File photo of Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Derrick Moncrief. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

By Britton Gray

I Made It

From Prattville to Regina, hard work and sacrifice shaped Derrick Moncrief

Sep 28, 2019 | 2:55 PM

When Derrick Moncrief puts on his Saskatchewan Roughriders jersey for game day, it means more to him than just being a member of the CFL team.

It represents all the sacrifices and support he has got from people throughout the years.

“I just try to rock it out and rock out for the people that support me,” the 26-year-old linebacker said in advance of Saturday’s game in Toronto against the Argonauts.

Much of the support he has received over the years comes from the two people he considers his heroes — his parents, Derrick and Erica.

“They sacrificed so much for me and my (siblings), just coming up and leading the way being role models,” Moncrief said. “To this day, it’s an indescribable feeling. I love them so much and I just try to make them happy each and every day and cherish every moment because life is short.”

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Even the number on his jersey represents something special to Moncrief. During his time as a member of the Auburn and Oklahoma State football programs, Moncrief wore the number 24 because of his siblings — two brothers and four sisters.

When he came to the CFL to play for the Roughriders in 2017, that number was already being used by defensive back Jeff Hecht. But Moncrief took it as a symbol of good things to come when the inverse — 42 — was available.

“This game is bigger than me. I’ve got people I represent at home, I represent my whole family and my last name,” Moncrief said.

Moncrief said his mom would work two jobs to try and make ends meet for him and his siblings growing up. His dad became his biggest influence when it came to football, first introducing him and his brothers to the game when Derrick was five years old.

“My dad started training me. My grandma had a house on a railroad track, it was a long dirt road. We used to do table jumps, we used to run — we’d drop a ball, we’d take a lap and come back,” Moncrief said. “He motivated us to be real good football players and it’s paying off today.”

Ever since Moncrief first picked up the pigskin, he has had dreams of playing in the NFL.

“When I was little, I told my mom I was going to be in the NFL one day. I thought I was Deion Sanders,” Moncrief said of the former NFL star.

Now that same five-year-old from Prattville, Ala., wants to give back to the community he grew up in. Moncrief said he has plans to begin a foundation to help children in need.

“Just been brainstorming on it, jot some things down,” he said. “I just want to give back to the kids, especially back home and all over the world. I just want to leave my impact and be a blessing to others.”

He said he would like to get it going sometime in the near future but won’t focus on it until the off-season.

Moncrief said he also wants to teach kids about the importance of an education and help them find ways to succeed in school.

“That’s a big thing because everybody’s not going to make it in sports,” he said.

It’s a far cry from the way Moncrief used to be. He said he never focused on his studies growing up, which forced him to take the long road to playing professional football. His first stop was at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

“When I got in college, I kind of flipped the script. I had a great coach there — Stevon Moore; he played in the NFL — and he went to Ole Miss and he showed me the way to be a college student because it takes more than just on-the-field stuff,” Moncrief said.

“Off the field I just worked real hard, hit the study hall when I needed to and got help and the rest was history.”

His grades improved enough for him to transfer to Auburn, but Moncrief admits that presented a whole new challenge for him.

“When I got to Auburn, it was still a hard transition because I went to a major university,” he said. “As you go higher up in the studies, the courses get a little more difficult.”

Moncrief eventually transferred to Oklahoma State to play football with the Cowboys. While it presented a chance for some football highlights, it was also the scene of an academic highlight for him.

“My mom loved that. I think I sent her something when I was at Oklahoma State. I think my GPA was almost a 4.0 and I sent it to her and she was ecstatic about it,” Moncrief said. “I still have that newspaper (clipping) to this day.”

After he finished up his senior season at Oklahoma State, his name wasn’t called in the 2017 NFL draft. He had interest from a couple of NFL teams, but nothing came to fruition.

So Moncrief decided to come to the CFL and play for the Roughriders.

“This was the last shot. I love the game so much and eventually everything is going to happen, life happens. Never in a million years did I think I would be here,” Moncrief said.

“It’s a big blessing and I love this game, this province and this city. They’ve shown me nothing but love since Day 1. I got in (Regina) June 15 and signed June 17, 2017 and it has been history ever since.”

His third season with the team has also been his most successful. Moncrief is second on the team with 51 tackles. and he also has recorded four sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble.

Moncrief, whose contract is up following the 2019 season, said he wants to see what 2019 has in store for him as he lives out the dream of that kid from Prattville.

“Just being where I’m at, I’m just appreciating the moment and enjoying these guys in the locker room,” he said. “This opportunity doesn’t come just once in a lifetime. I’m the first player from my city, from that area, to go to the CFL so that’s history in the making right there.

“When opportunity knocks, I’m sure I’ll be ready for it.”