When members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders ran wind sprints to conclude Tuesday’s practice, the list of runners included Hardrick, Hardrick, Hardrick and Hardrick.
The three children of offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick joined Dad on the field for a few precious minutes before the players and coaches immersed themselves in post-workout meetings leading up to Saturday’s CFL road game against the Edmonton Elks.
“Yoshi’s kids belong to the team,” Head Coach Corey Mace said after Jermarcus Jr. (age 13), Santana (who turns 11 next week) and Lyla (who turns 10 in August) embraced their proud father following Wednesday’s practice — one day after the aforementioned wind sprints.
“It’s awesome to see them out here. They come to pretty much every practice when they’re in town. They’re always welcome on the field and in the facility.
“It’s not just his family. There are multiple others as well.”
The engagement level peaks when the Hardricks, whose full-time home is in Lincoln, Neb., are in Saskatchewan.
“I love bringing my kids to work,” said Samantha Hardrick’s husband, a University of Nebraska Cornhuskers alumnus.
“It’s just the family atmosphere we have here. There’s an open-door policy for families. The coaches have made it that way.
“It makes it a lot easier for me. I’m not looking over my shoulder. I know my kids are probably loud and doing their own thing, but I love it.
“I’m glad we can let them have fun and be a part of it. They call the guys uncles, so it’s a blessing.”
The timing of the on-field interactions is also something to cherish.
“You forget about the plays you messed up (in practice),” Hardrick said with a smile. “You’re like, ‘I’ve still got to take care of home.’
“You can be mad about the plays you mess up, but then you see your daughters and your son run up to you and you think, ‘I want to be better for football, but they’re still happy.’
“They do care if we lose, but they don’t care what my grade is or what happened or what people say. I’m just Dad to them.”
Hardrick’s kids were also on stage in Winnipeg on Nov. 13, when he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman — three days before helping Saskatchewan win the Grey Cup.
ROSTER NOTES
Daniel Johnson is a candidate to start at left guard in place of Zack Fry, who suffered a knee injury in Thursday’s 36-34 home-field loss to Edmonton.
Johnson made one start at left guard and four starts at left tackle in 2025.
He has been the Roughriders’ sixth offensive lineman in each of the past five games.
“It’s awesome to be a part of the offence and be trusted by our team and our coaches,” Johnson said. “It’s awesome to just be out there and play for your boys — play for your brothers.”
Change is in the works for the front five for the first time this season. Saskatchewan has started Fry, Hardrick, Payton Collins (left tackle), Logan Ferland (centre) and Jacob Brammer (right tackle) for each of the first six games, compiling a 4-2 record.
A final decision has yet to be made on who will play left guard in the anticipated absence of Fry.
“We’ve rolled out a few things during the week,” Mace said on Wednesday. “Yesterday we looked a little bit different. We’ll review the tape today and make a decision moving forward for tomorrow.”
There will also be discussions about the status of two-time 1,000-yard receiver Samuel Emilus, who has yet to practise this week due to a foot injury.
“I think we’re pretty hopeful,” Mace said. “We should see him out here tomorrow.”
