THE CANADIAN PRESS
CFL.ca Staff
With files from Calgary Stampeders.com
CALGARY — From red and white to black and yellow, Shawn Lemon is taking everything he’s ever learned in the CFL south of the border.
The 26-year-old signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers this off-season, parlaying his most successful CFL season and a Grey Cup Championship into a chance to make a National Football League roster.
But while he may be trading in his colours, Lemon is not about to shed his roots.
“I still follow Calgary on all my social media, I still go to the website,” said Lemon. “It’s a family thing. I’m still part of the family – I’ve learned a lot.”
“They’ve helped me get to where I am today, so I continue to treat everybody the same and keep talking to my old teammates. I do still follow the Calgary Stampeders.”
The six-foot-two, 251-pound defensive end picked up a career-high 13 sacks last regular season, helping the Stampeders capture the Grey Cup to cap off an all-around dominant 2014 season.
Hitting free agency shortly after, he earned a contract from the Steelers, participating in his first organized team activity last month.
“It was very interesting,” said Lemon. “It’s just a different atmosphere being around different types of players and getting used to the locker-room.”
“The workouts were a little different from the workouts I’m used to, but it was very productive,” he continued. “I had a very productive week and I’m starting to gel and get used to the system.”
Lemon’s path from CFL obscurity to a shot at the NFL came quickly, but not without some turbulence. His CFL career started with stops in Saskatchewan and Edmonton, the latter cutting him following the 2012 season.
He joined the Stampeders in 2013, racking up three sacks in 18 tackles in just six games played, then truly broke onto the scene in 2014. In the end, all the Martinsville City, Virg. native ever needed was an opportunity.
Under the tutelage of Coaches Rich Stubler and DeVone Claybrooks, Lemon played in 19 total games last season and recorded 14 sacks, including one in the Grey Cup Championship.
A CFL career full of twists and turns and the chance to play with great coaches has Lemon ready for whatever’s thrown at him next.
“It’s a privilege playing for Coach Stubler,” said Lemon. “He prepares you for all of that.”
“We did a lot of different things with our defence last year in Calgary as far as zone dropping and coming underneath for a sack or setting the edge on the outside.”
“It helps you be a versatile player and that’s what a lot of coaches want to see – can you play special teams, can you get after the passer, can you drop into coverage.”
Lemon is proud to note that even had an interception last season, capping off an early-September comeback win over the Argos by picking off top CFL passer Ricky Ray on the game’s final possession.
Now looking to manage a significant transition on the field, he will never forget his CFL roots. He even plans to show his new teammates and coaches the Grey Cup ring he earned last November, one in which he played an instrumental role.
“A lot the guys and Coach Mike Tomlin and coaches and players on the team are excited to see the Grey Cup ring,” said Lemon. “So I’m going to make sure I bring it to the locker-room so everyone can see it.”
