Fresh off a flawless performance on the biggest stage in Canadian football, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have locked up their Most Valuable Canadian from the 112th Grey Cup, re-signing star receiver Samuel Emilus to a two-year contract extension.
The Montreal native authored a Grey Cup performance for the ages, hauling in 10 receptions on 10 targets for 108 yards, the most receiving yards ever by a Roughrider in a championship game. He was relentless after the catch, piling up 58 YAC and averaging 10.8 yards per grab, helping Saskatchewan secure its fifth Grey Cup title and earning himself top Canadian honours in the process.
Despite appearing in just seven regular-season games in 2025, the 28-year-old was a difference-maker every time he stepped on the field. He finished the year with 37 receptions for 588 yards, scored twice, and topped the 100-yard mark three times. When the Riders needed him most in the West Final, Emilus answered with nine catches for 100 yards, leading all Saskatchewan receivers.
A first-round pick (seventh overall) in the 2022 CFL Draft, Emilus has been a Roughrider from day one and continues to rewrite the Canadian receiver record book. In just his second season, he became the fastest Canadian receiver in franchise history to hit 1,000 yards, eclipsing a mark previously held by Ray Elgaard. He’s now one of just five Canadian receivers in Riders history to post a 1,000-yard season, joining Plaza of Honour legends Elgaard, Jeff Fairholm, Chris Getzlaf and Andy Fantuz.
Through 57 career games, Emilus has totalled 204 receptions for 2,914 yards, including 999 yards after the catch, along with 13 touchdowns. He’s averaged 14.3 yards per reception, delivered back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024, and if not for injury in 2025, was tracking toward a 1,500-yard campaign.
His three highest single-game reception totals have all come in the playoffs — 10 in the 2025 Grey Cup, nine in the 2024 West Semi-Final, and nine in the 2025 West Final. Two of his 10 career 100-yard games have also come in the postseason, further cementing his reputation as a go-to target when it matters most.
Before becoming a cornerstone in Saskatchewan, Emilus honed his craft in the NCAA, finishing his collegiate career at Louisiana Tech, where he contributed as both a receiver and returner. He previously spent three seasons at UMass, showcasing the versatility that now defines his pro game.
