Hilltops DT Stevens energized by Roughriders experience

Johnathon Stevens at Green and White Day on May 17 at SMF Field.

If Johnathon Stevens had any doubts that he had his foot in the door with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, they were erased during his final day with the team.

The star defensive tackle with the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops, who doesn’t turn 22-years-old until late December, earned an invite to the Roughrider training camp this past May as a territorial junior. He performed so well that the Roughriders added the Eatonia, Sask., product to their practice roster.

His final day with the community-owned CFL squad came on July 25, when the Roughriders downed the Edmonton Elks 21-18 at Mosaic Stadium in a regular season clash. Following the win, Roughriders head coach Corey Mace had Stevens lead the post-game huddle, or in football terms “break down the team.” Stevens found the highlight moment before he was returned back to the Hilltops to be surreal.

“Those guys are the nicest people I have ever met,” said Stevens, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 285 pounds. “After the game against Edmonton was done, I was blessed.

“Corey Mace announced to everyone that I was leaving. He said that he wanted to say our goodbyes, and from there, everybody on the team I got to say goodbye to. All of them were just amazing.

“I got a very welcoming and friendly goodbye from everybody.”

For the past two seasons with the Hilltops, Stevens has been one of the best players in the CJFL. Playing defensive tackle, he was named a PFC all-star and first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star in 2023. He followed that up by being named a PFC all-star and a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star in 2024.

During his time with the Roughriders, Stevens earn glowing reviews and fit right in with the other players in the team’s dressing room. While praise came in for his efforts, Stevens thought any compliments were kind and added he still had a long way to go to be in the CFL.

Johnathon Stevens (#57) is adept at running down quarterbacks.

“I was a little surprised to be honest,” said Stevens about the good reviews of his time with the Roughriders. “Obviously when you’re going against guys that are so good, and when I’m not exactly to their level, I don’t think I’m that good.

“Our coaches (with the Hilltops) just told us while you’re there soak in everything and try to learn everything you can to get better. That is what I tried to do, and it must have helped a little bit. It would have helped a lot with getting better there.”

Stevens attended Roughriders training camp along with Hilltops star safety Dalton Urban, who was a PFC all-star and a first team CJFL all-Canadian all-star in 2024. 

Urban had a great camp too with the Roughriders and dressed along with Stevens in the squad’s pre-season contest on May 30 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

Urban was injured playing on the kickoff coverage team tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in one of his knees in the 27-20 Bombers victory. He has since had surgery on his knee, but he will be unable to play his final season of CJFL eligibility in 2025 with the Hilltops bringing an end to his junior playing career as he continues his rehab.

Legendary Hillstops head coach Tom Sargeant was pumped the two defensive standouts got to take part in Roughriders training camp and Stevens continued on with the team on the practice roster.

“I am so excited for both of them,” said Sargeant. “Johnny Stevens absolutely served himself well.

“Unfortunately with Dalton Urban, he is out for the year with his knee. That is an impact player that is out the building, so we have some work to do as coaches to get this right and figure it out. But John, certainly the word on him is he had a phenomenal camp and felt good about everything.

Johnathon Stevens was a second team CJFL all-Canadian all-star in 2024.

“He has brought all that confidence and energy back to our team. Expectations are he is an all-Canadian, we need him to double down and be even more of an impact player this year. He has got to be an impact player in every play this season.”

With Stevens playing in his fifth and final season of CJFL eligibility for the Hilltops, Sargeant said they are looking for the graduate of the Eaton School Spartans six-a-side football team to shoulder more responsibility in the leadership department.

“We’re pushing him in our leadership cadre,” said Sargeant. “He is a big impact for that.

“He has got to be vocal. He has got the experience. He has been a four-year starter.

“The guy has played a lot of football around here. For us to have a championship year, he has got to be a big-time player and a presence each and every day in the locker room, on the practice field and on game day.”

During his time with the Roughriders, Stevens was living the dream.

“That was a dream come true,” said Stevens. “It has always been my dream to become a ’Rider.

Johnathon Stevens has become a Hilltops all-time great.

“To get a chance to try and show my stuff and learn so much at their training camp, it was quite the experience. It was night and day. These are professionals, and these are the best from all over the world there.

“They take it very seriously there. They’ve had, obviously, more experience than I have, so that level was a lot higher than what I was used to.”

Another big memory for Stevens was taking part in spotlight one-on-one sessions going against Roughrider star defensive tackle Micah Johnson. Johnson is skilled at playing along the offensive line too, and took up position as an offensive lineman when he went against Stevens.

Stevens said he got beaten and humbled every time he went up against Johnson but added it was extremely valuable to see Johnson be the ultimate professional in everything he did with the team.

“It was quite the experience there,” said Stevens. “I watched him ever since I was young, and he was always one of my favourite players, when he was with the ’Riders of course.

“I’m going against a CFL all-star there. He is an absolute beauty, works hard and is the biggest role model you can go against there. It was amazing to go against him.”

Now that he is back with the Hilltops, Stevens said he wants to bring everything he learned back to the venerable and storied CJFL side. Stevens added it felt like a homecoming when he rejoined the Hilltops, and he will soak every part of his final campaign with the team.

“It brings back a lot of memories for sure and more to come, obviously,” said Stevens. “The system hasn’t changed.

“The mentality hasn’t changed. Obviously, I’ve come with a little bit more experience. I’m trying to show everybody of that experience that I learned.

Johnathon Stevens looks to have a memorable final CJFL campaign.

“Ultimately, the goal is to win a championship our last year, and for all the fifth years and everybody on the team. That is our main goal, and the mission hasn’t changed.”

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