Eric Lofton getting his opportunity with the Riders

Eric Lofton has had to be patient, but he’s finally getting a chance to show what he can do in the CFL.

Prior to joining the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2023, the offensive tackle was a member of the Ottawa Redblacks (2017-19), Edmonton Elks (2019-20), and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but he only appeared in seven games while starting just three during that time.

“You just have to be able to adapt to any situation. You always have to be ready. You always have to be willing to learn and willing to adapt to the culture that is already in place before you get there,” Lofton said.

“You always have to be appreciative of opportunities, so it doesn’t matter if you change teams five times in one year – you just have to be appreciative that somebody believes in you and wants you in their building.”

He said he’s always been behind a great player on every CFL team he’s played with.

“When I first got up here, it was SirVincent Rogers for the first couple of years, and then I go out to Winnipeg and I’m behind Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick,” Lofton said.

“Right there, those are three of the greatest offensive tackles to ever play, so instead of me being bitter about my situation, you just try to learn and be like a sponge and take as much information as you can from those guys, so when your time does come you are ready to play.”

Now, in his sixth CFL season, Lofton has started 11 games for the Green and White.

“It means a lot they believed in me, but I can’t be just content with playing and starting. I just have to continue to raise my level of play and just keep getting better,” he said.

Lofton and the Riders will try to end a three-game slide on Friday when they are in B.C. to take on the Lions. Kickoff for the game is set for 8:30 p.m.

For the Lumberton, NJ, product, football was a sport he was drawn to growing up.

“I played every sport – baseball, soccer, basketball – and of course football,” Lofton said. “This is what I love.”

But while he has become a professional offensive lineman, it wasn’t a spot he’d even played until he got to Temple College.

“Coming up in little league, everyone was smaller so I was playing things like linebacker and tight end a little bit,” Lofton said. “When I got to college, it was O-line and I’ve been there ever since.”

He admitted it was an interesting transition when he made the switch.

“I came up watching a lot of my favourite players – Shannon Sharpe, Alge Crumpler, Todd Heap – and all of a sudden it’s like, ‘Put these knee braces on, you’re blocking full-time,'” Lofton said with a laugh.

“It’s fun once you get used to it. It’s a lot of fun.”

He said he had some offers to play elsewhere, but chose Temple due to how close it was to his hometown.

“I feel like it was a match made in Heaven,” Lofton said. “You’re always going to want to watch your family come see you play.”

The 30-year-old said he learned he had to bring it during every practice while in college.

“When you first get there, you’re 18 and I was like 260 (pounds), so I’m going against seniors, redshirt seniors – full grown men who are 22 or 23 and like 300 pounds – so you have to be ready to play.”

He appeared in 37 games as a member of the Owls, making starts at right tackle, right guard and left guard.

Despite the versatility he’d shown, he went undrafted and wasn’t sure when his next opportunity would come.

“I was selling mortgages. I’m a hell of a salesman,” Lofton said. “I always felt in the back of my mind that I still had a lot to give to the game, but it is what it is.”

Lofton said his college coach had some connections to the CFL, so Lofton sent along some college tape which would lead to him signing with Ottawa.

“I knew a little bit about (the CFL) because I had a couple guys from Temple that came up here,” Lofton said. “Of course, until you get to the country of Canada, you don’t appreciate it for what it is.

“The winter is where you experience the culture shock, because it got cold around October and I didn’t have the right coat.”

After being in Canada for years, he said he’s has grown to love what the nation has to offer.

“As soon as I got to Canada, I thought it was amazing. It was really nice,” Lofton said. “It has big cities where you can go to malls and things like that, but you can also go five or 10 minutes right outside of the city and see the most beautiful landscapes you have ever seen … It makes you truly appreciate nature.”

But while B.C. is filled with natural beauty, it’s a business trip for Lofton and the Riders as they try to earn an important win.

Part of being that means keeping a B.C. pass rush that features defensive end Mathieu Betts – who leads the CFL with 14 quarterback sacks – from getting to quarterback Jake Dolegala.

“It’s a great front and filled with great players,” Lofton said. “You just have to play together, and when the hat is on your head you have to make your play and win your one-on-ones against these guys.”