One of the mainstays of the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive line is hoping that his best days as a member of the green and white are still ahead.
Charbel Dabire has already spent three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, even though the defensive tackle is only 25 years old.
Dabire originally joined the green and white in 2019 after spending time at the Seattle Seahawks training camp.
Back in the 2019 CFL Draft, the Riders selected Dabire in the 5th round with the 44th pick overall. Since that time, he has played 33 games with Saskatchewan.
It has been a unique journey for Dabire, he was born in Burkina Faso before moving to Toronto at a young age. After starting his high school football career in Toronto, he would then transfer to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Dabire would spend his first season of college football with the New Mexico Military Institute junior college before transferring to Wagner College in western New York.
The 2022 season has proven to be a career season for Dabire, so far he has picked up two sacks and has collected seven tackles, one shy of a career high that he set last season.
Last Friday’s game against Edmonton was a solid outing for the defensive tackle which included a sack.
Along with achieving success on the field, Dabire has also found made great strides off the field.
Heading into the 2021 season, the Riders defensive tackle weighed about 330 lbs. Since then, Dabire has dropped a significant amount of weight as he is now under the 300 lbs. He has noticed the health benefits from the weight loss this season.
“I feel like the back is doing great, the knees are feeling good, even with the MCL that’s feeling better, but I feel much healthier, faster, springy, it’s nice. ”
Before the season, the 25 year old was hoping to record five sacks this season, he also mentioned that one of the goals for the defence each week is to hold opposing teams to around 50 yards rushing per game.
“Obviously I got the team goals, but I definitely got individual goals for myself, main thing is always playing better than I did last year, getting more sacks, I’m trying to get five sacks this season.” Dabire added “If everybody has those types of individual goals that helps the team get to that level where everybody is doing their job and winning.”
Dabire and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are currently on their bye week, the green and white return to action next Friday in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers.
