The Saskatchewan Roughriders closed the book on training camp Friday, putting the finishing touches on nearly three weeks of work with another windy practice at Mosaic Stadium.
The final session featured a variety of game situations, from moving the ball out of the shadow of the goalposts to last-second field goal scenarios, as the coaching staff made its final evaluations before turning its attention to the regular season.
For head coach Corey Mace, the biggest takeaway from camp wasn't necessarily what happened on the field but the mindset his players displayed.
"They are not going to accept anything less than the expectation and the bars that we have reset for ourselves," Mace said following practice.
One player who embodied that mentality throughout camp was running back Mario Anderson Jr.
Entering his second season with the Roughriders, Anderson arrived at camp with a much different perspective than he did a year ago. The 2025 Grey Cup champion understood exactly what awaited him and prepared accordingly.
"I think this year for me, the physical aspect is more so the mental," Anderson explained. "How I prepared this off-season mentally, getting my body in tip-top shape and just really being dialled in mentally for this camp. I knew it was going to be a lot of competition."
The competition was especially fierce in Saskatchewan's running back room, where several players battled for roster spots and playing time.
"I felt like everyone put their best foot forward," Anderson said. "Of course, we've got the leader in A.J. (Ouellette) to be able to help the young guys, including myself. It's been a very great experience. I felt like every single one of us turned the needle this training camp."
Strong preseason performances highlighted Anderson's own camp. He rushed four times for 21 yards against Calgary before carrying six times for 44 yards, including a 30-yard run, against Winnipeg in Saskatoon.
The former Memphis standout said one of the biggest areas of growth for him continues to be the mental side of playing running back.
He spent part of the offseason working with a track coach to improve his speed while also focusing on training his eyes and processing information more quickly.
"I always go off this thing that when I was at the University of South Carolina, Montario Hardesty was my running back coach," Anderson said. "The saying that he used to say was, 'see a little, see a lot, see a lot, see a little.'"
For Anderson, that means trusting what he sees and reacting without hesitation.
"If you're looking at a lot of different things, you're not going to see the little hole right there that you need to explode through," he explained. "Just training my eyes and trusting what I see, trusting my linemen, trusting my teammates that put me in the best position possible."
That trust comes from a combination of film study, repetition and familiarity with the offensive system.
"It's everything," Anderson said. "Being able to see it on the board and coming out here and executing on the field. Ultimately, trusting my teammates and everybody helping each other and knowing the assignment."
As camp comes to a close, Anderson said the focus shifts toward recovery and preparation for the long season ahead.
"That all comes with being a pro," he said. "Making sure your body is right, staying in the training room, doing things that you wouldn't normally do during your time in the building. Whatever the case, I need to make sure my body is as close to 100 percent as possible."
Now, with training camp complete and roster decisions looming, Anderson is confident he has done everything he can to put himself in a position for success.
"I'm blessed to be able to be in a position to be in that conversation with this running back room," Anderson said. "Whatever happens tomorrow, I'm excited to see."
For the Roughriders, training camp is over. The evaluations have been made, the competition has played out, and the focus now turns to preparing for another season with championship expectations.
