Offensive Lineman Kyle Hergel, Usask Alum Nick Wiebe Headline Riders 2024 Draft Selections

01/05/2024 16:01

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have selected eight talented football players in the 2024 CFL Draft:

• Kyle Hergel (OL – Boston College) – 1st round, 3rd overall
• Nick Wiebe (LB – Saskatchewan) – 2nd round, 12th overall
• Dhel Duncan-Busby (WR – Bemidji State) – 3rd round, 23rd overall
• Melique Straker (LB – Arkansas State) – 4th round, 32nd overall
• Daniel Johsnon (OL – Purdue) – 5th round, 41st overall
• D'Sean Mimbs (WR – Regina) – 6th round, 50th overall
• Ajou Ajou (WR – Garden City Community College) 7th round, 59th overall
• Richard Aduboffour (DB – Western) – 8th round, 68th overall

Hergel (6'2-300) spent 2023 with Boston College, playing in 13 games. The former Eagle had the best PFF pass block grade at Boston College (86.6), allowing no sacks and just two quarterback hits on 402 dropbacks. He was an All-ACC Honourable Mention and was invited to participate in the 2024-East-West Shrine Bowl.

Hergel played two seasons with Texas State University (2021-22), starting in all 24 games he played as a Bobcat. He was named Third Team All-Sun Belt and PFF First Team All-Sun Belt in 2022, and PFF Second Team All-Sun Belt in 2021.

Prior to Texas State, the Toronto native, played at the University of North Dakota, starting in 17 games. He was named the FCS Independent Newcomer of the Year in 2019.

Hergel was signed as an undrafted free agent by New Orleans Saints following the 2024 NFL Draft.

Wiebe (6'1-207) spent three seasons (2021-2023) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) where he suited up for 31 games with the Huskies. He registered 199 defensive tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and one pass deflection. In his final season with the Huskies, Wiebe led the Canada West conference with 77 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble. His stellar 2023 season earned him a Canada West All-Star distinction and the 2023 USask Kent Phillips trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding male athlete. He also played in the 2023 East-West Bowl.

Before joining the Huskies, Wiebe spent three seasons with the Oregon Ducks (2018-2020), where he played four games and made eight tackles. In 2020, he was named the Ducks Special Teams Player of the Year.

Duncan-Busby (6'1-207) spent five seasons (2018-23) at Bemidji State University where he suited up for 47 games with the Beavers. Over that time, he made 171 receptions for 2,839 yards and 27 touchdowns. Duncan-Busby had a career-high senior season, tying his previous high of 49 passes for 825 yards and setting a new career mark of 11 touchdowns. His standout play earned him First-Team All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) honours and D2CCA All-Super Region 4 Second Team. Busby was also named All-NSIC North First Team in 2022.

Straker (5'10-210) spent the past three seasons (2021-23) at Arkansas State, playing in 33 games and tallying consistently strong stats as a Red Wolf all three years. In total, he registered 216 defensive tackles, 18 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, two pass deflections and two forced fumbles. He earned his first career touchdown in 2023, when he returned an interception 87 yards. The versatile defensive player spent time as both a linebacker and safety over his time in Arkansas.

Prior to Arkansas State, Straker spent one season at Carleton, suiting up for seven games. He recorded seven tackles on defence and returned three kickoffs and three punts on special teams.

Johnson (6'5-307) spent the past two seasons (2022-23) at Purdue University where he played 10 games for the Boilermakers and made four starts. Johnson had a solid senior season allowing just eight quarterback hurries, one hit and one sack. The London, Ontario native proved his versatility having lined up as an offensive tackle on both the right and left side of the line and after a strong senior season, he participated in the 2024 College Gridiron Showcase All-Star Game.

Prior to attending Purdue he spent four seasons at Kent State University. He played 13 games and made six starts.

Johnson has been invited to attend rookie mini-camp with the Indianapolis Colts.

Mimbs (6'1-180) spent the past three seasons with the University of Regina (2020-23) where he played 23 games for the Rams. Over that time, the Regina native recorded 89 receptions for 1,236 yards and eight touchdowns. The receiver had a notable 2023 season where he led the Rams in both Receptions (30) and receiving yards (480). After his standout 2023 season with the Rams, Mimbs was invited to participate in the East-West Bowl.

In 2021, he started all six Canada West games for the Rams and led the team in both receiving yards (288) and touchdown catches (5). That same year, Mimbs set a program record for most touchdown catches in a season by a first-year player and was named the University of Regina's Male Rookie of the Year.

Ajou Ajou (6'2-211) played the past season (2023) at Garden City Community College (GCCC) where he suited up for seven games with the Broncbusters. He hauled in 17 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

Ajou began his college football career at Clemson (2020-22) where he played 22 games, making eight receptions for 114 yards and recording one touchdown. Ajou also attended South Florida University in 2022. He played one game before missing the rest of the season due to injury.

Aduboffour (6'3-220) spent the last three seasons at Western University where he played 31 games with the Mustangs, recording 51 tackles, 3 interceptions, 15 pass deflections and one forced fumble. As a senior, Aduboffour set career highs in tackles (23), interceptions (2) and pass deflections (9). His two interceptions ranked him fifth in Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Aduboffour was an OUA All-Star cornerback in 2022 and 2023 and attended the 2023 East-West Bowl.