Riley (#55) in action with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. (Facebook/Darren Steinke)

By Mat Barrett

Staying in Saskatchewan

‘Seems surreal’: Roughriders select Melfort’s Mattland Riley in first round of CFL Draft

May 1, 2020 | 12:00 PM

The Saskatchewan Roughriders decided to stay in Sask with their first-round pick in the Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft on Thursday, April 30.

With the seventh overall pick in the draft, the Riders took Melfort native Mattland Riley. The 6 foot 3, 300 pound offensive lineman said he was watching the draft when he found out he was going to be a Saskatchewan Roughrider.

“It’s kind of funny because our video was lagging while we were talking to my parents over a Zoom call,” Riley told northeastNOW. “And they all started cheering, and me and my wife were kind of confused, then we finally heard it too. Obviously just really excited to join such a great organization, and it just kind of all seems surreal.”

Riley said he had no idea where he would be going in the draft. It was likely to be somewhere in the first three rounds, but Riley called it a very deep draft for an offensive lineman. He said it’s an honour to be part of the team in his home province.

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“Every small town Saskatchewan kid watches the Roughriders when they’re growing up,” Riley said. “And just dreams of having an opportunity one day.”

He added that he could’ve never dreamed of being a CFL player when he started playing football in Melfort in grade nine with the Comets high school program. Riley said going into your first year, it’s just a matter of making the team.

“It was always a dream of course to become a professional football player,” he said. “But, back then there’s so much that had to happen.”

After his four years of starting with the Comets, Riley went on to star for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. In 2018 and 2019, Riley was named a Canada West All-Star, and was even named to the U-Sports All-Canadian First team in 2019. He was also a major piece in the Huskies Hardy Cup win in 2018.

Dave Rogers is the Head Coach of the Comets program and also coached Riley. Rogers said seeing Riley become a CFLer is not all that surprising.

“You watch the body of work that he put together at that level with the Huskies,” Rogers said. “And his dedication to the weight room and his team, he just checks all the boxes.”

Rogers said the leadership Riley shows also plays a major part in his value as a football player. Describing himself as a football player, Riley said as an offensive lineman he plays hard.

“I’m a smart player, I like to think so at least,” Riley joked. “I like playing aggressive. I like playing mean, and finishing my blocks.”

Rogers had an even simpler description of Riley on the football field.

“He is the kindest man you will ever meet, not on the football field,” _{-Dave Rogers, Melfort Comets Head Coach}

Meanwhile, Roughriders fans all over social media were seen congratulating Riley and the Roughriders on their new partnership. Riley said the support has been great, from his friends and family to numerous others across the province.

“My phone’s been going off with just people congratulating me, over Facebook as well,” he said. “It’s just really fantastic and it just shows how tight-knit the Saskatchewan community is.”

It’s not just Riley that’s representing Melfort with the Saskatchewan Roughriders either. In November of 2019, offensive lineman Logan Ferland signed with the Riders after a few years in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). Riley and Ferland were teammates back in high school with the Comets program.

“It’s kind of a dream to see them,” coach Rogers told northeastNOW. “You hope that the players that you see play for you are going to have tremendous football opportunities. It’s a great credit to those two young guys who basically took what we taught them, applied it, and then worked really really hard themselves to acheive where they wanted to be and where they are now with the Riders.”

Riley said he has had some conversations with Ferland since getting drafted and both are excited to be teammates once again.

Rogers added that seeing two former Comets with the Riders now is going to be a great thing for their program. Adding Riley and Ferland to and offensive line that features two other Saskatchewan natives in Brendon Labatte and Dan Clark is another great thing for Saskatchewan football according to Rogers.

“It gives you that idea that if you are from Saskatchewan, you work hard, you put the time in, you’re dedicated to the weight room and you show exceptional leadership and dedication,” he said. “Then you can get to the pros.”

Riley isn’t the first Melfort native drafted to the CFL in the 2000’s either, but he is the highest as Glenn Carson was drafted 21st overall in 2001.

As for what’s next for Riley, it’s business as usual when it comes to preparation, even with the uncertainty surrounding sports in general. He said he’ll prepare like there is going to be a season.

“I think there will be, I hope there will be [a season],” Riley said. “So, I’m just continuing to train and just working as hard as I can and using some of this extra time to the best of my abilities.”

Riley’s University of Saskatchewan teammate and fellow offensive lineman Nicholas Summach was also drafted. He went in the seventh round to Edmonton.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6