Shaq Evans catches a pass from Cody Fajardo in Saskatchewan’s 21-6 win over Winnipeg at Mosaic Stadium on Oct 5/19
Picture: Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders star receiver Shaq Evans, is more than ready for training camp to get underway this coming weekend.
The 30-year-old had a monster 2019, with 1,334 receiving yards, and five touchdowns, while being named an all-star.
Evans was on the SportsCage Tuesday, and says having no pre-season games is different, but he knows they have a group that will be ultra competitive even in practice.
“I don’t think no pre-season games will be to big of a challenge heading into the season, because I think that we’re so competitive in practice,” Evans said. “It’s because of the players we have on our team and our make up, the coaching, and they way they want us to compete in practice really prepares us well for games and makes the transition easy,” Evans said.
When the season gets underway in August, the Riders will play their first four games at Mosaic Stadium.
Something Evans is excited for because of the fans and gameday atmosphere, but he also knows that could pose a challenge when playoff time draws near.
“It does come back in the backend because then we have to play seven of our last ten games away from home,” he said. “I am excited though to play four straight home games in front of our fans because I think the intensity will just be ratcheted up each game.”
While using the way the 2019 season ended as motivation, admitting it’s been eating at him all this time, Evans also said he’s moved on from the strong year he and the team had, recognizing that is in the past.
“Yeah 2019 was great, but that does nothing for us now,” he said. “That’s pretty much on the backburner now, and I don’t really worry about people’s expectations, I already understand that people expect big things out of me, but I expect even bigger things out of myself, I just always rely on the work that I put in,” Evans said.
The Riders open the 2021 season on Friday, August 6 when they host the B.C. Lions.
