The Saskatchewan Roughriders' special teams unit is experiencing a significant transformation as they head into the 2026 CFL season. With the departure of key veterans like kicker Brett Lauther, long snapper Jorgen Hus, and return specialist Mario Alford, the team is relying on a new group of players to fill these crucial roles. Special teams coordinator Kent Maugeri admitted that he is still learning the names of his new charges during the early days of training camp at Saskatoon's Griffiths Stadium.
A New Era for Special Teams
Maugeri, who has been with the Roughriders since 2016 and took over special teams in 2022, previously enjoyed the stability of having Alford, Hus, and Lauther as constants. However, Hus retired after a decade with the team, Alford was not re-signed after a decline in performance and later joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Lauther was waived after his field-goal accuracy dropped to 72 percent, eventually signing with the Ottawa Redblacks.
“Every year there’s competition, but when you have three Hall of Fame-type veterans it’s hard that anybody’s gonna come in and beat them out,” Maugeri said. “They’re just so seasoned. Now they don’t even know where to go for lunch, let alone where they go after practice!”
New Faces in Key Positions
The punting duties are now in the hands of Jesse Mirco, who replaced Joe Couch late in the 2025 season and averaged 47.4 yards per punt in 28 attempts. Mirco has upgraded his jersey number from 74 to 15 for the upcoming season. Oscar Chapman, wearing 74, is the other punter in camp.
Michael Hughes, who appeared in one game last season, and fellow American Jonathan Kim are competing for the kicking job. Hughes emphasized the professional atmosphere among the group. “It’s definitely a good group. It’s not personal, it’s business. We know this is a professional sports organization and we have to come out and do our job,” he said.
Long Snapping and Returns
To replace Hus at long snapper, the Roughriders have brought in Canadian Aaron Crawford, a 39-year-old veteran of 15 CFL seasons who previously played for Saskatchewan in 2012-13, and American Reed Hughes. The team has decided to designate the kicker position as an American spot after struggling to find a qualified Canadian candidate.
James Letcher, who spent three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, is the new return specialist. Maugeri noted that the newcomers are still adjusting to the team's routines, saying, “They went on the wrong side for indy (individual drills)! So not only are they learning the new game, they’re learning how we operate.”
Despite the challenges, Maugeri remains optimistic about the group's potential. The Roughriders are coming off a Grey Cup victory and are looking to build a cohesive special teams unit that can contribute to another championship run.
