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From Vancouver to Toronto to Madison to Illinois to Minnesota and now back to Canada.
It’s been an interesting ride for Dhel Duncan-Busby, who is playing for the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Roughriders are located in Regina, Saskatchewan.
“It’s been a pretty unorthodox journey,” the Madison graduate said. “I was a basketball player in high school. I graduated early and learned more about football.”
Duncan-Busby played his formative football years for former Madison coach Tim Willis.
“I was so green,” Duncan-Busby said. “I was like a sponge. I learned how to catch a football, I learned how to run routes. That was my true foundation for football.”
After attending Madison, Duncan-Busby went to Midwestern Preparatory Academy in Rantoul, Illinois in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area.
He then made his way to Division II Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minnesota for school and to play football.
At Bemidji, Duncan-Busby played college football for the for the Beavers from 2019-2023.
He was redshirted in 2018.
Duncan-Busby appeared in 10 games in 2019, catching 25 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns.
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duncan-Busby played in 12 games, all starts, during the 2021 season, recording 49 receptions for 725 yards and five touchdowns.
He started all 13 games in 2022, catching 48 passes for 896 yards and eight touchdowns.
Duncan-Busby earned first team All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North honors.
The following season, he totaled 49 receptions for 825 yards and 11 touchdown, garnering first team All-NSIC and second team D2 Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region 4 recognition, in 12 games.
After Bemidji, Duncan-Busby was selected by the Roughriders in the third round (23rd overall pick) of the 2024 CFL Draft.
He notched 16 receptions for 188 yards in seven games in his rookie season, missing time with a broken finger.
In the 2025 season, Duncan-Busby broke out with 29 receptions for 355 yards and two touchdowns.
“I’m trusting the process,” he said. “The coach’s put me in a great spot.”
Saskatchewan went on to finish 12-6, claim first place in the West Division for the ninth time in franchise history, defeat the BC Lions 24-21 in the West final and capture the Grey Cup, which is Canada’s version of the Super Bowl, with a 25-17 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in the championship game. It was the Roughriders’ fifth Grey Cup title.
“It was super-cool,” Duncan-Busby said of winning the league championship. “I had not done anything like that before.”
So far in the 2026 season, another injury has caught Duncan-Busby. He suffered a stinger, and has played in five games with eight catches for 73 yards and two scores.
But Duncan-Busby said he’s ready to get on the field again.
So far this season, the Roughriders are 4-2 overall, which is tied for second place behind Edmonton.
It’s been a trying season, though for Saskatchewan, as linebacker and team captain Jayden Dalke was killed in a two-vehicle head-on car crash on July 18 at the age of 30.
“We’re leaning on each other,” Duncan-Busby said. “We are a family, and understand what kind of person he was.”
Overall, Duncan-Busby said he’s enjoying his time up north.
“Each year has been building,” he said. “I’m understanding my role. I enjoy the peace and quite of Regina.”
Duncan-Busby is also understanding what it means to be play at this high of a level.
“The biggest takeaway is how to be professional,” he said. “I’m learning a bunch of stuff, like lifting and going to meetings.”
The Roughriders still have at least 12 games remaining in the season.
Duncan-Busby said the goal for Saskatchewan is to win its division and capture a second straight Grey Cup title.
Once the season is complete, he will have played the third year of a three-year contract for the Roughriders.
“I’m focusing on what we got here,” Duncan-Busby said. “I like being where my feet are.”
If a National Football League opportunity presented itself, though, he would certainly listen.
“I’m content being in the CFL, but if the NFL comes knocking, you answer the door,” Duncan-Busby said.
Continue reading...
It’s been an interesting ride for Dhel Duncan-Busby, who is playing for the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Roughriders are located in Regina, Saskatchewan.
“It’s been a pretty unorthodox journey,” the Madison graduate said. “I was a basketball player in high school. I graduated early and learned more about football.”
Duncan-Busby played his formative football years for former Madison coach Tim Willis.
“I was so green,” Duncan-Busby said. “I was like a sponge. I learned how to catch a football, I learned how to run routes. That was my true foundation for football.”
After attending Madison, Duncan-Busby went to Midwestern Preparatory Academy in Rantoul, Illinois in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area.
He then made his way to Division II Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minnesota for school and to play football.
At Bemidji, Duncan-Busby played college football for the for the Beavers from 2019-2023.
He was redshirted in 2018.
Duncan-Busby appeared in 10 games in 2019, catching 25 passes for 393 yards and three touchdowns.
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duncan-Busby played in 12 games, all starts, during the 2021 season, recording 49 receptions for 725 yards and five touchdowns.
He started all 13 games in 2022, catching 48 passes for 896 yards and eight touchdowns.
Duncan-Busby earned first team All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference North honors.
The following season, he totaled 49 receptions for 825 yards and 11 touchdown, garnering first team All-NSIC and second team D2 Conference Commissioners Association All-Super Region 4 recognition, in 12 games.
After Bemidji, Duncan-Busby was selected by the Roughriders in the third round (23rd overall pick) of the 2024 CFL Draft.
He notched 16 receptions for 188 yards in seven games in his rookie season, missing time with a broken finger.
In the 2025 season, Duncan-Busby broke out with 29 receptions for 355 yards and two touchdowns.
“I’m trusting the process,” he said. “The coach’s put me in a great spot.”
Saskatchewan went on to finish 12-6, claim first place in the West Division for the ninth time in franchise history, defeat the BC Lions 24-21 in the West final and capture the Grey Cup, which is Canada’s version of the Super Bowl, with a 25-17 victory over the Montreal Alouettes in the championship game. It was the Roughriders’ fifth Grey Cup title.
“It was super-cool,” Duncan-Busby said of winning the league championship. “I had not done anything like that before.”
So far in the 2026 season, another injury has caught Duncan-Busby. He suffered a stinger, and has played in five games with eight catches for 73 yards and two scores.
But Duncan-Busby said he’s ready to get on the field again.
So far this season, the Roughriders are 4-2 overall, which is tied for second place behind Edmonton.
It’s been a trying season, though for Saskatchewan, as linebacker and team captain Jayden Dalke was killed in a two-vehicle head-on car crash on July 18 at the age of 30.
“We’re leaning on each other,” Duncan-Busby said. “We are a family, and understand what kind of person he was.”
Overall, Duncan-Busby said he’s enjoying his time up north.
“Each year has been building,” he said. “I’m understanding my role. I enjoy the peace and quite of Regina.”
Duncan-Busby is also understanding what it means to be play at this high of a level.
“The biggest takeaway is how to be professional,” he said. “I’m learning a bunch of stuff, like lifting and going to meetings.”
The Roughriders still have at least 12 games remaining in the season.
Duncan-Busby said the goal for Saskatchewan is to win its division and capture a second straight Grey Cup title.
Once the season is complete, he will have played the third year of a three-year contract for the Roughriders.
“I’m focusing on what we got here,” Duncan-Busby said. “I like being where my feet are.”
If a National Football League opportunity presented itself, though, he would certainly listen.
“I’m content being in the CFL, but if the NFL comes knocking, you answer the door,” Duncan-Busby said.
Continue reading...
