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Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Mace and offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick will look to bring some additional hardware home from Winnipeg.
For a second straight season, Mace is the CFL West Division’s Coach of the Year. Right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick is named the West’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for a second time in his career, winning it in 2023 as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Hardrick admits he went through a roller-coaster of emotions prior to finding out because of how the team elected to tell him the news.
“I was walking up and it was like, ‘Hey, we have a meeting with you,’ and I walked in and (general manager Jeremy O’Day) walked down the hall and I sat with Mace and he was quiet there. J.O. walked in and said, ‘Yosh, I’m sorry it had to come to this,’ and they both put their heads down and my lip started (quivering) because I thought I was really in trouble and then they said, ‘You’re the West (Most Outstanding Offensive) lineman,'” Hardrick said.
Earlier this week, Hardrick was one of 10 Riders named West Division All-CFLers. Despite that, Hardrick said he still had no idea what the meeting was about.
“In 2015, I had that same meeting with J.O. It was my last meeting ever here,” Hardrick said. “I have been cut seven or eight or nine times so you never know. I just don’t chance it anymore. I walk on eggshells. I love football.”
Mace has guided the Riders to a 12-6 record and first place in the CFL for just the fifth time in team history. Saskatchewan will host the CFL West Final on Nov. 8.
He currently holds a 21-14-1 record as a head coach.
“I think most coaches would tell you we look at it as a team award and an organization award. So much goes into it. I’m humbled to just represent the organization,” Mace said.
The culture he has built in the locker room has translated onto the field with the club leading the league in fewest points allowed (346), fewest rushing yards allowed (76.0 per game), fewest yards per opposing rushing attempt (4.6), average time of possession (31:47) and average yards per kickoff return (24.9).
Mace has also brought previous Grey Cup success to the club, winning in 2023 as the Toronto Argonauts defensive co-ordinator and twice with the Calgary Stampeders — as a defensive lineman in 2014 and as the defensive line coach in 2018.
“He’s the man,” Riders quarterback Trevor Harris said. “He’s one of those guys who we have tons of fun but he commands a lot of respect. He’s quite the coach. I’m very, very happy I have had the opportunity to play football for him and be on his team.”
Hardrick has been a mainstay at right tackle for the 2025 Roughriders after missing most of last season with an injury.
“I facetimed my wife last night and we teared up a little bit,” Hardrick said. “The times she had to pick me up to put me in the truck. Trying to get my degrees back in my legs — I was having good days and I was having setbacks. I was like, ‘Man, it’s never going to happen.’ Just being hard on myself, I wanted it to happen fast but it was a slow thing. Now being in this spot, it’s crazy.”
The 35-year-old joined the Riders for a second time during the 2024 offseason. He played with Saskatchewan in 2015 before joining the Bombers from 2016-2023, winning two Grey Cups.
He has helped the Riders allow the third-fewest sacks in the league (26) this season and also helped clear the way for running back AJ Ouellette, who was the second-leading rusher in the CFL (1,222 yards).
Both are focused on bringing the Grey Cup back to Saskatchewan for just the fifth time in the team’s history. The championship game takes place in Winnipeg on Nov. 16.
The individual CFL awards will be handed out on Nov. 13.
Saskatchewan will host the CFL West Final on Nov. 8. They will take on the winner of the CFL West semifinal on Nov. 1, which features the B.C. Lions are hosting the Calgary Stampeders.
