Moncrief, Sankey ready to make big impact with Riders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are getting their first looks at their big linebacker acquisitions in the offseason.

General manager Jeremy O’Day made a splash on the first day of free agency on Feb. 8, signing linebackers Darnell Sankey and Derrick Moncrief.

Sankey was the CFL’s leading tackler in his rookie CFL season with the Calgary Stampeders, recording 97 in 14 games.

“Rider nation is going to see a fast, aggressive linebacker who can lead this team. That’s my goal – lead the defence to a Grey Cup,” Sankey said. “They are going to see me go out there and give it my all every single play.”

Sankey said what excites him most about this defence — and coordinator Jason Shivers’ system — is that the players have the ability to make their own calls and changes.

“In the game, (Shivers) allows us to do what we need to do. Everyone is flying to the ball and hitting and making plays,” Sankey said.

Head coach, Craig Dickenson, said Sankey is already making his presence felt in the locker room as well.

“He’s a tough guy that’s all business. He was in here early and he wants to know everything,” Dickenson said. “He’s a good one. I’m happy we signed him and I think you’re going to see him make a lot of plays for us.”

Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker #42 Derrick Moncrief runs through drills at training camp at Griffiths Stadium on May 20, 2022. (Steve Seto/650 CKOM)

Moncrief, who played for the Riders from 2017-19 before going to the NFL, came back to the CFL as a member of the Edmonton Elks. Despite only playing in nine games, Moncrief was named Edmonton’s most outstanding defensive player after recording 23 tackles and four sacks.

“(Regina) feels like home to me. Ever since 2017 … all the years went by and I went to the NFL, I just feel at home,” Moncrief said. “I’m just glad to be here to try and win a championship.”

While Moncrief is back in green and white, there are a lot of new faces in the Riders linebacker room he didn’t see his first time around.

Solomon Elimimian is now retired and the president of the CFL Players’ Association while Cam Judge is now in Calgary.

Now Moncrief will line up next to Sankey and the Riders’ 2021 most outstanding Canadian nominee Micah Teitz. Three-time CFL divisional all-star Larry Dean is also a part of the group.

Teitz left Saturday’s practice early, with Dickenson saying it was precautionary since the linebacker has been dealing with something all off-season.

“Every year you have to get better and every team has a new identity,” Moncrief said. “Right now, we’re just trying to form an identity, build chemistry and try to be there at the end of the year and hold that trophy up.”

The intensity for training camp Sunday is expected to pick up, with the Riders holding their first padded practice of the year. The practice is set to get underway at 9 a.m.