Roughriders sign linebacker Solomon Elimimian

It’s often said that defence wins championships in football — and the Saskatchewan Roughriders added a valuable piece to their defensive puzzle by signing one of the league’s top players.

Linebacker Solomon Elimimian signed with the Green and White on Thursday after being released by the B.C. Lions earlier this off-season.

“I think as a player, every player that plays here, they have in the back of their mind, ‘What would it be like to play in Saskatchewan?’ ” Elimimian said during a media conference at Mosaic Stadium. “With the fan base and the crowd … the atmosphere is something different than any place you’ve ever been.”

Elimimian comes in boasting one of the most impressive resumes in the CFL.

Over his first nine seasons in the league – all spent with the Lions – the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has been named a West Division all-star five times (2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) and a CFL all-star four times (2011, 2014, 2016 and 2017).

He also was named the CFL’s most outstanding rookie in 2010, its most outstanding defensive player in 2014 and 2016, and its most outstanding player in 2014.

He won a Grey Cup with the Lions in 2011.

Despite being a veteran in the league, Elimimian said he feels rejuvenated coming into this season.

“I’m going into my 10th year and I feel like I’m in my first year with the doubts and all that stuff and that’s a good motivator,” he said.

The 32-year-old product of Calabar, Nigeria, signed with B.C. in 2010 after playing collegiately at Hawaii. In 118 career regular-season CFL games, Elimimian has recorded 745 defensive tackles, 36 special-teams stops, 29 sacks, eight interceptions and eight forced fumbles.

General manager Jeremy O’Day said the Roughriders’ plan wasn’t always to be patient but they ended up benefiting from having a great player available to them.

“In the past, Saskatchewan hasn’t always been a target for free agents and I think there’s a shift now where players want to play in Saskatchewan,” O’Day said. “We wanted a player that wants to be here.”

What will fans notice from Elimimian once he takes the field wearing the “S” logo?

“My passion, my excitement,” he said. “I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder from high school to college to a professional. It’s crazy because despite all the accolades I’ve won, I don’t see that. I see the kid that was told I was too small, the kid who I was told I was not good enough and that’s what drives me.”

Elimimian is another signing to a Riders defence that seems to have filled the major vacancies left in it during free agency.

With defensive end Willie Jefferson heading east to Winnipeg and linebacker Sam Eguavoen south to Miami, the Riders added Elimimian and defensive tackle Micah Johnson to try and recreate the success the team had last season when it was tied for the league lead in sacks.