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Published Nov 12, 2025 • 3 minute read
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Back when he was a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick hammers home a point during a team practice. Photo by Kevin King /Winnipeg SunArticle content
Rewind to the CFL off-season of 2023-24, when the Saskatchewan Roughriders were tired of losing and watching their hated rivals in Winnipeg win.
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Roughriders general manager Jeremy O’Day looked at the list of potential free agents and circled the name of Blue Bombers lineman Jermarcus Hardrick.
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“The question was are we going to get an opportunity to talk to him,” O’Day was saying on Grey Cup media day at the convention centre on Wednesday. “Probably a long shot.”
That shot hit the bull’s-eye, and with the stroke of a pen the Riders had not only improved themselves, but delivered a hard blow to the Bombers.
“You would consider that,” O’Day said. “You don’t have to play against him anymore, so that helps. And certainly if it’s a division rival. You look back at the tough years that we’ve had and we really struggled on the O-line.
“I can remember the moment when he agreed to his contract, and we were pretty damn excited.”
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On Sunday the rejuvenated Riders will square off with Montreal in the 112th Grey Cup – in the Bombers’ back yard.
Why would an American O-lineman be such a priority and pay off so handsomely?
Start with attitude, finish with size, blocking ability and enough exuberance to fill a locker-room and you have the West Division nominee for this year’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award.
“We were tired of him pushing our guys after the play was over,” O’Day said. “That’s kind of a joke, but it’s not, really. We wanted to become more physical. So we identified players that played with an edge, played to the whistle … constantly seeing him after plays laying on a guy or pushing the envelope, never getting a penalty but always riding the line a little bit, that was the type of players we wanted.”
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Head coach Corey Mace, himself a recent addition to the Riders at the time, loves what he calls the “trench dogs,” the behemoths along the line of scrimmage.
“He is the junkyard dog of the trench dogs,” is how Mace described Hardrick. “I think you know. He’s an annoying presence for an opponent. What makes it so annoying is more times than not, you can’t really do too much about it.
“The way that he openly celebrates with his teammates in front of his opponent and how he carries himself … he is the heartbeat of the team.”
A heartbeat that’s become a little less strong in Winnipeg since he left.
“Having coached against him, I thought: ‘Well that’ll be a nice little marriage,’ ” Mace said. “He’s not a very nice player on the field.”
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Soon after he arrived in Regina, Hardrick reminded Mace the two had actually faced each other in a game, years ago.
“I had to go back and watch, and I did,” the coach said. “The same stuff he’s doing now, he did to me.”
It didn’t take Hardrick long to seal his role as a leader in Saskatchewan.
“God, no. It was instant,” Mace said. “I just saw how he galvanized a group in his previous location. I encouraged him to be himself. And it was quick. Right away. You can’t come to practice half-assed around Jermarcus Hardrick. Or it’s going to be some bad tape for you.”
O’Day credits his coach with convincing players such as Hardrick to sign with the Riders.
“It’s difficult,” the GM said. “He’s with a great organization that has a great head coach. They’re having a lot of success – how does that happen? And the answer is just Corey Mace. He’s a guy that players want to play for.”
Hardrick says it was a gut-wrenching decision to leave Winnipeg. But he was ready for a new chapter and a bigger paycheque.
“I had to do what’s best for me,” he said. “Love Winnipeg, nothing bad to say from the top down. When I look back on it after I retire, that’s what it’s going to be about. I enjoyed the hell out of my time in Winnipeg.”
He will this week, too.
paul.friesen@kleinmedia.ca
X: @friesensunmedia
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