The Saskatchewan Roughriders made an initial splash in C-F-L free agency Tuesday by signing import linebackers Darnell Sankey and Derrick Moncrief while extending the contract of Canadian offensive lineman Josiah St. John.
Sankey led the C-F-L with 97 tackles in 2021 with Calgary while Moncrief returns to the Green and White after suiting up for nine games to finish off the 2021 season with Edmonton. He played three seasons with the Riders between 2017 and 2019. St. John suited up in all 14 regular-season and two playoff games with Saskatchewan in 2021, his fourth of five C-F-L campaigns with the Roughriders. The signing news releases from the Green and White follow this story…..
Meanwhile, a trio of veteran, import Riders have signed elsewhere through free agency. Running back William Powell returned to Ottawa, defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy signed with B-C and defensive back Ed Gainey is reunited with G-M and head coach Chris Jones in Edmonton.
DATE: February 8, 2022
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR22-026
RIDERS INK CFL’S LEADING TACKLER DARNELL SANKEY
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American linebacker Darnell Sankey.
Sankey (6’1-245lbs) joins the Green and White after an extraordinary CFL debut in 2021. The San Jose, California native played 14 regular season games with the Calgary Stampeders in 2021, making a league-leading 97 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, one sack and one forced fumble. He made another six tackles in the West Semi-Finals and was named a West Division All-Star.
Sankey was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2016. In 2017, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts and played six regular season games. From 2016 to 2019, he spent time with several NFL teams, including on the practice rosters of the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints.
Collegiately, Sankey played 42 games over four seasons (2012-15) at Sacramento State. He earned First Team All-Big Sky honours his senior season after making 153 tackles (one shy of the school record). He led the conference and finished second in the country with an average 13.9 tackles per game while also adding nine tackles for loss, three-and-a-half sacks and one forced fumble. Sankey recorded 330 tackles over his time as Hornet including 27.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception he returned for a touchdown.
DATE: February 8, 2022
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR22-028
LINEBACKER DERRICK MONCRIEF RETURNS TO RIDERVILLE WITH TWO-YEAR DEAL
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American linebacker Derrick Moncrief to a two-year contract.
Moncrief (6’2-220) returns to the Roughriders, where his pro football career began, after two years away.
His first tenure in Green and White came to an end in January 2020, when he signed an NFL contract. He played one regular season game with the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8 of the regular season, spending the rest of 2020-21 on the practice roster. Moncrief signed with the Edmonton Elks in September of 2021 and played nine games, tallying 23 defensive tackles and four sacks.
The Alabama native initially signed with the Roughriders in 2017 and went on to play 35 regular-season games over three seasons. He had a career year in 2019, that culminated in a CFL All-Star nod, after making 69 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble. All told, he tallied 126 defensive tackles in Green and White, while adding four sacks, five interceptions and one forced fumble.
Collegiately, Moncrief spent two seasons at Oklahoma State (2015-16) playing in 13 collegiate games and registering 16 defensive tackles and one tackle for loss. He spent the 2014 season at Auburn University where he played in 13 collegiate games and made 27 defensive tackles and one forced fumble.
DATE: February 8, 2022
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR22-027
JOSIAH ST. JOHN RETURNS TO THE RIDERS
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed Canadian offensive lineman Josiah St. John to a contract extension.
St. John (6’5-305) played all 14 regular-season games for the Roughriders in 2021, making one start at left guard. The 29-year-old also played the West Semi-Final and West Final.
St. John initially rejoined the Roughriders during free agency in 2020. He finished the 2019 season with the Edmonton Elks, playing in the East Final. He also spent time with the Toronto Argonauts and B.C. Lions. The Toronto native was the Roughriders’ first overall pick in the 2016 CFL Draft. He played in 22 games over three seasons, including 11 in 2018, helping the team reach the second-best rushing record of the season at 2,014 yards and the second-best rushing average per game at 111.9 yards.
Collegiately, he spent three years at the University of Oklahoma, playing in 15 games. As a senior, St. John had four starts in seven conference games.
