SASKATOON — Play of the day? That was an easy pick.

It was an extremely difficult pick in a different context, considering the infrequency with which Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris — the reigning Grey Cup MVP and a future Canadian Football Hall of Famer — is intercepted under any circumstances.

Try to picture what it was like, then, for rookie defensive back Carson Sombach when he stepped in front of a short pass by Harris at Coors Light Training Camp on Thursday.

“It’s cool to just go up against Trevor Harris,” the Regina-born Sombach said. “To get an interception just adds on top of it.

“He’s a really good player and he goes through his reads so fast, so it was a pretty cool experience.”

The same can be said of Sombach’s first CFL training camp as a whole. A Canada West all-star with the University of Regina Rams last season, he signed with Saskatchewan as an undrafted free agent on May 4.

“He’s incredible,” Head Coach Corey Mace said. “He’s a really intelligent kid. He has grasped his job responsibilities within the defence and he also knows what’s going on around him at the position he’s playing.

“It’s good when you get a chance to get your hands on the ball in the team period. It’s good for confidence from his standpoint, going into a pre-season game.”

The Roughriders are preparing to meet the host Calgary Stampeders on Monday. Calgary’s roster includes Jackson Sombach, Carson’s brother, who was the Stampeders’ seventh-round selection (60th overall) in the 2024 CFL Canadian Draft.

Although Monday’s game will be a family milestone, Carson isn’t looking beyond the upcoming meetings and practices as he continues to hone his game as a member of an accomplished defensive backfield.

“I’ve watched these guys playing, so I know all the (big) names,” Sombach said. “Coming into rookie camp, you don’t really see them. When the vets got here (for main camp), it was a little intimidating at first. Then you realize how good a guys they are and how willing they are to help you and how they want to see you be a better player. That’s really awesome.

“I think everyone’s starting to come together and get real close. We’re all helping each other. Everyone wants to see each other succeed. It has been everything that I’ve wanted. I’m looking forward to the next part of training camp and hopefully onward from that.”

THURSDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Sombach’s interception aside, here are some notable plays from Day 5 of main camp at Griffiths Stadium:

• Harris produced the day’s most picturesque passing play by finding Abdul Janneh Jr. over the middle for a 40- yard touchdown. Harris was 7-for-9 during Thursday’s 12-on-12 sessions.

• Benjamin Walz, a junior-eligible camp invitee from the PFC’s Regina Thunder, made a leaping grab over the middle for a 20-yard gain. The pass was thrown by Tommy Stevens, who was 4-for-4.

• Defensive back JuJu Hughes made a leaping interception in 12-on-12. Middle linebacker Jameer Thurman had a pass deflection to begin the first of two 12-on-12 periods.

• Dhel Duncan-Busby and Daniel Wiebe made sliding catches. Duncan Busby and running back Mario Anderson Jr. each had two catches in 12-on-12. Eight other players had one each.

• Anderson Jr. was the busiest ball-carrier, accepting five handoffs. A.J. Ouellette, a returning 1,222-yard rusher, ran the ball twice. Thomas Bertrand-Hudon and Thunder product Peter Boersch each had one carry.

• In pass skeleton drills — pitting receivers against defensive backs — Jack Coan threaded the needle to Jaylen Johnson for a nice gain over the middle. Quarterback Brayden Schager connected with Johnson on a smooth crossing route.

• Recently arrived receiver Mathew Sexton showed off his speed after catching an intermediate-range pass from Harris.

• Pass knockdowns in skeleton: Defensive backs Rolan Milligan Jr. and Garnett Hollis Jr., along with linebacker Aubrey Miller Jr.

TRAE-NING CAMP

Rookie defensive back Trae Tomlinson made his CFL training-camp debut on Thursday, shortly after the Roughriders announced he had signed as an undrafted free agent.

“He’s an excellent kid,” Mace said. “I got some background from his college coaches about the type of kid that he is, so we certainly knew he would fit in well.

“Now it’s just a matter of running through the fire, getting used to this game again up here and getting acclimated to the playbook. We’re not putting too much on his plate early. We’re just seeing how things flow for us and for him.”

The Winnipeg-born Tomlinson spent last season at Louisiana-Lafayette after three years at the University of Richmond.

The 5-foot-8, 183-pounder ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash on his Pro Day.

(T)RAINING CAMP

There was light rain for the first part of Thursday’s workout, after which the conditions were dry.

“It’s always good to get days like that,” Mace said. “I kind of wish it did rain the whole time.

“You never know what you’re going to get through the CFL season. We might be getting some snow in the next couple of days, which is even better.”