Saskatchewan Rooughriders | The Star Phoenix

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Dohnte Meyers has spent his young life chasing down balls — whether it be baseballs or footballs.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ rookie receiver/kick returner would feel just as comfortable donning a baseball glove and playing catch on the ball diamond as he would be catching footballs from quarterback Shea Patterson, who is also a former baseball player.

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Football is their game, and their full focus now, even if baseball was maybe their first love.

“Me and him, going over the plays and while just getting to know everybody, we talked a couple baseball things, about being on the diamond,” pointed out Meyers, a 5-foot-11, 186-pound product of Delta State University.

Patterson was taken in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers but gave up baseball to pursue a football career.

For Meyers, baseball may be in his past but he believes the sport has translated well into the football realm.

“Baseball really helped me cross over a lot of skills, especially in returning — tracking fly balls,” he explains. “In the field, you have all that ground you’ve got to cover. That just made it easier (in football). It made it natural.”

‘AMAZING OPPORTUNITY’ WITH CFL’S RIDERS

Meyers was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but raised in Atlanta. (I’m a Georgia boy,” he proudly says.)

“I moved when I was three,” Meyers says. “I played park ball in Atlanta — baseball. I’m really a southern boy. Baseball was my original first love, but you know, football is where I got a scholarship in. I was going to make it in that, and choose what I decided (would give me better opportunity and education).”

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He played second base and outfield in baseball. In college football, he played two years at slotback and two at wide receiver.

Just 23 years old and fresh out of college, Meyers is soaking it all in at his first CFL training camp and wearing a big smile.

“It’s amazing,” he says. “This is my first full training camp that I’ve been a part of as a pro, so it’s just been amazing. There’s been a lot of vets on this team that have the experience. I’ve just been loving it. The fans on Monday (at Mosaic Stadium), it was just an electric environment. It’s a blessing to be a part of.”

Making his CFL debut, Meyers shone in the return game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He had one punt return for 18 yards and a kickoff return for 22 yards. He also had a long return called back due to a penalty on the play.

“I’m just happy that coach Kent’s plan worked well and I was part of it,” Meyers said, referring to special teams coordinator Kent Maugeri. “Everybody blocks. It’s a team effort. And I was able to do something special with it.”

When it comes down to locking down a job, Meyers is in tough as a receiver/kick returner because the Riders already have Mario Alford, a special teams star in the CFL.

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“I feel like you need to listen to him,” Meyers said. “He’s kind of brought me under his wing and kind of showed me the ropes, so you just try and pick up all the knowledge, all the ins and outs of the game, that you can and you just try to put your best foot forward.”

Against the Bombers, Meyers had one catch on two targets for eight yards.

“Coach OC (offensive co-ordinator Marc) Mueller, with his plan and offence, his rotation allows me to show what I can do and I get enough reps in practice. It’s a competitive setting. Camp’s long, so everybody gets an opportunity. You do what you can do to make the most of it.”

Meyers is making the most of the CFL’s exciting punt and kickoff rules, including the CFL’s no-yards rule and no fair catch on punts.

“I feel like it’s an amazing advantage,” he admits.  “I learned that there are no fair catches, so every time you got back there, it’s an opportunity to do something special.”

Doing special things on special teams. Baseball glove not included.

dzary@postmedia.com

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