A lot is expected of the University of Regina Rams football team this season and having Marshall Erichsen back in the fold is a big reason why.
The running back was the linchpin of the Rams offence in 2025, setting the school’s single-season records in both rushing yards (1,026) and rushing touchdowns (11) to lead the Canada West conference.
But Erichsen is coming off a torn Achilles tendon suffered in a conference semifinal win over Manitoba, and the Rams plan on taking the cautious approach with their star.
They’re thinking of the longer-term picture.
“He’s looking good,” Rams coach Mark McConkey said on the SportsCage. “He’s working his way back in. He’s been rehabbing hard all offseason and summer. Once he is back in full strength and in the lineup, I know he’s going to be a game changer for us just like he was last year, breaking records and doing everything that he did.
“We’re excited to have him back. But really, we want him at the end of the year not the beginning of the year. We want to be smart with him and limit his touches and carries as he goes through the year and works his way back in.”
The Rams open their 2026 campaign Friday in Edmonton against the University of Alberta Golden Bears.
Watch for Christian Katende to get more handoffs than he was accustomed to last season for the first part of the schedule.
“We expect him and (fellow back) Carter Ashman even to contribute and help in the run game until Marshall is back to full speed,” McConkey said.
With Erichsen in the mix, the Rams are ranked seventh in the USports preseason football rankings. Only the provincial-rival University of Saskatchewan Huskies (third) are ranked higher among conference foes.
The attention is nice for his squad, McConkey said, but it means nothing without backing it up on the field.
“We’re excited,” he said. “The expectations are high. That’s OK. We play in a tough conference. It’s hard to win football games in Canada West. The top 10 stuff, I tell our test I don’t care about it. It doesn’t mean anything. We have to play the games.”
Watch the full interview below.
