The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American return man Mario Alford to a contract extension.
The five-foot-nine, 182-pound return specialist played in all 18 games for the Green and White in 2023, returning 88 punts for 978 yards including a 107-yard touchdown return in Week 16. Alford recorded three punt return touchdowns, good enough for second in the league while ranking third in the CFL with 2,266 all-purpose yards. Alford was named a West Division all-star in 2023.
Alford was acquired by the Riders in Week 5 of the 2022 season and went on to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player that year. He became just the fifth player in CFL history and the first ever Rider to complete the ‘trifecta’ (kick return touchdown, punt return touchdown and missed field goal return touchdown) in a single season when he recorded the feat in 2022. He also broke the Roughriders’ franchise record for most return touchdowns by an individual in a single season (four).
Before his trade to Saskatchewan, Alford spent two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes and played nine games there. Alford returned 26 punts for 486 yards and three touchdowns and added nine kick returns for 477 yards. He also held a 20-yard average per return. Prior to the Alouettes, he played six games for the Toronto Argonauts, making seven catches for 57 yards and recording 170 yards off eight kickoff returns.
Alford was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round, 238th overall during the 2015 NFL Draft. He went on to play one game for the Bengals as a rookie, before moving on to spend time with the New York Jets, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. Alford played in three games as a returner for the Browns, returning eight punts for 68 yards and eight kickoffs for 258 yards.
In the NCAA, the Georgia native played two seasons at West Virginia (2013-2014), suiting up for 22 games as a Mountaineer. He caught 92 career passes for 1,497 yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. He also returned 37 kickoffs for 972 yards (26.3-yard average) and two touchdowns. In 2014, he led the entire NCAA in return touchdowns with two and led the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns with 11.
Prior to attending West Virginia, Alford was a running back with the Georgia Military Bulldogs (2011-2012) and in his second season led the team with 541 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
Saskatchewan will open their 2024 season on Saturday, June 8 when they travel to Edmonton to face the Elks.
