Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach Corey Mace knows Kerfalla-Emmanuel Exume has rare skills and feels lucky to have him on the team.
“I would like to say it’s experience, but that’s a lie to you because he’s been doing that since he got into the league. He’s been an excellent special teamer and I think that’s an automatic for him to make a roster because of that talent,” Mace said.
“I don’t think people take a look at how much defence that he’s played for us and the plays that he’s made for us. Also, having to go play special teams. He’s an excellent human being, an awesome husband, a great father, a great guy, and he’s going to do everything he can for his teammates. Everybody sees that he is an easy guy to be around.”
Among his teammates and coaches, Exume is honoured he is held in such high regard for his special teams play, but emphasizes the importance of team effort.
“Sometimes we work in shadows, but it’s a great team effort,” Exume said. “When your guys have trust in you and you trust in your guys, it all works out well.”
The Riders last game was against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Labour Day Classic rematch, Saskatchewan won 21-13. Exume finished the game with two special teams tackles. Overall, the 31-year-old has suited up 12 times for the Riders in 2025, accumulating two defensive tackles and eight special team tackles.
“It’s for sure something that we take pride in,” Exume said. “Everybody wants to get the tackle, wants to get down there quick. We take pride because we want to make the tackle, it’s a battle.”
The five-foot-nine, 195-pound defensive back started his CFL career in 2019 when the Bombers picked him in the eighth round, 70th overall. He won a Grey Cup in his rookie season with Winnipeg. Later, he signed with the Alouettes during the 2021 off-season and played for Montreal through the 2022 season. Exume had a second stint with the Blue Bombers in 2023 and left to play for the Toronto Argonauts in 2024. While with the Argos, Exume won his second Grey Cup, defeating his former team, the Bombers, 41-24. During the last off-season, Exume signed with the Green and White.
According to Exume, there is a lot of preparation work that goes into studying for special teams, as they are accustomed to working on the fly if an unexpected adjustment happens with the opponents.
“I try to find some tendencies and our coaches do a good job of preparing us well with the scouting report,” Exume said. “Teams want to give us their best shot, so we gotta stay ready. We never know what team’s gonna have for us in store, so we gotta make sure we’re ready.”
Saskatchewan’s next opponent will be Montreal at home on Saturday. Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk, and Wes Cates bring you the pre-game show at 2 p.m. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 5 p.m. Listen or watch our thorough coverage on 620 CKRM Co-operators Riders Broadcast Network.