One of the items that were on the Saskatchewan Roughriders shopping list this off-season was to find a deep threat at the receiver position.
Last week, the green and white hoped they filled that vacancy with the signing of receiver of Shawn Bane Jr.
He joined the SportsCage on Friday with Brendan McGuire and Sean Kleisinger to discuss the move.
Bane Jr. is a Roughrider after spending his first two seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders.
The receiver felt towards the end of his tenure with the Stampeders that his time with Calgary was about to come to an end.
“I mean they spoke of things about bringing me back but they seemed too skeptical.”
Even with his blazing speed, Bane Jr. was in a crowded receiver room last season with the Stampeders which included Reggie Begelton, Malik Henry, Kamar Jordan, Luther Hakunavanhu, Richard Sindani and Jalen Philpot. The former Stampeder said Calgary did a great job of recruiting talent.
“You can’t put them all on the field with the numbers and the ratio.”
The 27-year-old said he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity that comes with free agency.
“I understand with this game you only have a short window to be in your prime.”
Last season, Bane Jr. had 21 receptions for 288 receiving yards. The majority of the receiver’s production happened over a pair of games. On August 13 he had five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown against the BC Lions. The following week he had a career game against the Toronto Argonauts with four receptions with 129 receiving yards.
After donning the Stampeders red and white for his first two seasons in the CFL, Bane Jr. is looking forward to switching his threads to green and white. Those were the colours he wore when he played collegiately with the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats.
After catching passes from Jake Maier and Bo-Levi Mitchell during his time with the Stampeders, the receiver will now have Trevor Harris throwing to him in 2023. It didn’t take the quarterback long to contact his teammate which left the Sarasota, Florida native excited for the season.
The receiver spot may have some question marks for Saskatchewan, but one position that is full depth is at returner. Mario Alford was named the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player after he was traded to Saskatchewan. Running backs Jamal Morrow and Frankie Hickson also have experience returning kicks for the green and white. But the addition of Bane Jr. adds another weapon at the Riders disposal for their special teams. He has experience returning kicks and punts with the Stampeders and says it’s something he has already discussed with the Roughriders.
“They definitely want me back there, were going to do some two-man things with me and Mario (Alford). ”
After a limited role in his first two seasons, Bane Jr. is looking to the next step, a full-time role in Saskatchewan.
