Trevon Tate ready to rock with Riders after release from Stamps

Trevon Tate couldn’t be happier to join the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“It’s been the best thing to ever happen to me,” the 28-year-old offensive tackle said. “It was the best situation possible. It’s like a sigh of relief to be able to come to an organization that has a coach that I trust and has been around the last two seasons, and the organization is doing well.

Tate played the 2021-23 seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, where he worked with the Roughriders’ head coach Corey Mace, who was the Argos’ defensive co-ordinator in 2022-23. He also got to know Edwin Harrison, the Riders’ offensive line coach, who was serving as Toronto’s running backs and quality control coach during that same period.

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“It’s like family,” Tate said.

“They have seen my past struggles in Toronto and have seen I want to be on the field.”

Prior to going to Toronto, Tate played from 2015-18 with the Memphis Tigers. He signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2019 and 2021 before joining the Argos. There, he was behind Isiah Cage and Dejon Allen, who was the CFL’s most-outstanding offensive lineman in 2023.

“I tore my ACL in 2022 and the year before that, I tore my elbow,” Tate said. “Coming back in 2023, I played 10 games and Mace was impressed with it enough to want me here.”

Saskatchewan is also where Tate wanted to be. After only dressing for one game this season for the Calgary Stampeders, Tate requested a release from the team.

“A lot of things were personal but I just felt like they didn’t respect a lot of the off-field things I had going on and a lot of things I was told were just lies,” Tate said. “I couldn’t take it no more mentally, so it was just like, ‘You’re either going to play me or release me, because I’m watching the situation (in Saskatchewan). I’m seeing the perfect opportunity to better my situation,’ and that’s what it came down to.”

Tate said he wanted to join the Riders this past offseason, but things didn’t work out. The Riders had signed Jermarcus Hardrick to be the starting right tackle for the team, filling that need. But the spot opened up again, as Hardrick has been out since July 13 with a quad injury.

“In the offseason, this was the number-one priority for me – to get here,” Tate said. “Things don’t always work out, but at the end of the day it worked out how it was supposed to, so I feel blessed and honoured to be around a group of great coaches and great players. It just feels good.”

Tate was released from Calgary on August 14 and, with the Stamps on a bye week, Tate said he had a flight booked to head home to Houston.

But he never boarded that flight, as the Riders signed him, announcing the move this past Monday.

“I missed my flight and flew in here and got in at three in the morning,” the 6’4”, 295-pounder said. “There was no time to waste.”

Tate is set to make his debut with the Riders on Thursday when the Green and White takes on the Argos. Kickoff for the game is set for 5:30 p.m.

“To be inserted right away, it’s a great feeling to know those guys trust me,” Tate said. “Granted, I did play Toronto back-to-back weeks with Calgary just a couple of weeks ago, so they know what’s going on and I know the playbook as well.”

Tate said he’s excited to finally have the opportunity he’s been aiming for.

“I just got to keep working hard, get used to the guys, get used to the calls and just building trust,” he said. “I do trust the guys already. The guys are great, and know what they are talking about, and are very well disciplined.”