Corey Mace can review game video to confirm the ascent of defensive end Habakkuk Baldonado.
Or, the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Head Coach can simply look at his phone.
“I’ve been getting a few texts from other coaches and players around the league, saying, ‘Who’s 95?’ ” Mace said. “He’s starting to develop a little bit of a reputation for himself.
“He’s an excellent pass rusher. He’s strong, he’s fast, he’s got good hands, and he’s a little crazy, which you want.
“I think this is going to be a big year for him.”
Baldonado, 25, began his third CFL season in fine style by registering a sack in a 31-26 victory over the visiting Ottawa REDBLACKS on June 5th.
He had the league’s sixth-best player grade (82.8) in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus.
He came very close to a second sack in Week 2 while helping Saskatchewan register Saturday’s 28-23 victory over the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
A blitzing linebacker, Jameer Thurman, tackled Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell a split-second before arrived on the scene.
“Things have gone well,” Baldonado said, “but they could always be better.”
In response, it was jokingly pointed out that rival pass blockers may not concur.
“I don’t have 10 sacks in two games,” Baldonado said. “If I have 10 sacks in two games, I’ll be satisfied, but I don’t have that yet.”
A gaudy sack total would hardly be foreign to Baldonado — a Global player who was born in Rome.
Once an MMA fighter, he moved from Italy to Florida after developing a passion for football and played one season in the high school ranks at Clearwater Academy International.
He promptly registered 30½ sacks in one season.
From there, he advanced to the University of Pittsburgh and played NCAA football for the Panthers from 2018 to 2022. In 2021, he had a team-high nine sacks.
“He was a baller in high school and he was a baller at Pitt,” Mace said. “I think it’s just kind of trending that way here, too.”
Baldonado signed with the Roughriders, who selected him in the second round of the 2023 Global Draft, after spending training camp and the pre-season with the New York Giants.
In three exhibition games with the Giants in 2023, he registered one sack, four defensive tackles and one pass defended.
The 6-foot-4, 251-pounder played in five games with the Roughriders in 2023 before suiting up 14 times in 2024. He had two sacks and 11 defensive tackles last season.
This year, his game has reached another level.
“I appreciate what I’ve done and where it has brought me, but I still have a lot more to do and to prove,” Baldonado said.
“It’s my approach to life. Never be satisfied. Always work toward what you want and try to improve yourself in every aspect of life.”
ROSTER MOVES
The Roughriders’ roster is largely unchanged from last week, with just two moves heading into Friday’s road game against the Toronto Argonauts (5:30 p.m., TSN, CKRM).
Running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, who missed one game due to a groin injury, and receiver Joe Robustelli have been activated.
Robustelli starts in place of Samuel Emilus, who has a foot injury, and takes an American spot that was occupied last week by running back Ka’Deem Carey.
