CFL sack leader A.C. Leonard re-signs with Riders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are retaining one of the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) most formidable pass rushers.

The Riders signed defensive lineman A.C. Leonard to a two-year contract extension, the club announced Monday.

The 29-year-old Florida native finished the 2021 season atop the CFL sacks list with a career-high 11 sacks in 11 games, adding 41 defensive tackles, six tackles for loss, two pass knockdowns, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Leonard also received plenty of attention for serving a three-game suspension last season for refusing to provide a urine sample during a routine drug test following the Labour Day Classic.

The suspension was originally two games, but the league subsequently added another game, saying Leonard verbally abused the official trying to administer the test.

Leonard originally entered the league as a receiver with the B.C. Lions in 2015. He switched to the defensive line when he came to the Roughriders in 2016. From there, Leonard developed into one of the league’s top defensive ends, going on to play in 78 career games on defence, making 200 tackles, 36 sacks, one interception and five forced fumbles.

He played the 2018 season with the Ottawa Redblacks and was named an East Division All-Star before returning to Saskatchewan in 2019.