Roughriders' Charbel Dabire eager to tackle 2025 season
12/12/2024 11:38 PM
Charbel Dabire's quickness was evident when he registered a career-best two sacks for the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 23 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The year before, he returned a kickoff 20 yards — no small feat for a 6-foot-1, 300-pound defensive lineman.
Dabire's tendency toward a brisk pace extends to the current off-season. He is among the first players to re-sign with the Roughriders for 2025, as opposed to testing CFL free agency in February.
"It was a priority because I wasn't happy with how my season ended so early last season," says Dabire, who was sidelined for the final 14 games.
"I was feeling amazing prior to my knee injury, and that was due to the work I put in with Coach Mace, Coach Phil, and the rest of the defensive staff.
"That's why I'm so happy I was able to sign back so quickly. I can focus on coming back healthy, stronger and faster."
Dabire enjoyed a strong start as the resurgent Roughriders employed a largely new staff that included Head Coach/Defensive Co-ordinator Corey Mace and Defensive Line Coach Phillip Daniels.
"I thought we had such a great group of guys this past year," Dabire says.
"Even though it was the first year with this coaching staff, there was such a shift in the culture and mindset of the team. It was an 'all for one' attitude with a 'next man up' mentality.
"I'm excited to get back to work with this group, fix the little kinks, and get back to dominating."
Hence the personal and team goals for 2025:
• "Making the All-CFL team."
• "Recording at least eight sacks."
• "Earning a starting defensive tackle spot."
• "Being the top defensive unit in yards allowed, especially against the run."
• "Leading the league in sacks as a unit."
• "Winning the Grey Cup."
That has been Dabire's objective since being selected by Saskatchewan in the fifth round (44th overall) of the 2019 CFL Draft out of Wagner College, which is based in Staten Island, N.Y.
Long snapper Jorgen Hus, fullback Albert Awachie, kicker Brett Lauther, offensive lineman Philip Blake and defensive tackle Micah Johnson are the only current members of the Roughriders who played in at least one game with the Club during Dabire's rookie season.
"In some ways, it doesn't feel like I've been playing that long," reflects Dabire, who turns 28 on Jan. 15. "In other ways, it feels like I've always been here.
"It doesn't feel like that long because I'm always learning new things about the game from people who've been playing twice as long as I have.
"I still get nervous before games and I feel like I have so much more to learn and accomplish. But at the same time, being a Rider for this long makes it feel like family.
"It feels like I've known everyone here — teammates, staff and fans — for years. That's a testament to how great Rider Nation is."
The fans revelled in Dabire's performance on June 23, when he had two sacks and his first career forced fumble in a 36-20 home-field victory over Hamilton.
He was injured the following week, during a July 4 victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts — a result that enabled Saskatchewan to begin the season with four victories in succession.
Overall, the Roughriders posted a 9-8-1 record, finished second in the West Division, and earned a home playoff game they ultimately won.
After being forced to watch from the sideline for most of the season, Dabire is looking forward to once again contributing on the field.
"It was definitely unfortunate how early my season ended," he says. "I was feeling great and learning so much from the other vets and the new coaching staff.
"I got off to a strong start and, with the players we had, there's no telling how great of a year it could have been (personally).
"That said, I don't like to dwell on hypotheticals. My focus is on the future. I believe my best is yet to come and I'm excited to come back healthy, stronger and faster."
