‘This place was like home for me’: Moncrief returns to Riders, Sask. adds Sankey to LB group

Derrick Moncrief said coming back to the Saskatchewan Roughriders feels like coming home.

“I come from a small hometown – Prattville, Alabama – and it just reminds me of that, just football and nothing too crazy within the city limits. It just feels very comfortable here and it’s just a great feeling to be here,” Moncrief told media on Tuesday after he signed with the CFL team as a free agent.

“It’s the first place I played at. I always knew that this place was like home for me. It’s everything you look for to be a professional athlete. You just want to accept your legacy and continue to build (it).”

The 28-year-old strong-side linebacker returns to Saskatchewan, where he spent the first three seasons (2017-19) of his CFL career. In those three seasons, he recorded 126 tackles, four sacks, and five interceptions.

He signed with the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders after the 2019 CFL season and then spent 2020 with the Los Angeles Rams.

Moncrief came back to the CFL in 2021 with the Edmonton Elks. He recorded 23 tackles and four sacks and was named Edmonton’s most outstanding defensive player.

It didn’t take long for Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day to reach out to Moncrief about a reunion, doing so on the first day of the bargaining window.

“We never wanted him to leave in the first place,” O’Day said. “We were trying to get him back to Riderville (in 2021) but when you’re into the season, you are dealing with salary cap issues in the beginning and middle of the season.”

And Moncrief couldn’t be happier that the reunion became a reality.

“I always wanted to be here. Just had to understand business was business last year,” Moncrief said. “I’m just grateful to be here this year and ready to be here long term and hopefully retire as a Rider.”

2021 CFL tackle leader Darnell Sankey signs with Riders

The Riders’ linebacker group got another boost Tuesday in the form of middle linebacker Darnell Sankey.

Sankey was the CFL’s leader in tackles in 2021 with 97 stops in his first CFL season. The 27-year-old didn’t re-sign with the Calgary Stampeders despite an impressive rookie year.

The San Jose product also added a sack to his resume.

“I had quite a few teams interested and we just looked at all the rosters and looked at all the teams and when it came to Saskatchewan, I was drawn to them,” Sankey said.

“When we played against you all, that home game, you had just reminded me so much of down south. The fan base was crazy, the games looked amazing and I did a lot of research on (the team). I looked at the coaching staff, the fan base, and the team and I just loved it.”

Sankey said he is willing to play wherever he is needed.

“It doesn’t matter; I’m just ready to come in here and do my thing and prove a point. I just want to win a Grey Cup. (Saskatchewan) knocked us out last year so hopefully, now that I’m a part of it, hopefully we can knock out some other teams,” Sankey said.

Riders re-sign St. John, lose key starters on defence

While the Riders made some key signings, they lost some big names to free agency as well on Tuesday.

Defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy — the Roughriders’ nominee for the award as the CFL’s most outstanding defensive player last season — signed with the B.C. Lions and defensive back Ed Gainey joined the Elks.

Defensive tackle Makana Henry is also on the move, joining Gainey in Edmonton.

Defensive tackle Micah Johnson hasn’t officially left the Roughriders, but reports said he was going to sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Riders also announced guard Josiah St. John will be staying with the team.

St. John started one game at left guard in 2021 but dressed for all 14 games. The 29-year-old also appeared in both playoff games for the Riders.