Hilltop tailback gets call to camp
Hilltops’ Fischer welcomes chance to show his stuff at Roughriders camp
The Saskatchewan Roughriders handed him No. 75, which is traditionally reserved for a defensive lineman or offensive lineman.
Not a typical number for a tailback, that’s for sure.
That didn’t matter to Logan Fischer, a junior football player for the Canadian Junior Football League champion Saskatoon Hilltops.
To him, the number was as good as gold, a winning lottery number in disguise.
Fischer found out late Saturday that he was a late addition to the Roughriders training camp in his hometown of Saskatoon.
It’s a dream come true for any football player growing up in Saskatchewan just to suit up in the Green and White at camp.
“It’s definitely a change from what I’m used to,” Fischer says of the jersey number, shrugging like it’s no big deal, of course.
“But there’s a learning curve and I’m just getting past that. I’m starting to figure out the plays and figure out the formations and whatnot.”
Fischer is one of the territorial junior players invited to camp. Others include Johnathon Thebold, Brendon Philogene and Logan Ferland.
“It’s different from Hilltops, that’s for sure,” admitted Fischer, who rushed the ball 176 times for 1,033 yards and 11 touchdowns last season in the CJFL.
“A lot more tempo, a lot more speed, a lot more skill. Bigger guys, stronger guys. It’s something, that’s for sure.”
The multi-purpose Fischer caught 29 passes out of the backfield last season for 292 yards and five touchdowns.
In the Canadian Bowl final, he led the Toppers with 245 yards on offence and two TD’s.
“I kind of had some knowledge that my (Hilltops) coach (Tom Sargeant) was talking to them (Riders) and they had interest and wanted to see me do a workout and whatnot,” explained Fischer, who played his high school football for the Bethlehem Stars.
“I came here Saturday for the workout and they just said, ‘Hey, we’ve talked to enough people and seen enough film; we just want to invite you to camp.’ ”
On Monday, Fischer found himself facing proven CFL linebackers like Henoc Muamba during oneon-one drills.
“It’s definitely a wake-up call,” said Fischer.
“You go to junior practices and you’re kind of the man and nobody can really muscle you around and then you come here and you have to prove yourself every single rep, against every one.”
Fischer has one year of junior eligibility remaining. Last year, he came into the season at just over 200 pounds. He’s pushing 225 now.
“I’ve been putting on the weight so that maybe I’d be harder to push around and get my blocks in more,” Fischer said.
“I’ve been trying to hit the weight room a lot more, trying to get the feet working. There’s still work to be put in for sure, but I feel like I’m a contender.”
Fischer once wore No. 33 with the Kinsmen Football League’s Babineau Warriors. He donned No. 13 in high school for the Bethlehem Stars.
“No. 21 for Hilltops, but hopefully 75 for the Riders,” Fischer said with a smile and just enough confidence to feel that he belongs.
“It’s definitely where I want to be. I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time and it’s finally here, so I’m going to take advantage.”
It’s different from Hilltops, that’s for sure. A lot more tempo, a lot more speed, a lot more skill.