Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach Corey Mace knew first-year American receiver KeeSean Johnson had head top catch ability.
Johnson showed off his hops by jumping over Edmonton Elks’ defensive back Devodric Bynum for a 28-yard, game-winning touchdown catch at Commonwealth Stadium in Week 18.
“The one he got was a heck of a play. If you watch his tape through college that’s a routine play for him,” Mace said.
“I was about to reset to my backside concept and I saw his positioning, I thought I’m going to put this in a spot for him to get a rebound,” Trevor Harris said. “I felt like we had a size mismatch, I put it in a spot where I felt like he could get a rebound off the rim.”
“It was a play that was needed in the game for us. Trevor having the confidence, throwing the ball up in the air and giving me a chance, that’s what felt the best,” Johnson said. “As a football player and competitor, those are plays that you want to make against whoever it is out there.”
That TD grab was Johnson’s fifth in his last seven games, each one coming since Trevor Harris was activated from the six-game injured list in Week 11. He’s averaging over five receptions and 74.5 receiving yards per game during this stretch with two-straight 110-yard performances.
“Catches everything, very smooth in his routes, plays the ball well with good body control,” Harris said. “He makes the game look easy.”
The six-foot-one, 201-pound pass catcher signed with the Riders in February after earning over $2 million USD in the NFL. He was selected in the sixth round, 174th overall during the 2019 NFL Draft. The Palo Alto, California native made 36 receptions for 360 yards and one touchdown during 18 games over two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
Johnson left Fresno State University as the Bulldogs all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards, ranking above NFL star Davante Adams in those categories during his time on campus. He recorded 275 catches for 3,463 yards with 24 touchdowns in 53 games played, including 95 grabs for 1,340 yards and eight touchdowns on his senior season.
Meanwhile, Harris and Johnson aim to keep it going on Saturday afternoon at Mosaic Stadium against the B.C. Lions. Countdown to Kick-off begins with a chance to watch Justin Dunk and Wes Cates live at 2 p.m. on YouTube. Luc Mullinder and I join at 4 p.m. with the kick-off to follow at 5 p.m. on the Co-operators Roughrider Radio Network.
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