'Day and first-year Head Coach Corey Mace were interviewed on-stage by the new voice of the Riders, Dave Thomas.
"Thank you for showing up today," Mace told the gathering shortly before heading to Draft Central. "This means a tremendous amount to us and the staff that's downstairs."
That comment elicited a boisterous round of applause. The appreciation was also heard a few seconds later, when O'Day invited the assembled season-ticket members to give Mace "a warm welcome to Saskatchewan."
With that, it was time to descend to the Football Operations area.
The Edmonton Elks opened the Draft at 6:12 p.m., by selecting linebacker Joel Dublanko.
The Ottawa REDBLACKS soon followed by choosing receiver Nick Mardner.
Then the Roughriders were on the clock … but not for long.
"All right, fellas, we're going with Kyle Hergel," O'Day told the group, which was well aware that the game-changer of an offensive lineman has signed with the NFL's New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.
"There's a little bit of a risk. We might not get him for a little while, but he's the best guy for us. If he comes up here, he's going to play for a long time in our league."
That is also the projection for Wiebe — a hard-hitting, 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker who should be available near mid-season after recovering from a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament.
If not for the injury, which was sustained Nov. 4 during a Canada West playoff game, Wiebe would have been a sure-fire first-round pick.
"He's the highest guy on our board," O'Day said moments before selecting Wiebe, "and we trust our board."
When the Roughriders next made a selection, it was 8:27 p.m. TSN was still providing in-depth coverage of the eight-round draft via its website and app.
The Roughriders made their final pick at 9:31 p.m., when Western University defensive back Richard Aduboffour was claimed 68th overall.
That being done, there were handshakes and hugs and fist-bumps all around in Draft Central.
Then, for one final time on Tuesday, O'Day met with reporters. It was the final formal obligation of a long day — one that included a Global Draft (beginning at 9 a.m.) and an opportunity to meet with the fans in the Studio 620 Lounge.
"Just comparing it to last year, it looked like it was three times the amount," he said of the Draft Party. "There was a warm welcome for our new Head Coach. The fans were out like they always are.
"It's nice that we're able to do something for the season-ticket holders and give them something fun to do on Draft day. Credit to our staff upstairs for putting that together.
"It's fun to go up there and answer some questions and try to get them fired up a little."
Mission accomplished.
"It looked awesome," President-CEO Craig Reynolds marvelled. "I guess we had over 230 people there, which was a substantial increase over last year — our first year trying it.
"We had some great giveaway prizes of autographed footballs and gift cards."
Overall, the fans were engaged — and not the least bit disappointed over the fact that the spectators greatly outnumbered the chairs.
"As Coach Mace said up there (while seated beside O'Day and Thomas), to have that many people for an off-season event to listen to Coach and J.O. is just awesome," Reynolds said.
"It's a tribute to our season-ticket members."
