He's the only defensive player in the modern era to win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award and now he's on the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Veteran linebacker Solomon Elimimian signed a one-year deal with the Riders on Thursday after being released by the B.C. Lions a few weeks ago.

"I'm excited, that's the word that just keeps coming up in my head," said Elimimian during Thursday's media conference. "I was telling my mom and brother, sometimes in life, things happen you don't really plan for, you don't really want, but it ends up being a blessing."

Elimimian played nine seasons with the Lions, setting many records and winning a Grey Cup in 2011, but he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to suit up in Rider Nation.

"I talked to different teams, but the one thing that impressed me, every player that plays here has it in the back of their mind, 'What would it be like to play for Saskatchewan?', the fan base, the crowd, the jets going overhead, the atmosphere is something different then any place you've ever been," said Elimimian.

The 32-year-old is coming off wrist surgery last season which ended up limiting him to just four games and only 26 defensive tackles. Elimimian believes the injury was just a small setback and he can be back producing at his record-setting levels from 2017 when he broke his own single-season tackle record with 144.

"In my mind, I would have done what I've always done and that's set the bar high and the good thing about it is, I'm going into my tenth year and I feel like I'm in my first year," he said.

"I've always had a chip on my shoulder and I don't think that will ever leave no matter how many accolades or things that I do, that's who I am and who I'll continue to be."

Elimimian actually holds three of the top four single-season totals for tackles, finishing with 143 in 2014 and 129 in 2016.

During the 2014 season, Elimimian won both the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Outstanding Player awards. He's the only player in CFL history to win three different awards after collecting the Most Outstanding Rookie honour following the 2010 season.

Elimimian is also a five-time West Division All-Star (2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and a four-time CFL All-Star (2011, 2014, 2016, 2017).

He will join a Riders' defence that was one of the best in 2018 and added fellow perennial all-star Micah Johnson through free agency earlier this offseason.

"It's a big addition to our team, our defence is a very good defence and he'll only add to that," said Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day. "His play speaks for itself when you're talking about a five-time all-star, defensive player of the year and MOP of the whole league, but what we did a lot of work on his character, his leadership and what he brings to the locker room.

"He’s played at a consistently high level for a long time… We think that he still has good football left in him and that's why we signed him."

Rider Nation will get their first look at Elmimian when the Riders open training camp next Sunday in Saskatoon.