‘Excited for a new challenge:’ Hardrick returns to Riders

Jermarcus Hardrick has been here before.

The offensive tackle signed a contract to join the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Tuesday, the first day of CFL free agency. He had reportedly agreed to terms during the seven-day negotiation window, which closed Sunday.

It will be Hardrick’s second stint with the Riders. Now 33, he began his CFL with the B.C. Lions in 2014 before joining the Riders in 2015. The 6-foot-5, 317-pounder appeared in eight games for Saskatchewan that season before being released in February of 2016.

He has played in 133 CFL games in his career. He joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2016 and won two Grey Cups with them. He also was last year’s West Division nominee for the award as the CFL’s most outstanding offensive lineman.

“Just the journey, it has been a lot,” Hardrick, who hails from Batesville, Miss., said during a conference call Tuesday. “Just (being) from a small town, I think about the journey in the late 1990s and early 2000s – that’s what I remember the most.

“The last 10 to 15 years, I have lived my dream. I have been able to be a father, a husband, play pro football and get a chance to grow. The biggest (difference) from ’15 is I think I have become a better person, a better father and a better husband.”

He admits it was tough to leave the Bombers after having so much success with them.

“It was one of those decisions that I had been there for so long, it was so emotional and it was all my kids knew,” Hardrick said. “I wasn’t looking for a new challenge but I am excited for a new challenge and new motivation.

“There’s not any bad blood or anything like that. I’m excited for something new to get me going for workouts in the off-season. I’m excited.”

He also speaks fondly of old Mosaic Stadium as he gets ready to be a part of the home team in the new facility that the Riders now calls home.

“It was still football heaven. We were 0-9 (in 2015) and still selling out,” Hardrick said.

“Playing against (Saskatchewan) and that crowd, it’s so hard. It’s one of those weeks you don’t get a lot of sleep and it’s one of those weeks when you come out and warm up (and) you don’t have to wait for the crowd to roar – it’s already on.”

During the negotiation period, Hardrick spoke to new Riders head coach Corey Mace, which helped tip the scale in the Roughriders’ favour.

“It was basically what I have been in and what I am looking for – being a family, coming to work every day, not looking at the results and trying to do the right things and the little things and the wins will come on the field after we do those things,” Hardrick said.

He’s also excited to play with another new Rider in running back A.J. Ouellette, who left the Toronto Argonauts to sign a two-year contract with Saskatchewan on Tuesday.

“Some guys you watch on film and (think), ‘Man, that guy would be fun to play with,’ ” Hardrick said. “And it’s easy to see when you put that Toronto tape on, the guy is having fun and running hard-nosed.”

Hardrick will play a key role in keeping the Riders’ rushing attack on track and keeping quarterback Trevor Harris upright. The 2023 Roughriders gave up 54 sacks last season.

“I’m just going to try and do my job,” Hardrick said. “I’m going to use my knowledge and be physical. I’m not perfect – I know we have great rush ends in this league – I’m not perfect but I try to make up for it with my physicality.”

The Riders signed six CFL free agents on the first day of free agency: Hardrick, Ouellette, linebackers Jameer Thurman and Jordan Herdman-Reed, defensive end Malik Carney and cornerback Jalon Edwards-Cooper. Linebacker Adam Auclair had signed previously.