Each team in the Canadian Football League have announced their respective nominees for the annual league awards that will be handed out in November.
For the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team’s list of nominees is dominated by defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr, who was the Roughriders nominee for Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
Rounding out Saskatchewan’s nominees are Logan Ferland for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, receiver Samuel Emilus for Most Outstanding Canadian and left tackle Trevor Reid for Most Outstanding Rookie.
Milligan has made an impact on the defence after missing most of the 2023 season. He leads the CFL in interceptions (8), second in pass deflections (10), and fifth in total tackles (91).
The 30-year-old has also been a force on special teams as he is tied with his teammate A.J. Allen for second across the CFL in special teams tackle (20).
Milligan is the first defensive back to be named the Roughriders Most Outstanding Player nominee since 1980 when Ken McEachern received the honour.
Ferland has been a constant presence for Saskatchewan’s offensive line this season, playing on four of the five positions with the exception of left guard. The Melfort product began the season at right guard but was forced to start at right tackle before moving to centre with the injury to Peter Godber over the last five games.
For the second straight season, Emilus will be the Roughriders nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian. This year, the Montreal product became the third Canadian receiver to reach that total in Saskatchewan. Emilus is ranked second in YAC (yards after catch) with 439.
Reid has played in all 17 games for the Roughriders in 2024. Alongside Ferland, the pair are the only two offensive linemen to accomplish that feat. He becomes the sixth Roughriders offensive lineman to receive the nominee for Most Outstanding Rookie, and the first since Xavier Fulton (2012).
The Roughriders will try and lock up first place in the west on Saturday when they host the Calgary Stampeders. Saskatchewan needs a victory along with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers losing their final game of the year against the Montreal Alouettes.