Riders agree to terms with defensive end Stefen Banks

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have agreed to terms with pending free agent defensive end Stefen Banks, according to a report from TSN’s Farhan Lalji.

The 25-year-old pass rusher has spent the past two seasons as a rotational player with the Calgary Stampeders, seeing time in 23 games. He has recorded 36 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, eight sacks and a forced fumble.

Prior to arriving in the CFL, the six-foot-one, 260-pound defender put together an outstanding four-year career at Savannah State, where he was named All-MEAC each of his final three seasons and took home FCS All-American honours in 2017. In 41 career games for the Tigers, he recorded 226 tackles including 51.5 tackles for loss, 24.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, six pass breakups and two interceptions.

Banks went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft, attending mini-camp with the Cleveland Browns before signing in Calgary the next season.

The Columbus, Oh. native could see an increased role in Saskatchewan while operating on the opposite end from Pete Robertson, a spot left vacant when the Riders cut the pricey A.C. Leonard. His loss marks another significant departure from a Stampeders’ defensive line that is expected to lose Folarin Orimolade in free agency and has yet to get Shawn Lemon under contract.

Banks remain under contract with Calgary until noon EST on February 14, when he can officially sign with the Riders.