Elimimian a possibility to suit up against Tiger-Cats
He was 230 pounds when he came into the league and Bo Lokombo still weighs thereabouts. But he’s a lot lighter these days, no longer carrying a massive chip on his shoulder.
The Abbotsford product wasn’t drafted after four seasons playing linebacker with the Oregon Ducks, a shoulder injury sending him tumbling down the charts, and he ended up playing three seasons with the B.C. Lions before trying his hand at the NFL again.
He bounced around the practice rosters of the Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers for all of 2017, but found himself back in B.C. this year. The sixfoot-three, Congo-born defensive player showcased his ability to be an elite defender, recording a teamhigh 87 total tackles, four sacks and two interceptions — the latter two numbers leading the linebacking corps — and was the team’s nominee for most outstanding Canadian.
“The first couple of years, coming out of Oregon, my initial thought was, ‘Oh my God, I’m at Oregon, I’m playing D1, I want to go to the league,’” said the 28-year-old.
“So when I got hurt and had to come to the CFL, I was a little bit mad at myself, like ‘What did I do wrong?’ So I came in with the attitude, the wrong frame of mind, the wrong mindset the first couple years.
“Coming back was crazy. Football, in general, it’s a lot of up and downs. So being able to come back and play for the home team was great for me. I had one of my better seasons this year because I was so focused.”
Lokombo took his NFL experience to heart, integrating the lessons he learned into his day-to-day approach to the game. He trained hard and came into last off-season with a fresh mentality with specific personal goals. It paid off.
His 71 defensive tackles rank behind only corners T.J. Lee and Garry Peters, despite starting only the last five games. He’s made some game-changing plays, including his first two career interceptions in back-to-back games against Montreal and Ottawa in September.
“I wanted to go down to the states and prove myself and prove that I could play with the big boys,” he said. “(The NFL experience) humbled me. If anything, it taught me that it’s all business. They’re going to make moves and decisions for the team’s best interest.
“It’s a big business and it’s really hard to get into because it’s such a small (amount of players) and such a high demand. You can be replaced in a heartbeat. That’s probably the toughest thing. No one is really special.
“You really have to work hard and have a little bit of luck on your side, too. So when I came back this fourth year, I took it all in and that’s why they see a big change in me. I’m a more focused Bo.”
Lokombo helped turn a defence missing Solomon Elimimian into a ball-hawking, high-pressure unit as B.C. led the league in knockdowns and tied for tops in interceptions (21) and sacks (45).
Lokombo’s versatility allowed Lions defensive co-ordinator Mark Washington a degree of freedom in his play-calling.
“The word I think about when I think of him is ‘maturing,’” said Washington. “He’s getting more and more mature every day physically, mentally and I think his life is starting to round out a little more and that just allows him to come here and play.”
Elimimian, who will suit up for Sunday’s playoff game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after being sidelined since Week 6 with a wrist injury, echoed Washington.
“He’s a talented player, an athletic player and one I think we’ve done a good job incorporating into this defence and using his skill set,” Elimimian said. “Whether it’s sacks, interceptions, tackles, he can do it all. He just keeps progressing. The sky’s the limit. He can be as great as he wants to be.”
The same can be said of the defence as a whole. Their task continues against a team that topped the league in net yards (405.6) and scored 28.5 points per game, third most in the CFL.