Connor Klassen suiting up at offensive line for the University of Regina Rams football team. (Submitted photo/Connor Klassen)

By Nick Nielsen

Local talent

Big River’s Klassen drafted by Lions in CFL draft

May 1, 2025 | 6:00 AM

You might start to see a few B.C. Lions jerseys in Saskatchewan next CFL season, especially in the small community of Big River.

Now a member of the University of Regina Rams football team, offensive lineman Connor Klassen was selected with the final pick in the fourth round, 37th overall by the B.C. Lions in Tuesday’s CFL Draft.

Klassen was in Regina for his schooling, but he made the drive back to Big River to be around his family during draft day, and in the long run, he went a little sooner than he expected while surrounded by friends and family.

“My agent phoned me yesterday around 8 or 9 a.m., he told me that he wasn’t too worried and thought we had a good chance of getting picked, so we kind of just went about the day, hung out with my dad, and then we booked out the the local lounge at the restaurant here in town, Third and Main, and we had about 40-45 people all together in there and we watched. I knew I was kind of a middle rounds guy, I was thinking around five or six, so it took a little bit to get through those first couple rounds, and got the call at the end of the fourth round there. After that it was a little bit of a blur, a little bit of a whirlwind, but it was really, really special to have my friends and family around and be able to share that with them.”

Klassen knew that there was some interest in him from the Lions before draft day had arrived. He first interviewed with the Lions during the CFL combine in Regina earlier this year, where he first got a chance to talk with some of the staff from the Lions, and he felt confident coming out of that interview.

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He’s excited to get the chance to work with Lions Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Buck Pierce, who won three Grey Cups in his career, winning as the quarterback for the Lions in 2006, and two as part of the coaching staff with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021. As the day went on, Klassen was wondering if maybe the Lions had changed their mind about his game after the interview at camp, but that was put to rest quickly when he got on the phone with his new coach.

“I talked to Coach Pierce on the phone and he sounded excited, and I’m very excited and looking forward to going to camp and playing under him and seeing how he runs his team. So it’s been a whirlwind, it’s been a long journey, but I don’t think there’s a better coaching staff that I could be going to right now. So I’m really excited.”

For a football player born in Saskatchewan, it’s always the dream to suit up in the Green and White for your hometown province, and for Klassen it was no different. Now, however, Klassen has shifted his mindset as a member of the Lions, and he’s looking forward to the chance to walk into Mosaic Stadium as the enemy of his home province’s team, and in the city he currently plays his college football in.

“It’s one of those things where in the back of your mind on draft night that you have that extra wish that maybe the Riders take you, but I went into this process knowing I could go anywhere and I’m just as excited to go to B.C. as I would have been anywhere. Going forward, it’s definitely going to be a unique experience for being on an enemy team for the Riders. It’s going to be pretty cool. All my family, my hometown, my friends, they’re always going to cheer for me no matter what, but it will be pretty cool and probably pretty funny if we come in and beat the Riders in Saskatchewan and get to see those reactions.”

As much as Klassen is looking forward to facing the Roughriders during the regular season, he still has a massive appreciation for their organization. If it wasn’t for attending the Roughriders’ training camp in 2022, Klassen isn’t sure if he’d be in this position at all.

“They gave me a shot back then, and I think that led a lot to my success last night. I obviously can’t be cheering for them anymore, but I do have a lot of respect for their organization, and I’m just looking forward to kicking their butts when we play them.”

Connor Klassen lays out a Calgary Dinos defensive lineman while protecting his quarterback, Trey Jones. (Submitted photo/Connor Klassen)

Klassen has been playing football since he was in Grade 5 all the way through Grade 9 as either a linebacker or a defensive lineman. It was when Klassen tried out for the Regina Thunder of the CJFL that he made the switch to offensive line, and he hasn’t looked back since.

While he’s proud to call himself a native of Saskatchewan, Klassen is also proud of his Métis heritage. He hopes to serve as an inspiration for kids in small towns and Métis youth to follow their dreams.

“I’m proud to be representing the Métis Nation and Saskatchewan here. I’m a Métis kid from Big River and I’m trying to show up for all youth, but especially your indigenous youth too. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you look like. Just, you know, putting in hard work and really dedicating yourself to whatever you love, you’ll see good things.”

Turning 24 years old later this month, Klassen will head to Vancouver for Lions rookie camp on May 6. While he’s hoping to make the pros this year, if he doesn’t make the cut, he’ll return to Regina and rejoin the Rams for his final season of college football.

Four other Saskatchewan-born players were taken in the CFL Draft on Tuesday as well: Daniel Wiebe, Seth Hundeby, and Chase Tataryn from Saskatoon, and Lane Novak from Balgonie.

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com