WINNIPEG — Jermarcus Hardrick wanted his 2024 football season to end in Vancouver, but not the way it did.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive lineman suffered a season-ending quad injury early in the third quarter of last year’s fifth game, against the host B.C. Lions. The 111th Grey Cup Game was played four months later at BC Place.
Tears were shed as Hardrick immersed himself in a gruelling, often-frustrating rehabilitation regimen. But now, when the emotions reach a peak, it is because of sheer joy.
The 35-year-old right tackle’s remarkable comeback story was formally celebrated on Thursday night when he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
Hardrick earned 38 of a possible 53 votes. Brandon Revenberg of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was the East Division finalist.
“It’s because of more than me,” Hardrick said. “It’s because of the most outstanding teammates, the most outstanding wife, the most outstanding fans and the most outstanding support.
“I didn’t do this alone.”
He is far from alone on a list of Roughriders who have won the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award.
Roger Aldag (1986, 1988) and Gene Makowsky (2004, 2005) were two-time winners. Andrew Greene (2003) and Brendon LaBatte (2013) were the other recipients.
Also on Thursday, Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke was named the George Reed Most Outstanding Player and the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian.
Trey Vaval of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers also won two awards — Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. B.C.’s Mathieu Betts was honoured as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
The presentations were made three days before the Roughriders are to oppose the Montreal Alouettes with a Grey Cup championship as the prize.
Hardrick’s banner year is especially impressive when you consider that an injury such as the one he sustained would be a career-ender for many athletes in their mid-30s.
“I didn’t even think I’d be playing again, because I got carted off,” he said.
That mindset was quickly revised to: “I hope I can play another year. I hope that wasn’t my last one.”
Sure enough, it wasn’t.
“I don’t know about the odds, but I feel like I got what I worked for,” the 6-foot-4, 315-pounder reflected. “There were some long days and some days I cried.
“It was very tough learning how to do little things again. There was range of motion, strengthening my quad. For six weeks, I couldn’t bend it, so my wife had to get me out of the truck, put me in the bathroom, get me out of bed.
“I’m a big guy and she’s on the smaller side. My leg may weigh more than her body, so it was tough on my family. My wife and kids, man, they did a lot for me.”
So did Head Athletic Therapist Greg Mayer and his dedicated staff.
“There were some days when Greg had to shake me up,” Hardrick said. “There were some days when my wife told me I had to suck it up.
“Some days, I looked my kids in the face and turned my eyes so I didn’t cry, because I couldn’t get the certain degrees (of movement) that I wanted.
“I’ve always given it my all, but I said, ‘This year, I’m not going to just squeeze the orange. I’m going to squeeze the orange peel.
“I don’t think I missed a day at the stadium. Even if I wasn’t working out, I would just sit in the locker room. If I was in Regina, I went to the stadium every day, and I just enjoyed it.
“I just wanted to see Gordie (Gilroy, Equipment Manager). I wanted to see Greg. I was there every day, even if it was just hot tub, cold tub, steam.
“I was just squeezing the peel — trying to get everything out of it.”
Fittingly, Hardrick’s three children — Jermarcus Jr., Santana and Lyla — were also on stage when the award was presented.
The newly decorated award winner acknowledged his wife Samantha, who was in the crowd, during an acceptance speech that was dominated with thank-yous and devoid of self-congratulation.
“When I was a kid, that’s what I dreamed about — having a family,” a proud dad said. “I dreamed about being at the awards shows. I dreamed about doing big things.
“One of the things I wanted as a kid was to have a family and have them see me do great things.”
