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Calgary's Dedrick Mills led the CFL in rushing yards last season with 1,409 yards.
Published Jun 19, 2026 • 6 minute read
Calgary Stampeders vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Calgary Stampeders running back Dedrick Mills carries the ball against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the Stampeders’ home opener at McMahon Stadium on Friday, June 5, 2026. Gavin Young/Postmedia
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It’s good to be king.
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Just ask Dedrick Mills — the rushing royalty of last Canadian Football League season — after rolling up a three-down best 1,409 yards to lead all runners.
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He’s got the respect of his loyal subjects around these parts, even getting full run of the team clubhouse from time to time.
But the Calgary Stampeders workhorse isn’t always given his entire due when talk among fans and pundits across the country talk turns to just who is the best ball carrier.
“I feel like it’s a battle with every running back in the league — we’re all competing against each other,” said Mills, shrugging off any notion of disrespect.
“We’re all trying to be number one — we’re all trying to be that guy,” continued Mills. “So it’s gonna always be a battle in that position.”
Among Winnipeg Blue Bombers faithful, it’s all about Brady Oliveira … for good reason, we’ll allow.
Among BC Lions supporters, they’ll weigh in with James Butler.
And you’ll most certainly hear it this weekend from ‘melon heads’ in Calgary that the best back is actually their man, A.J.
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Ouellette, with him and the Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-0) in town to play the Stampeders (0-1) on Saturday at McMahon Stadium (5 p.m., TSN, QR Calgary 770 AM).
“Of course, Bomber fans will say ‘Brady,’” Mills said. “It’s always just like the Sask fans are saying, ‘A.J.’, and BC fans are saying their guy. The fans out there are saying all their guys, but it’s always gonna be that one guy in the end.
“For me to be that guy, I’ve just gotta continue to go out there and work and play my game and do what I know how to do.”
After his first 1,000-yard season that scored him the rushing title last year, he’s back doing just that — and doing it well.
Sure, it’s only been one game so far. But Mills was a marquee player in the heartbreaking 30-28 loss to the visiting Blue
Bombers, proving last year was no fluke in running to the top of the chart.
“I’m happy,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “But I think for him, I’ve got to make sure to keep pushing him to motivate him to understand, ‘Why did you have a good season?’ … It’s a combination that we have a balanced attack and our offensive line’s moving people and he’s running hard.
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“He can run inside and outside … and Dedrick’s got to continue to keep doing a good job of that,” continued Dickenson.
“So just keep working. Yeah … it was a good start, and I’m happy for him. But just keep finding ways to be better and keep making sure that you show up with a plan to get better.”
Mills’ motivation might come from the rankings of TSN’s Top 50 CFL players list prior to the campaign.
The tall foreheads there slotted Oliveira in at No. 7, making him the top back, while Mills filled in at No. 11.
Just so we’re all following the same ground rules, Oliveira — on a 10-8 crew — finished well back of Mills — on an 11-7 side — in second with 1,222 rushing yards in 2025.
Lions runner James Butler — also on an 11-7 squad — was next with 1,213, and Ouellette wrapped up the campaign with 1,163 for the Grey Cup-champion Roughriders.
Hmmmm …
“I mean … personally, man, there’s always more to give,” said Mills, again not worried about the talk of other backs in the league. “There’s always more to give to this game, man. I’m there for anything, anywhere you need me — at any position.
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If they need me to go out for routes, I’m there. If they need me to block people out there or they need me to run the ball,
I’m there. If they want me to play quarterback a little bit. I’m there.
“But … yeah … there’s always room to improve, always room to do more. I mean … it’s just to make the team better and just make everybody around you better and be more accountable for everybody.”
Against the Bombers, he was arguably the Stamps’ best player.
His 112 rushing yards on 16 hauls put them in a position to win — remember they did hold the victory until the final play of the contest.
And as always, he set the pace for the offence.
“Oh yeah … most definitely, man,” said Mills, when asked if Week 1 went as planned for himself. “Very satisfied with the way the o-line played and the way the coaches called the plays and the way the o-line opened up the holes for me to just get through and make the plays that we needed to make to put ourselves in a position to win.”
It’s just he didn’t get to celebrate.
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That went to Oliveira, who had one less carry — 15 — and one more yard — for 113 — than Mills on the night.
However, you can call it win for both of the big backs, as they seemed to be feeding off each other in the battle. One would rumble for 9, 10, 11 yards a couple times on a drive, and the other would answer back with similar ground-and-pounds on the next march.
“During the game, I wasn’t paying attention to him,” said Mills, of 2023 and ’24 CFL rushing-king Oliveira. “I was just more so worried about my game and worried about what me and the team had going over there. I just knew — when I got in the game and I got the ball — what I had to do in order for to be in a position to win the game.
“So I’ve seen a few of his runs here and there. And I tell the defence every week, ‘Man, don’t give nobody else more than 20 yards a game when we’re playing against them. I’ve got to be the one to run all day and the other running back can’t do that.’”
Cue the stats, then, of 2026 so far.
Heading into Week 3, it’s CFL rookie Larry Rountree of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on top of the run charts with 147 yards.
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But then it’s familiar-faces Oliveira — with 145 — and Mills — with 112 — as the next two rushers.
Ouellette is further down on 69 yards.
However, both Mills and Ouellette have played one fewer game than those backs above them on the rushing ladder.
“I mean … they kind of get me with that every year the last two years now,” said Mills, referring to the early bye-weeks on the schedule of both 2025 and ’26. “So they’re trying to put me starting from the back a little bit.
“But it’s all right … I can handle it. I did it last year, and I was ready to go. I can face any challenges ahead of me.”
A spa day of sorts in the Stamps clubhouse during the bye-week — a king-for-the-day kind of thing — was perhaps the best help in his push to become king of the rushers once again.
“I feel so refreshed, man,” added Mills, with a big grin. “Had a whole spa day to myself — just sat in there relaxed and got a good massage in. They had the good spa music playing to really clear my head. I did a couple steam rooms, cold tubs, hot tub … and I got that massage.
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“So … yeah … I’m feeling refreshed and feeling good, with my legs feeling fresh and ready to go.”
Ready to go prove he’s the true king of all CFL rushers.
SHORT YARDAGE
All-CFL star DL Jaylon Hutchings (hamstring) has been given the green light to start for the Stampeders on Saturday … Unlike fellow lineman Hutchings, RE Folarin Orimolade (achilles) remains sidelined, with the Stamps opting to keep him off the active roster at least another week … Joining Hutchings in slotting into the lineup after missing Game 1 is DB Morice Blackwell II (foot), while both DL Elijah Hills (hamstring) and LB R.J. Moten (hamstring) come out of the lineup after sustaining injuries in Week 1. Both have been put on the six-game injured list.
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