SASKATOON — It’s safe to say that University of Saskatchewan head coach Scott Flory has a pretty good idea of what it takes to crack a Canadian Football League roster.
Not only did the Regina product have a legendary 15-year Hall of Fame career in the league, he’s seen more than a few of his U Sports players move on to the professional ranks during his time with the Huskies.
Nine of the 10 Huskies currently playing in the CFL took the field under Flory’s tutelage including three current members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in defensive back Nelson Lokombo, linebacker Nick Wiebe and — perhaps most famous as of late — receiver Daniel Wiebe.
Flory joined Teagan Witko on The SportsCage recently to talk about the Huskies program and players moving on to the pro ranks, with the latter Wiebe one of the first topics of conversation.
That, of course, is because of his game-winning touchdown in the final moments of Saskatchewan’s second preseason win over Winnipeg, with the major coming in front of thousands of fans in Saskatoon at Wiebe’s old stomping grounds at Griffiths Stadium.
It was a special moment not only for Wiebe but also Flory, who saw the Rosetown-via-Herschel Saskatchewan product develop into an ultra-elite pass catcher in his time in Saskatoon.
“I mean, I remember recruiting that kid,” Flory said. “A small town kid that made his way into the city, that just relentless work ethic, desire, just everything about that kid is phenomenal.
Notepad, pen and paper every day, taking notes, just wants to get better. It felt like it was kind of set up there, they had the big plan and to finish off with Daniel is just, I mean, I'm so happy and so proud of that kid. Just an awesome, awesome young man.”
Lokombo is entering his fifth season with the Roughriders and, as Flory’s first recruit when he joined the Huskies, joins the Wiebes as a model of what players need to do to improve and develop while in school.
“I think the one thing is you got to know that you got to show up every day,” Flory explained. “Success today does not guarantee success tomorrow and you got to show up every day and ready to work and ready to get better.
“We compete a ton up here, he continued. “It's part of the DNA of our football culture here, of our football team and we just do it. We do it non-stop. And I think we do it in a positive way, but it gives a great opportunity for these young men to be able to show and perform… There's many years left on those guys and I think they'll make the Rider fans proud.”
Seeing as many Huskies grads make it to the next level is naturally a source of pride for Flory and his program.
“Our purpose is to win here, to win football games and to represent our program and all that kind of stuff,” he said. “But any guy that has an opportunity to go beyond, we want to do our best to help them go beyond. We're not in it for stats or for drafts and this and that. Any of our guys that get drafted or get the opportunity, they've earned it.
“We want nothing but success for these guys, be it at the next level, be it after football as well because football will end… We try to do it all with every aspect and facilities and coaching and environment and obviously the fan base, everything that goes on with football here in this province.”
Of course, for every player that does make it to the pro game, there are dozens who move on with their lives after their university career comes to a close. And sometimes, just having a chance to experience a CFL camp can be a highlight, if even just to get a taste of what it’s like at one of the highest levels of football.
“Even the guys that get to go and get to be a part of it, there's nothing really like it,” Flory said. “There's always an adjustment going from high school to college and then from college to pro, and as much as it’s the physical, it’s the mental. They're installing a ton of plays every day and you got to know what you're doing and then you got some guy yelling at you and everything’s filmed, everything you do. Being able to handle all of that and still be able to perform? It's not easy.”
And then there are players who simply decide that, in the end, football isn’t the career they want to pursue, even if they have a chance to go pro. Linebacker Seth Hundeby made that tough decision this spring when after winning the President’s Trophy as the top defensive player in all of U Sports in 2025, he informed the Roughriders that he planned to retire.
Flory supports that decision, as he does any time a former player moves on with their lives from the game.
“He's got a bright future ahead of him,” Flory said of Hundeby, who retired to focus on a professional opportunity through his engineering degree. “When I was coming out, I graduated with an engineering degree here from the U of S, but I wanted to play football and that was my path. I just want what's best for him and that's his path and I love him and support him and that's what he’s chosen… I'm all in on it.”
Flory also touched on the Huskies upcoming season and schedule and how things are shaping up for the U Sports campaign in the fall, and you can catch the full interview in the video below:
