Riders' Duncan-Busby wants to takeoff in sophomore year
Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby (18) runs the football against the Ottawa Redblacks during the second half of CFL football action in Regina, on Saturday, September 28, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu
With a full year now under his belt in the CFL, Saskatchewan Roughriders' receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby wants to follow in some his teammates' footsteps in his second season with the Riders.
Sam Emilus broke out in his second season back in 2023, to the tune of 70 receptions for 1,097 yards and six receiving touchdowns. Kian Schaffer-Baker enjoyed similar success in his sophomore year with the Riders in 2022, with 68 receptions for 960 yards and five touchdowns.
So, Duncan-Busby has two mentors on the squad that have been in his position before and enjoyed success.
'They come up to me all the time to help me out if I'm ever running something a little incorrectly or if they have a better way that they might do it, they'll tell me how they would do it if they were in my shoes. So, I mean it's definitely great to have guys like that around,' Duncan-Busby said.
Duncan-Busby told CTV News that he is still learning the intricacies of the professional game.
'I would say the physicality of the game, there was definitely times where I felt like I was a little slow getting to certain positions and I would end up getting outmatched in a way, just by being in the wrong spot. So, being more physical, being a little bit faster, being a little bit more assignment sound is what I'm focusing on this year.'
Riders' head coach Corey Mace believes that Duncan-Busby spending a chunk of time on the special teams unit in 2024 has helped his maturation process with the physical part of the game.
'As a pass-catcher, he had a hellacious college career, smooth route runner. Yeah man, I again, sophomore year, if that's the deal around that's been happening around here let's keep that rolling, we'll take that with Dhel,' he said.
Duncan-Busby and Mace are both heading into their second seasons with the green and white, and after a western final loss at the hand of the rival Bombers in 2024, the goal is clear this year.
'Our motto this year is we're on the clock. That just means that we're due, we're ready just to take that next step. Last year we came so close but so far at the same time, so now it's just cleaning up all the little things, and we're ready to rock, that's all I know,' Duncan-Busby said.
The first of many steps will come on Thursday night at home against the Ottawa Redblacks.
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