Saskatchewan Roughriders fans have seen A.J. Ouellette and Trevor Harris tackling each other during post-game interviews with TSN in 2025.
"He did it last year during a game and then he kept doing it. Finally, there was a game where I was out and he was getting interviewed, I was like: 'This is my turn." Harris detailed. "I started crawling around like a gorilla waiting to tackle him. Pay attention this week, I'm going to fold him."
Harris and Ouellette played on the same CFL team for the first time last season with the Riders.
"Don't tell him, but I love that guy -- he's awesome. He's one of my great buddies here and I think we're wired the same. We're both from an hour-and-a-half away. Small-town guys, small-town football. He went to a super small high school and I did as well," Harris explained.
"Truthfully, my son was his biggest fan in Toronto and it annoyed me. Then all of a sudden, we had a chance to get A.J. I got on the phone with him and was able to talk to him. He's been as advertised and more because as good a football player he is, he's a better person and he's a better teammate, which is saying a lot. I think he's as good as it gets up here as a running back. He's somebody that I'll probably be in touch with until the day I die -- I love that guy."
The six-foot-three, 212-pound quarterback has suited up for the Riders for six games so far in 2025. He has completed 75.9 percent of his passes for 1,894 yards with 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. Among all CFL quarterbacks, Harris is leading the pack with the highest completion percentage (75.9) and ranks second in touchdown passes with 11.
Saskatchewan's next game takes them to Montreal on Saturday. The Alouettes defence ranks second in sacks with 16, second in pass knockdowns with 26, third in forced fumbles with seven, third in interceptions with eight, and third in fumbles recovered with five.
"Their [defensive] coordinator has been elite for a long time. He's been in the league since before I've gotten here and he's been elite every year. I've had [Noel] Thorpe, a lot of times you have to take care of the football, not screw it up and they put you in great positions. It starts with him and then it goes to their personnel, they're fast, physical and they give you a lot of different looks," Harris said.
"They've got some d-linemen that wreak havoc and cause you to have some issues. It's our job to give them issues as well. We're going to go in and execute, do what we can, play 60 minutes of football and see where we come up.
Catch the pre-game show leading in to the Alouettes and Riders match-up Saturday at 2 p.m. with Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 5 p.m. You can hear extensive coverage on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
