HAMILTON, CANADA – A.J. Ouellette, a 2014 graduate at Covington High School, is still excelling in his sixth year in the Canadian Football League.
Ouellette started his professional football career in 2019 as he was signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL after being released by two teams in the NFL, which were the New Orleans Saints and the Cleveland Browns.
The 2020 season was cut off due to the Covid situation, but A.J. then made a huge impact in Toronto over the next three seasons where he led the Argonauts to the CFL Championship in 2022.
He then signed with Saskatchewan in 2024 and was putting together a great season with a 5-1 record until an unfortunate hip injury forced him out a few games where the Roughriders started to struggle. Fortunately, A.J. was able to return later in the season and helped the Roughriders advance deep in the playoffs where they fell one game short of reaching the Grey Cup Championship Game.
Even though the hard work he put in throughout his entire football career, A.J. adjusted his training in the off-season. He obviously had the strength needed due to squating 700 pounds and benching over 500 pounds, but he focused more on increasing his flexibility, agility and quickness. His training regimen was obviously on display visually due to the shredded muscles in every part of his body. His weight remained where he needed it to be as well.
Now, A.J. and the Roughriders are 2-0 to start the season after wins over Ottawa on June 5th and Hamilton on June 14th.
Against Ottawa, A.J. started the game well by racking up seven yards per carry early in the game, but he suffered a helmet to helmet hit that sent him into the training room. Even though A.J. said he felt good to return to the field, he was held up throughout the rest of the game.
This obviously drew intensity for A.J. on Saturday against Hamilton as his emotion and anticipate was on display during the pregame warmup. It carried on during the game as he ignited the Roughriders after a slow start where an interception led to a touchdown by the Tiger-Cats to build a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Ouellette changed the momentum by bursting through on a run up the gut and then breaking a tackle with a huge stiff arm on a 47-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Plus, throughout the entire game he ran extremely hard even though the Tiger-Cats focused on trying to shut him down.
In the 28-23 victory over Hamilton, A.J. tallied 96 yards on 13 carries, but it wasn’t his carries that were his only impact on the game. The Tiger-Cats had a linebacker chasing him left and right throughout the most plays of the game, which led to openings in the passing game. Plus, A.J. blocked extremely well and the only sack suffered by the Roughriders happened when Ouellette ran out into the flat on a receiving route.
This season is another one that is a good start for A.J. and the Roughriders because his impact in all phases of the game in his position leads to success. That is why when he is on the field his team wins more often than not.
