Interactions with Jacob Brammer are most enjoyable — unless you are tasked with lining up opposite him.
He has been a handful for rival defensive linemen while lining up at right guard for the 7-1 Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“I’m loving it,” the ever-cheerful Brammer said after Tuesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “Not just our group (on the offensive line), but everyone — the whole team and the coaching staff — makes it easy to show up to work every day and really compete with everyone.”
All-star bookends don’t hurt, either.
Brammer is stationed between the past two recipients of the CFL West Division’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.
To his immediate left, there is centre Logan Ferland — the 2024 honouree.
The right tackle spot is manned by Jermarcus Hardrick, who as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was named the division’s top O-lineman in 2023. Hardrick signed with the Roughriders as a free agent on Feb. 13, 2024.
“They set the bar,” Brammer said. “It’s really a matter of showing up to work every day and trying to match them.
“We try to push each other every day no matter what. It doesn’t matter who it is. Everyone’s trying to push everyone.”
The key word being everyone.
Nine different players have started on the offensive line this season for a resilient Roughriders team that has weathered a series of injuries up front.
The list of starters, to this point, consists of Brammer, Ferland, Hardrick, Payton Collins, Zack Fry, Daniel Johnson, Trevon Tate, Darius Washington and Noah Zerr.
“Each and every one of them has done a great job when they’ve played,” said Trevor Harris, who leads the league in quarterback efficiency rating (119.7).
Brammer played college football at North Texas (2017 to 2021) and Vanderbilt (2022) before signing with Saskatchewan on Dec. 22, 2023 — the 38th birthday of Head Coach Corey Mace.
Last season, Brammer started two games at right tackle (following a quad injury to Hardrick) and five at right guard (including both playoff contests).
“I just told the coaching staff, ‘Anywhere I can play, I’ll play, no matter what,’ ” the 26-year-old Brammer said.
This season, he has lined up exclusively at right guard for a 7-1 team that is first in the league in net offence (398.0 yards per game) and first in average time of possession (32:07) entering Saturday’s division-leaders showdown with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
The effectiveness of the offensive line is underlined by the fact that Saskatchewan has allowed only 10 sacks in eight games and is third in rushing yards per game (110.5).
“I feel like we have a really good group,” Brammer said. “We just try to show up to work every day and work hard. We’re just trying to stack days.”
Setting the record straight is not nearly as high on the priority list.
However, a family member pointed out recently that the surname is pronounced “Bray-mer,” as opposed to rhyming with “hammer.”
“It’s no big deal,” Brammer emphasized. “I never corrected people growing up, so it’s more so on me than anyone else.”
With that in mind, he was asked jokingly: How are Mr. Brammer (hard “a) and Mr. Brammer (soft “a”) enjoying this season?
“We’re enjoying it,” the 6-foot-4, 301-pounder said with a laugh. “We’re having a good time.”