Leonard among the Riders’ top defenders in 2021

A.C. Leonard is emerging as one of the CFL’s top defenders in 2021.

Despite missing three games due to a suspension for failing to provide a testing sample and mistreatment of a testing official, the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive end is tied for third in the CFL with seven sacks.

“I’ve done some good things this year. I just think I’m getting better and better and the game is slowing down and it slowed down a lot for me,” Leonard said Thursday — one day before the Roughriders are to face the host Edmonton Elks. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m.

Leonard is coming off one of the best games of his career on the defensive side of the ball. He was named one of the CFL’s top performers after his impact in the 19-14 win over the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday, when he had eight tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss.

Leonard’s rise as a defender has come in a short time. He was a tight end at the University of Florida and Tennessee State University and in 2015 as a member of the B.C. Lions.

But in 2016, Leonard got a call from then-Roughriders head coach Chris Jones, who wanted to sign Leonard and move him to defensive end — a position he played in high school.

“Coach Jones called me and he invited me to mini-camp and from there it has just been on,” Leonard said.

Defensive tackle Micah Johnson has had a front-row seat to seeing Leonard develop over the past two seasons, lining up alongside him on the defensive line.

“He’s a super athlete out there. He can do a lot and creates a lot of mismatches. He plays a lot of different spots and he can do it from a lot of different places,” Johnson said.

Johnson isn’t a stranger to having a great talent next to him on the defensive line. He spent six seasons lined up with defensive end Charleston Hughes — five with the Calgary Stampeders and one with the Riders.

“Charleston is more so just being down on the line of scrimmage, being outside of that tackle and rushing. A.C. gets used in a lot of different ways and is used as a hybrid lineman. He’s playing linebacker and dropping into coverage and doing things like that,” Johnson said.

Leonard played with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2018 but joined the Riders again in 2019 during free agency. That season he got to line up on the opposite end of Hughes and learn from the veteran.

“He showed me how to be a pro and come to work and gave me a lot of little pointers about pass rushing. He really, really helped me and I appreciate it,” Leonard said.

Leonard and the rest of the Riders’ defence will look to continue their momentum Friday against the Elks, who will be without three of their top weapons on offence — running back James Wilder Jr., wide receiver Derel Walker and slotback Greg Ellingson.

While the defenders have been the key to the Riders’ wins recently, Leonard doesn’t look at it as they are the only ones helping the Riders win.

“We’re a team and we’re all together game in and game out. We know the offence will get it rolling so we just try to do our part and keep us in games every week,” Leonard said.

Notes: Safety Loucheiz Purifoy was fined for unsportsmanlike conduct in the fourth quarter in the game against Montreal. Fullback Albert Awachie was also fined due to a helmet-t0-helmet hit on Montreal returner Martese Jackson … Slotback Duke Williams (hamstring) is a game-time decision for the Riders … Slotback Ricardo Louis will play in the spot normally occupied by Kyran Moore, who is expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.