The wait is almost over for Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby.
As the Green and White gear up for another season and prepare to raise last year’s Grey Cup banner before Saturday’s home opener, Duncan-Busby says he’s been counting down the days for the chance to get back in front of Rider Nation.
“Absolutely, man, I’ve been waiting all offseason for this opportunity and just for us to be able to do this in front of the fans, do the banner and everything like that and go get a win,” Duncan-Busby told SportsCage.
Entering his third season with Saskatchewan after being selected in the third round, 23rd overall, in the 2024 CFL Draft, Duncan-Busby feels like the game is starting to come naturally. The former Bemidji State standout says experience has changed everything.
“It’s a little bit more of an understanding of my role and knowing what I have to do within the offence and just the game slowing down a lot more,” Duncan-Busby said.
After taking steps forward in each of his first two CFL seasons, the 2026 campaign feels like an opportunity to take another jump. Duncan-Busby recorded his first CFL touchdown last season and helped Saskatchewan capture a Grey Cup championship. He believes another year in the system can lead to more opportunities.
“I feel like I’ve taken strides every single year, and I feel like this is just the next year for me to be able to take an even bigger stride with more of a solidified role.”
While fans often watch football for the big plays, Duncan-Busby admits his own viewing habits are a little different. During Week 1 action around the CFL, he found himself studying defensive tendencies.
“I watch a lot of the defence and stuff like that, seeing how their SAM’s play, how their linebackers fit in the box and what kind of coverage the free safeties play.”
Saturday’s opener won’t only be about football. The Roughriders will celebrate last season’s championship with a banner ceremony at Mosaic Stadium before turning their attention to the B.C. Lions.
Kickoff on Saturday is at 5 p.m. Coverage begins on the Rider Broadcast Network starting at 2 p.m.
For Duncan-Busby, enjoying the moment matters but only briefly.
“It means the world. It was more than just us that won it. But got to let that happen and then let the excitement die down and focus it on the game.”
The bye week did include one lighter moment for the Riders, a team fishing trip.
Duncan-Busby managed to catch six fish, but unlike teammate Jermarcus Hardrick’s much-talked-about 30-pound pike, his catches were considerably smaller.
“I think I caught like six fish, and I didn’t take any of them off the hook. I couldn’t do it,” Duncan-Busby laughed.
“I was catching little ones, my boy Wayne had me right. He put the leech on the hook for me and stuff like that. I just let him do the work, and I caught it.”
Safe to say Duncan-Busby wasn’t chasing the biggest catch during the bye week. But with Year 3 arriving and a larger role potentially waiting in Saskatchewan’s offence, the Roughriders receiver is hoping his biggest catches of the season come under the lights at Mosaic Stadium.
