For the 11th time, a Saskatchewan Roughrider has been named the CFL West Division’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.

It is doubtful that any of the first 10 notification processes unfolded in a manner that is comparable to what the current right tackle experienced the other day.

“It was a little scary from J.O. and Corey,” Jermarcus Hardrick, nicknamed Yoshi, said on Thursday, referencing Jeremy O’Day (Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager) and the division’s 2025 Coach of the Year, Corey Mace.

“They were like, ‘Hey, we’ve got a meeting with you.’ I walked in and J.O. walked down the hall and I sat with Mace. He was just quiet. Then J.O. walked in and said, ‘Yosh, I’m sorry it had to come to this …’

“They both put their heads down and my lip started quivering. I thought I was really in trouble.

“Then they said, ‘You’re the West’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman,’ so we hugged each other.

“I told them ‘thank you for everything.’ I thanked them for the chance and for believing in me after the injury.”

Hardrick, whose 2024 season was limited to five games by a quad injury, rebounded with a flourish in 2025 for a Saskatchewan team that finished first overall in the league and is now preparing to play host to the Western Final (Nov. 8, 5:30 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).

The team’s success has helped Mace and Hardrick become second-time CFL Awards finalists.

As a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Hardrick received divisional top-lineman laurels in 2023. He signed with Saskatchewan as a free agent on Feb. 13, 2024.

Mace has been named the division’s top coach in both his seasons with the Roughriders.

“I think most coaches would tell you we look at that as a team award, an organizational award,” Mace said. “So much goes into it. I’m humbled just to represent the organization.”

Moreover, he is delighted that Hardrick will carry Saskatchewan’s colours at the awards gala during Grey Cup Week in Winnipeg.

“I think everybody in the league knows how good he can be — how good he is,” Mace said. “I’m just so proud of him, with how things ended for him last year and the work that he put in to get back on the field.

“Obviously, the way he’s been playing this year hasn’t gone unnoticed. It’s well-deserved. There’s a lot of really good offensive linemen in the league and, truthfully, on our team, but Yosh has kind of been playing at a different clip.”

With Hardrick and Logan Ferland on the roster, Saskatchewan boasts the past three Western representatives for the top-lineman award. Ferland was the 2024 nominee.

Hardrick and Ferland followed Roger Aldag (1986, 1988), Vic Stevenson (1992), Andrew Greene (2000, 2003), Gene Makowsky (2004, 2005, 2008) and Brendon LaBatte (2013) as finalists from the Roughriders.

Aldag (1986, 1988), Greene (2003), Makowsky (2004, 2005) and LaBatte (2013) went on to win the league award.

The 39-year-old Mace is in the running to become the eighth Roughrider to be named Coach of the Year. The winners to this point are Steve Owen (1962), Eagle Keys (1968), Joe Faragalli (1981), John Gregory (1989), Kent Austin (2007), Corey Chamblin (2013) and Chris Jones (2018).

Mace and the Montreal Alouettes’ Jason Maas are the finalists for the second year in a row.

“(Mace) is awesome,” Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris said. “He’s just one of those guys where we have tons of fun, but he commands a lot of respect.

“He’s quite the coach. I’m very, very happy that I’ve had the opportunity to play football for him and be on his team.

“He’s very deserving. I think it would be a surprise if he didn’t win it. He has been awesome for us. He makes our place a better place to play and he makes this league great.

“I couldn’t be more happy for him.”

Hardrick is delighted to receive individual accolades, but the priorities are clear and unwavering.

“On a personal level, it means a lot — coming off an injury and getting back out there,” he said, “but I didn’t do it alone. There are the guys beside me, the coaches, the strength staff … everyone.

“I don’t care if I win any award if we get to win the Grey Cup. That’s the major award.”