Riders’ Carney forging his own legacy since high school

Back in high school, Malik Carney and his football teammates had to try to find a way to create their own legacy at T.C. Williams High School.

Now known as Alexandria City High School, it was the school’s 1971 state championship team that was depicted in the blockbuster movie Remember the Titans.

“It’s a huge school. Like 4,000 people in the school — a graduating class was about 1,000. It’s a lot of people — you see a lot of people and athletes and stuff like that. The movie was a huge legacy but during my time there, it was more so trying to create our own legacy,” the Alexandria, Va. product said. “Everything was great and they set the foundation but it was more so getting our message across and laying down our foundation and creating our own legacy.”

In his senior season, the Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker and his high school teammates created that legacy by being the first team from that high school to make playoffs after a 22-year drought.

“It was something special. We didn’t go far in the playoffs but to end that drought, it was special,” Carney said.

He also personally made his own sort of legacy when he earned a nickname there — Scoop.

“We had a scout team running back pretty much just cooking us – running left, right and down the middle. Coach called a play where we met between the tackles where I — boom — scooped him and one of my teammates was gassing me up, ‘Oh you scooped him,’ and it kind of stuck. I ran with it and I got to college and it just blew up,” Carney said. “I liked it and it grew on me.”

Even though he’s now in his fourth season of CFL football, Carney makes sure to go back to his old high school when he can.

“When I go back home, I go to the school and help out with the kids and the football team. I still see my pictures and stuff up around the school and all that. I’ve definitely left my legacy there and something I can look back on,” Carney said.

After high school, Carney went on to play college ball at the University of North Carolina with the Tar Heels. He registered 176 total tackles (including 32.5 for a loss), 17 sacks, four pass knockdowns, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

“I love UNC. I don’t get to go back as much as I want to but when I do, it’s always love. Coach Mack Brown is amazing. I didn’t get to play for him but when I went back there, he knew who I was and welcomed me with open arms and he’s a great guy,” Carney said.

While the 28-year-old didn’t get selected in the 2019 draft, he did sign a practice roster agreement with the Seattle Seahawks in 2019.

That same year after being released by Seattle, he signed an agreement with the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos released him after the 2020 preseason and due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it became tough to find a new landing spot.

So for 2021, he elected to come to Canada and signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“Just the opportunity. That COVID year happened and it was tough. Teams didn’t really bring guys in — you’d have to quarantine for two weeks just to get a workout so it was a little challenging just to try to get a look. That’s why I came up here — I wanted to get an opportunity to play and show my skill set and I stayed,” Carney said.

He’s enjoyed every second of being up in Canada playing football.

“Being in Hamilton for three years to coming here, just seeing outside of football and seeing the world and seeing what it has to offer and appreciating the game because there’s a lot of stuff that you really don’t understand and you miss like meeting people — my teammate is from Italy. I never would have come across a guy from Italy. The camaraderie, the brotherhood, the people, that’s what I love,” Carney said.

During his three seasons in Hamilton, the defensive end racked up 13 sacks.

But when the 2024 free agency hit, there was one big reason Carney ended up wearing green and white — head coach Corey Mace.

“I watched him when he was in Calgary and Toronto. I was always a big supporter of Corey Mace and once he gave me the call, it was easy for me to make that decision,” Carney said.

“Just looking back on it, when I used to watch him back in Toronto with how many turnovers they got and how they call their plays, the reason why I came here, everything is just translating from what I’ve seen in Toronto and Calgary to here. I’m excited to continue to go through this season.”

“We’re still early — we’re 5-1 right now but we still have a lot of corrections to make and can still be better in a lot of areas. It’s still a long season. Just continue to stay focused, keep our head straight and play physical and fast like we do.”

The Riders will look to add another win to their record — and take the top spot in the CFL standings — on Thursday when they take on the Montreal Alouettes, who are also 5-1.

Kickoff for the game is set for 5:30 p.m. Sask. time. The Green Zone pregame show begins at 3:30 p.m.