The Saskatchewan Roughriders are undefeated with Payton manning the all-important left tackle spot.

Payton Collins has been a starting offensive lineman for three games — all victories — with an 8-1 team that sports the CFL’s best record.

“Certainly, as he gets more comfortable with the playbook and the players in this league, he’s only going to get better,” Head Coach Corey Mace said.

“That’s very exciting stuff, because I think he has been playing at a high clip to this point. I’m really impressed.”

Collins, a standout at Eastern Kentucky University from 2019 to 2024, was so impressive at Coors Light Training Camp and during the pre-season that he earned an opening-night, front-line assignment against the Ottawa REDBLACKS on June 5.

He helped to provide a fortress-like wall for quarterback Trevor Harris, who was not sacked as Saskatchewan won 31-26.

Unfortunately, Collins suffered a knee injury with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Daniel Johnson played left tackle for the remainder of that game and started the following four contests. A shoulder injury to Johnson opened the door for Darius Washington, who made back-to-back starts before Collins was fully recovered.

The 6-foot-7, 301-pounder returned to the lineup on Aug. 2 against the host Montreal Alouettes and helped Saskatchewan win 34-6.

Following a bye week, the Roughriders posted another convincing victory, downing the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 29-9 this past Saturday at Mosaic Stadium.

Saskatchewan has allowed only two sacks over the three games in which Collins has played.

“I never thought that I would play in Canada, but God has a plan for you,” the 24-year-old Columbus, Ohio product said. “You never know where you’re going to be in life.

“I’m just very grateful that I’m here right now, doing what I am doing.”

Until the Roughriders’ training camp, Collins had been to Canada only once. His family visited Niagara Falls when he was a youngster.

“I love Canada,” he said with a smile. “I love Regina. The fans here are amazing.

“It’s honestly one of the reasons why I chose to come up here. I saw the atmosphere and it’s a football city, for sure. I thought it would be very cool to play for a city like this.”

The same could be said of Richmond, Ky., which became a home away from home for Collins while in university.

Collins, who started 56 consecutive games with the Eastern Kentucky Colonels,

signed with Saskatchewan on May 2 — shortly after the NFL Draft. He had already been closely scouted by Assistant GM Kyle Carson at the Hula Bowl this past January.

Mace, Jeremy O’Day (Vice-President of Football Operations/General Manager) and Edwin Harrison (Offensive Line Coach) were also well aware of Collins’ skill set.

“When I saw the tape … Ed saw the tape … Marc saw the tape … JO, Kyle and the scouting department saw the tape … they saw it early,” Mace said.

“When you saw the college tape, it was, ‘Oh my goodness!’ It was really exciting to know that he was going to come up here.”

Very quickly, Mace labelled Collins as Big Red — a common monicker, considering his hair colour.

But then another nickname began to circulate: Clifford the Big Red Dog.

“I said to Mace, ‘This guy’s pretty good,’ ” Harris recalled. “He said, ‘Clifford?’ I said, ‘His last name’s Clifford? I thought it was Collins.’ He was like, ‘No, he’s the big red dog.’

“You’d have to ask Mace. Maybe there’s another chain link that goes up higher.”

Well, Corey? Details?

“I don’t care what we call him,” the Roughriders’ chief strategist replied. “He’s a really good football player.”