The Montreal Alouettes have signed electrifying return specialist Mario Alford for the 2021 season.
The five-foot-eight, 177-pound Alford made quite the impression upon his arrival with the Als in 2019, scoring two return touchdowns in his first two outings.
In his first game with Montreal, he took a punt back 85 yards to the end zone in a 21-17 win over the Calgary Stampeders. The following week, he took a punt 90 yards to the house. He continued to impress in the playoffs, as he scored a touchdown on a 99-yard kickoff return, the third longest kick-off return touchdown in CFL post-season history.
The 28-year-old was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2015 NFL Draft. He also spent time with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears. The Greenville, GA native played NCAA Division I football for the West Virginia University Mountaineers.
Canadian defensive lineman David Menard also inked a deal for the 2021 season. The six-foot-one, 259-pounder registered 18 quarterback sacks and 55 defensive tackles in 94 career games with the British Columbia Lions. The 30-year-old Chicoutimi native has also intercepted three passes, while knocking down three more.
The former University of Montreal Carabin also forced three fumbles during his career. Menard was drafted in the fourth round, 32nd overall of the 2014 CFL draft, he made 12 defensive tackles and two sacks in ten games last season.
The Alouettes also signed new deals with Canadian defensive back Ty Cranston, American defensive linemen Michael Onuoha and Austrian Robinson, as well as American quarterback Quinten Dormady.
The six-foot-three, 205-pound Cranston was drafted in the seventh round, 56th overall by the Alouettes in 2017. The 26-year-old has played 21 career games over two seasons in Montreal, registering nine defensive tackles and 16 special teams tackles.
The six-foot-five, 255-pound Onuoha was a member the Baltimore Ravens’ practice roster in 2019 following his NCAA career with the Texas A&M Commerce Lions where he amassed 137 tackles and 14 sacks in 38 games.
The six-foot-four, 300-pound Robinson joined the Carolina Panthers in 2020 after suiting up for the University of Mississippi Rebels in the Southeastern Conference, where he registered 81 tackles, five sacks and one interception.
The six-foot-five, 219-pound Dormady played his NCAA career with the Central Michigan University Chippewas completing 190-of-294 passes for 2,312 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019. He had previously played for the University of Houston Cougars and University of Tennessee Volunteers.
