Sankey headlines list of Roughriders’ award nominees

Darnell Sankey’s outstanding first season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders has been recognized with a pair of award nominations.

The 28-year-old linebacker has been named the team’s nominee for CFL awards as most outstanding player and most outstanding defensive player.

“It’s a blessing. When I found that out, I was definitely proud. I thanked all my coaches and my teammates for doing their job and allowing me to play and (get) elected,” Sankey said. “It’s a blessing for sure.

“It’s not often (a defensive player is nominated for most outstanding player), but it’s something I kind of expect. I’m a competitor and I want to win at everything I do. I want to win every award, every game and every snap.”

The nominations were announced Wednesday. Voting was done by members of the Football Reporters of Canada in Regina as well as Saskatchewan head coach Craig Dickenson.

The Roughriders’ other nominees are returner Mario Alford (special-teams player), receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker (Canadian), guard Logan Ferland (offensive lineman) and tailback Frankie Hickson (rookie).

The division finalists are to be announced on Nov. 3. The CFL award winners are to be revealed Nov. 17 during the Grey Cup Festival in Regina.

A complete list of the CFL award nominees can be found here.

Darnell Sankey

Sankey has started the Roughriders’ first 17 regular-season games and has recorded a league-high 115 defensive tackles, two special-teams stops, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.

With one game left in the Roughriders’ regular season — Saturday’s game against the host Calgary Stampeders — Sankey needs just four tackles to break the Riders’ single-season record for defensive tackles. The current mark of 118 was set by David Albright in 1987.

“I’ve been made aware and it’s something to think about, but as long as I go and do my job, I don’t think that should be a problem hitting (the mark) and even getting more,” Sankey said. “Every play, I expect to make the play.

“It’s a tremendous blessing and opportunity the team gave me. I’m excited for it and whatever the future holds.”

Sankey signed with Saskatchewan in the off-season after leading the league in tackles with Calgary in 2021.

Mario Alford

A unanimous selection by voters in Regina, Alford enters the last week of the CFL regular season with a league-best four return touchdowns.

“I worked hard to get to this point. I just want to say thank you to my teammates and the guys who helped me out on the field. This is not possible without them,” Alford said.

Since being acquired in a trade with the Montreal Alouettes, Alford has returned 43 punts for 524 yards and one touchdown, 35 kickoffs for 897 yards and two TDs, and three missed field goals for 129 yards and another major.

He now holds the team record for most touchdown returns in a single season. He’s also the fifth player in CFL history and the first Roughrider to complete the “trifecta” (with TD returns of a punt, a kickoff and a missed field goal) in a single season.

“I know (Montreal) sees it … It happens and it was a business decision — no love lost. I hope (they lost some sleep over it),” Alford said.

Kian Schaffer-Baker

The second-year Roughrider was a unanimous selection as the team’s most outstanding Canadian.

Through 17 games this season, Schaffer-Baker leads the team with 63 catches for 935 yards and five receiving touchdowns. He’s the second-leading receiver among Canadians in the CFL in terms of receiving yards.

Schaffer-Baker also has rushed 13 times for 74 yards this season.

“It comes from all the help from the teammates and the staff all year round,” Schaffer-Baker said.

The talented receiver fell to the fourth round (30th overall) of the 2020 CFL draft — something he has used as motivation during his first two CFL seasons.

“That’s something I carry on my shoulder every single day — an underdog mentality,” Schaffer-Baker said. “That’s what makes me want to work so hard every single day.”

Logan Ferland

The Regina product has started 15 games at left guard this season, helping Hickson and Jamal Morrow place among the top six in the CFL in rushing yards.

“It’s a group award. Look at all that we’ve been through this year and the things we’ve had to overcome,” Ferland said. “I’m just trying to speak for my brothers up here. All you can do is just try to stay positive no matter what happens and keep running.

“It’s the hardest-working group on the team. I don’t care what anybody else says, that’s a fact. When you get as much negativity as we’ve gotten, you still have guys showing up 3 1/2 hours early to work every day. How many other jobs or people at work can say that? It really brings our unit closer together.”

Ferland is a product of the Regina Thunder junior program.

Frankie Hickson

In 13 games played this season, Hickson is sixth in the CFL with 533 rushing yards on 85 carries and has added one rushing touchdown. He also has recorded 17 receptions for 109 yards and seven kickoff returns for 168 yards.

“I think it’s God telling me I’m on the right path. He has blessed me with every opportunity and every chance I have ever gotten,” Hickson said. “I’m just thankful.”

In Week 12, Hickson made the first of his four career starts and rushed for 129 yards on 15 carries against the B.C. Lions.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Britton Gray