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Lofton has to be his own man – Winnipeg Free Press

The Madras Tribune
The Madras Tribune
Lofton has to be his own man – Winnipeg Free Press


Eric Lofton wants to make one thing clear: he is not Jermarcus Hardrick.

“He’s one of the players up here you can’t replace no matter who you bring in. What he’s done for this city, what he’s done for this game, when he decides he’s finished, I think he has a place in the hall of fame,” said Lofton after Blue Bombers training camp Wednesday.

“I can’t come in here and say ‘I’m gonna replace Jermarcus, I’m the new Jermarcus.’ I can’t look at it like that. I’ll never be able to be him, all I can do is come in and try to be the best Eric Lofton.”


MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Eric Lofton will have to be the best player he can be and not worry about comparisons to Jermarcus Hardrick.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS

Eric Lofton will have to be the best player he can be and not worry about comparisons to Jermarcus Hardrick.

Hardrick left the Blue and Gold after seven seasons to sign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders last winter, becoming the highest-paid American offensive lineman in the league.

The favourite to fill that massive void at right tackle is Lofton, a CFL journeyman who started a career-high 14 games for the Riders in 2023. The year before that, he was in Winnipeg as Hardrick’s backup.

“He basically became my big brother. I still talk to him all the time. No matter where we go for the rest of our lives, no matter what colours we wear up here, he’s always going to be my brother,” said Lofton.

The door is now open for little bro’ to make a name for himself. There are other candidates for the job, but none have the experience that the 31-year-old from Philadelphia, Pa., has.

Lofton has 21 career starts to his name since breaking into the league with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2017. He also suited up for Edmonton in 2019 after attending training camp with the B.C. Lions that year.

“My (journey) has made me love Canada. When the CFL first calls you, a lot of us really don’t know too much. We know Toronto and Vancouver, the major cities, but once you see the other cities, it’s like ‘Oh sh – -, Canada is amazing, man, I love it up here,’” said Lofton.

“It’s the business of professional football. All you can control is your effort and attitude every day. With all the stops I’ve had, wherever I was at, I just tried to be me every day and work as hard as I could. But it has been cool to see all these cities.”

The Temple University product jumped at the opportunity to rejoin the Bombers. Saskatchewan had to juggle their O-line for most of last year thanks to injuries. Lofton is looking forward to being part of a group that has consistently remained on the field together year after year.

“In Winnipeg, these guys are like iron men, nobody misses games,” said the 6-4, 293-pounder.

“This is one of those teams where they don’t just bring in anybody into this building. That’s special to me because that means they think you have a chance to fit in.”

Longtime left tackle Stanley Bryant liked what he saw from Lofton in 2022 and thinks he can handle a promotion.

“He knows that we’re gonna be fast and play physical. He can bring those attributes, but also he can do the other things,” said Bryant, 38.

“He can be a leader when it’s time to be a leader, he can set an example for the young guys, hell, he can even set an example for me if I need it. So, I think he’s one of those guys that’s gonna step in, buy in, and do what he has to do.”

Lofton, who gave up a sack in the first pre-season contest, should have a chance to solidify his spot Friday at home against Calgary in the second and final exhibition.