There are only a handful of game-breaking kick returners in the CFL, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders believe they have one this season in Kendial Lawrence. The 25-year-old from Rockwall, Texas has been targeted as the team’s primary returner after posting solid numbers with the Edmonton Eskimos last year.
Lawrence racked up 2,113 all-purpose yards last season, 1,634 of which came on kick-off and punt returns. His 963 punt return yards were second-most in the league. By comparison, the entire Riders’ team had just 598.
“I know where my blocks are supposed to be and I know who’s supposed to be on what guy, so I feel like I have an advantage. I’m just always ready to make someone miss and go score a touchdown and do a back flip in the end zone,” he said.
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Officially listed as a wide receiver on the Riders’ depth chart, Lawrence was one of the first players to sign with the team when the CFL free agency window opened in February. One of the big reasons he chose the green and white was to continue working with many of the same coaches who have been giving him guidance for the past two seasons.
“I was really close with coach Jones and his staff. That was a big help for me, just to be able to come to a new place and feel like home again, just being around familiar faces,” he said.
Among those faces is special teams coordinator Craig Dickenson, who is back for a second stint in Saskatchewan after working for the Riders during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. In Lawrence, Dickenson sees an explosive play-maker who can not only help the team in the return game but also on offence.
“You can line him up at tailback, you can line him up at slot receiver. He can be both your kick returner and punt returner. The guy’s got great versatility,” Dickenson said. “If we can just keep him healthy, maintain his strength and keep getting him a little bit better each day, he’s a weapon.”
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After helping the Eskimos to a Grey Cup victory last season, Lawrence is confident he can help the Riders erase the memory of a miserable 2015 and return to the success they have enjoyed for the better part of the last decade.
“We won a Grey Cup last year and that was such an awesome feeling. To be in a position to try and get back to that type of game situation, I’m just motivated to do whatever I can to help out,” he said.
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