{"id":263109,"date":"2025-11-05T10:21:22","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T10:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/263109\/"},"modified":"2025-11-05T10:21:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T10:21:22","slug":"4-under-the-radar-players-to-watch-in-the-division-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/263109\/","title":{"rendered":"4 under-the-radar players to watch in the Division Finals"},"content":{"rendered":"

With big games come big opportunities for big stars.<\/p>\n

At this time of the year, those who have shone during the regular season are provided with an opportunity to glow even more brightly as the stakes increase.<\/p>\n

However, this is also a stage for those who\u2019d be considered less likely to be major factors to prove that particular notion wrong.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, a big game can showcase a player who hasn\u2019t been the talk of the town heading in.<\/p>\n

Here are four under-the-radar players ahead of the Eastern and Western Finals.<\/p>\n

\"20232025 GREY CUP PLAYOFFS
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SHEMAR BRIDGES | HAMILTON TIGER-CATS | RECEIVER
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Will Shemar Bridges make an impact in this weekend\u2019s Eastern Final? (Kevin Sousa\/CFL.ca)<\/p>\n

Kind of amazing to have Shemar Bridges<\/a> in this group after a sensational rookie campaign put him on the CFL map, in 2024, with 83 receptions and 933 yards.<\/p>\n

But here we are.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what happens, I guess, when a guy like Kenny Lawler<\/a> comes to town and you\u2019re running patterns out on the wide side most of the time.<\/p>\n

With 34 catches and 361 yards in 2025, Bridges has often been an afterthought in Hamilton\u2019s high-flying passing attack, targeted a mere 51 times, just 15 times since OK Tire Labour Day Weekend.<\/p>\n

With the vast majority of quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a>\u2019s passes heading in the direction of Lawler, Tim White<\/a>, Kiondr\u00e9 Smith and running back Greg Bell<\/a>, Bridges has slipped under the radar this season, but you just know he has the ability to pop at any time.<\/p>\n

KORI ROBERSON JR. | MONTREAL ALOUETTES | DEFENSIVE LINEMAN<\/p>\n

A rare mistake from Brady Oliveira, Montreal ball!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcc5: Eastern Semi-Final LIVE NOW
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\u2014 CFL (@CFL) November 1, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Montreal head coach Jason Maas continually preaches that his team be filled with players who constantly stay ready to go in at any time. It\u2019s demanded of them.<\/p>\n

Last week, Roberson got the call on Friday night that he was starting in place of suspended (and then released) veteran defensive tackle Shawn Oakman.<\/p>\n

Though he played a little throughout the first half of the season (eight tackles in seven appearances), Roberson hadn\u2019t appeared in a game since September 13.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old tallied three tackles in the Eastern Semi-Final, and hammered his left arm at Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira<\/a> during a run play in the fourth quarter, creating a turnover for Montreal at the Blue Bombers\u2019 27-yard line.<\/p>\n

The Als will hope that Roberson can take another step towards being a household name in the Eastern Final, especially if star tackle Mustafa Johnson<\/a> is once again unavailable to play.<\/p>\n

HABAKKUK BALDONADO | SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS | DEFENSIVE END
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Habakkuk Baldonado<\/a> notched four sacks, a forced fumble and 17 defensive tackles in 2025 (Jimmy Jeong\/CFL.ca)<\/p>\n

In his third season with the Roughriders, Habakkuk Baldonado<\/a> was increasingly used as a rotational player and has recently been a starter due to injury to veteran pass rusher Shane Ray.<\/p>\n

In those five starts, beginning in Week 17 versus the Edmonton Elks, the 26-year-old amassed eight defensive tackles (17 on the season) and another on special teams, as well as two sacks to double his season total.<\/p>\n

Whether as a starter in the Western Final, or as a situational drop-in, Baldonado could have something significant to say in Saskatchewan\u2019s scheming to keep BC quarterback Nathan Rourke<\/a> as uncomfortable as possible.<\/p>\n

ZANDER HORVATH | BC LIONS | RUNNING BACK
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Will Zander Horvath make an impact in the Western Final? (Arthur Ward\/CFL.ca)<\/p>\n

The Lions\u2019 rookie tailback has seen more limited action of late, but he has shown he can be an effective battering ram when called upon.<\/p>\n

In his first CFL start, Horvath had a monster game in Week 16 against the Calgary Stampeders, rushing 12 times for 152 yards, 70 of those yards coming on a fourth quarter touchdown run.<\/p>\n

That game, in large part, bolstered the 26-year-old\u2019s totals; Horvath finished the regular season with 24 touches for 231 yards and two touchdowns, leaving him with a rather extravagant 9.6 yards per carry average.<\/p>\n

If the Lions get a lead \u2014 or should they feel that the elements dictate a need for more rushes than usual \u2014 Horvath would be in line for extra touches to spell starting running back James Butler.<\/p>\n