The Saskatchewan Roughriders have named their nominees for individual player awards. For the second time in his career, Jermarcus Hardrick was named his team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman. An announcement that caught Hardrick by surprise.
“Logan didn't get it; that was my initial reaction.”
Hardrick's recognition comes 15 months after he suffered a significant leg injury. He admits that if you had told him he would get this nomination in the midst of his rehab, he wouldn’t have believed it.
No, not at all. I talked to Greg (Riders’ Head Athletic Therapist Greg Mayer) about this a while ago. Last year, when I got hurt, I couldn't walk off the field, and I broke down. It was very emotional, and Greg told me, You're gonna be back on the field next year and I didn’t believe it.”
“Last year, I was going through a rehab part and I started crying. I ran out of the treatment room, and Greg came and found me, said some good words, and got me back in there. I thank Greg all the time for that. I had to learn how to walk again, how to squat again, and how to do all that. That was probably the hardest thing I've been through in a while,” Hardrick added.
The 35-year-old admits he hasn’t lost his passion and joy for the game or sight of what it means to him.
“It exposed me to the world, gave me a chance to see North America. Gave me a chance to get out of my small town and go to New Orleans, Nebraska, Tampa, and been in Florida. I went from a small town of 400. (I think we got a Greyhound bus now) I'm in Regina right now, so football gave me that. When I chased football, I was thinking about running away from it, but now it’s not going back.”
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