SASKATOON —Until May 11th, Marcus Sayles had more All-CFL selections than training camps as a Saskatchewan Roughrider.
After signing with the Green and White on June 4th of last year, the veteran cornerback registered four interceptions to tie a career best. His sights are set even higher now that he is with the team from the outset of camp.
“I’m excited to be here and I’m excited to get a head-start on the playbook,” Sayles said after Monday’s Coors Light Training Camp session at Griffiths Stadium.
“Even though we’re doing the same stuff we did last year, it feels good getting ahead of the curve and just being able to spread my information, spread my experience, with other guys. I think we’re going to be at a higher level by the time we hit our first game.”
Sayles played his first game as a Roughrider only 12 days after signing with the team. He was quickly snapped up by Saskatchewan after being surprisingly released by the B.C. Lions following the pre-season.
He went on to intercept four passes and equal a personal best he had set with B.C. two years earlier. He was an All-CFL selection in both seasons.
Sayles had been eligible to test free agency on Feb. 11th but opted to re-sign with the Roughriders six days earlier.
Also of note during an eventful off-season: Sayles and his wife, Chantelle, celebrated the arrival of their first child — a daughter, Nova — in April.
“I love every part of it,” the always-smiling Sayles said. “I love becoming a dad, I love becoming a husband, and I love every part of being here for training camp.
“It’s all going to pay off at the end of the season. All the love and support that we’re going to have, it’s all going to mean something at the end of the day.”
Near the start of training camp, the 5-foot-8, 180-pounder turned heads by soaring to make an interception that did not seem possible when the pass was thrown. Then he swooped in and demonstrated a vertical leap that has been measured as high as 40 inches. The ball was caught at the apex of his jump.
“I’m here to work,” said Sayles, 30. “I had a great off-season and I did everything I can to prepare my body to be able to make plays like that.
“This is just a testament to all the work we put in during the off-season. That’s why we’re going to be ready by our Game 1.
“It’s not just me. It’s everybody. Everybody’s making plays out here, so we’re going to be ahead of the curve, for sure.”
MONDAY HIGHLIGHTS
Certainly not the weather. Cloudy, chilly and rainy.
“I honestly didn’t think we had our best practice,” Head Coach Corey Mace told shivering reporters, “but we talked about looking at this as an investment opportunity for us.
“All the important games, specifically where we play at, are going to be (in conditions) like this or worse (late in the season).
“That was the main thing we were looking for today. I didn’t quite think we met the standards but with this group of guys, I know what the response will be.”
Despite the weather and the critique by Mace, there were some high points during Monday’s practice.
“I want to give Dohnte Meyers a shout-out,” Mace said of the second-year Roughriders receiver. “He has been having an excellent, excellent camp.”
Some other notes from the seventh day of main camp:
• Trevor Harris went over the top for a 40-yard TD pass, delivering a rope to Samuel Emilus near the goal line.
• Harris, Jake Maier, Tommy Stevens and Jack Coan combined to complete 10 of 15 passes during a 12-on-12 session. Stevens found Brayden Misseri for a long completion near the goal line.
• Jaxon Ford and Phalen Sanford collaborated on an interception. Ford tipped the football away from the intended receiver and Sanford alertly made the pick.
• Defensive end Malik Carney was a consistent presence.
