Two west-central Saskatchewan born players, Eatonia's John Stevens on the defensive line and Rosetown's Daniel Wiebe at receiver, managed to make their fair share of headlines this spring during training camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
During our chat with Roughriders offensive lineman Logan Ferland last week, he gave his thoughts on the local talent strictly from their work on the practice field.
Ferland first talked about the Saskatoon Hilltops star Stevens, becoming well known to the Roughriders trenches, just like Ferland when he was a junior.
"He's doing well. He's a very hard worker. That's what I see in John." began Ferland. "See a lot of myself when I was first coming up in the ranks. All the extra stuff I would work on after practice, especially in camp. I saw him doing the lonely work when no one else was around and I notice when I am leaving meetings that he is still working on different things on the field alone."
For Ferland, who had the luxury of practicing with the Riders full time as a member of the Regina Thunder, he can see the same level of passion for the player from his CJFL rival club.
"That's really what I see, is a really hard worker. He is very grateful for the opportunity he has and is making the most of it."
Moving on to Wiebe, the thing that stood out the most for Ferland was Wiebe's prairie grit that he too tries to bring to the field every single day.
"He's a grinder. Just works his butt off, and it shows," said Ferland about the University of Saskatchewan product. " Kind of your typical small town Sask. story. We all know how to work, and that is very apparent."
Wiebe's scouting report screams Weston Dressler clone, and Ferland hopes to see him get another chance next year after being added to the team's "retired" list prior to the season.
"Especially in the pre-season game, watching how many (yards after the catch) he was getting. Very impressive on what he is able to do, how quick he is and how shifty he is out there, and how tough he is. How hard he works is contagious, and it's going to continue to show up hopefully next year when he is here once again."
Ferland and the Roughriders are in Toronto to face the defending champion Argonauts on Friday Night Football. Entering Week 3 the Roughriders are 2-0, the Argos still seeking their first win currently at 0-2.