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VANCOUVER — Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. was named the league’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player at the CFL Player Awards ceremony Thursday night.

“It’s great to be recognized for all the work I put in following my injury and becoming a better version of myself this season,” said Milligan, who missed 14 games last season due to injury. a tear in the ligaments of the toe.

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“Once I realized everything was going to be okay, it was just about making sure that once I started training, I had to pull myself together and be who I am.”

Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace and Logan Ferland finished second in their categories – coach of the year and offensive lineman – as voted by the Football Reporters of Canada. They lost to Montreal Alouettes head coach Jason Maas and Toronto Argonauts guard/tackle Ryan Hunter, respectively, who will face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 111th Gray Cup game on Sunday at BC Place Stadium.

Maas is a former Roughriders offensive coordinator who led the team last season. The Alouettes at the CFL championship. His team placed first in the East this year with a 12-5-1 record before losing the division final to Toronto.

Roughriders Long Snapper Jorgen Hus received the 2024 Jake Gaudaur Veterans Award for demonstrating strength, perseverance, courage and contributing to his community. Since the start of 2023, Jus has delivered 127 school presentations as part of the Win with Wellness and Rider Reading programs. Former Roughriders Brayden Lenius and Dan Clark were the two previous winners.

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“It says a lot about the foundation and the guys that came before it,” Hus said. “It’s a total team effort and we’ve put a lot into it and I’m really not surprised the Riders have won three years in a row.

As the West representative, Milligan defeated Montreal linebacker Tyrice Beverette, the East runner-up. After throwing a league-high eight interceptions and recording 20 special teams tackles, Milligan was also chosen as Saskatchewan’s MVP and special teams player, but did not advance to the second round of voting .

Milligan was the first Roughrider to be named the CFL’s Most Valuable Defensive Player since defensive end John Chick in 2009. Milligan is the second DB to be named Most Valuable Defensive Player, following Winnipeg’s Jovon Johnson in 2011.

Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira was named league MVP and top Canadian, an award he also won last year. Oliveira joins Jon Cornish, Russ Jackson and Tony Gabriel as the only players to win both awards in the same season.

Mace took over a team that had finished its previous two seasons on seven-game losing streaks, giving the Roughriders an identical 6-12 record and missing the playoffs two years in a row. The Roughriders placed second in the West this season with a 9-8-1 record and beat the visitors. BC Lions 28-19 in the division semi-finals before losing the West final 38-22 Saturday in Winnipeg.

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While many teammates were injured, Ferland played in all 18 regular season games and played four different positions along Saskatchewan’s offensive line.

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