One of the few bright spots in an otherwise dark 2022 Saskatchewan Roughriders’ season will be back in Green and White in 2023.
The Riders announced Tuesday that they have signed import receiver and kick returner Mario Alford to a contract extension. Alford was acquired by Saskatchewan from Montreal during Week 5 of the 2022 campaign and became the fifth player in C-F-L history and the first-ever Roughrider to record a “trifecta” of kick return touchdowns. He had two kick-off return touchdowns, a punt return T-D and a missed field goal return major, earning himself the Riders and West Division Most Outstanding Special Team Player award. Following is the news release from the Green and White…..
DATE: November 15, 2022
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR22-157
RIDERS SIGN WEST DIVISION’S MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER MARIO ALFORD TO CONTRACT EXTENSION
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American receiver and dynamic returner Mario Alford to a contract extension.
Alford came over to the Saskatchewan Roughriders via trade in Week 5 and went on to make CFL and Roughrider history. In just his second game in Green and White he ran a missed field goal back 112-yards for a touchdown. An electric athlete, Alford also had a 98-yard kickoff return touchdown in Week 10 against the Elks and a 92-yard kickoff return touchdown versus the Blue Bombers in Week 14. His league-leading fourth and final return of the year – the 104- yard punt return in Week 20 against the Stampeders, cemented his place in the history books.
With that final return touchdown, Alford became just the fifth player in CFL history and first-ever Rider to complete the ‘Trifecta’ (kick return touchdown, punt return touchdown, missed field goal return touchdown) in a single season. He also broke the Roughriders’ record for most return touchdowns by an individual in a single season (4). He went on to be named the Roughriders and West Division’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player with a shot at being named the best Special Teams Player in the CFL on Thursday night.
In total this season, he recorded 43 punt returns for 524 yards (12.2 avg) and one touchdown, 37 kickoff returns for 937 yards (25.3 avg) and two touchdowns, and three missed field goal returns for 129 yards (43 avg) and another major.
Before his trade to Saskatchewan, Alford spent two seasons with the Montreal Alouettes and played nine games with the Club. 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 earning 170 yards off eight kickoff returns.
Alford was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in seventh round, 238th overall, of 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.
Collegiately, the Georgia native played two seasons at West Virginia (2013-14), 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 he led the Big-12 in receiving touchdowns with 11. Prior to attending West Virginia, Alford was a running back with the Georgia Military Bulldogs (2011-12) and in his second season led the team with 541 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
