Mace, Milligan, Ferland named West Division award winners

A trio of Saskatchewan Roughriders will be up for awards during the 2024 Grey Cup Week.

While the CFL club hopes to be preparing for a championship game during that week, defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr., offensive lineman Logan Ferland and head coach Corey Mace could also leave with some hardware of their own.

Milligan has been named the CFL West Division’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, while Ferland will be up for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and Mace is up for Coach of the Year.

The trio will look to help the Riders advance even closer to the Grey Cup this weekend when Saskatchewan hosts the B.C. Lions on Saturday in the CFL West Division semifinal. Kickoff for the game is set for 4:30 p.m.

Mace is in his first year as a CFL head coach after successful tenures as a defensive line coach with the Calgary Stampeders (2016-’21) and the Toronto Argonauts defensive co-ordinator (’22-’23). Mace’s presence on the sidelines and the staff he brought into Saskatchewan has the Riders at a 9-8-1 record and hosting a playoff game for the first time since 2021.

Mace guided the team through a seven-game winless slide after a 5-1 start, ending the year with a 4-1 record over the team’s last handful of games.

The Port Moody, B.C. product has turned the Riders into the CFL’s leaders when it comes to opposition rushing yards allowed (80.3 yards/game), turnovers (49), turnover ratio (+26), forced fumbles (17) and fumbles recovered (14).

Under Mace, eight Riders have been named West Division All-CFL players, including quarterback Trevor Harris, wide receiver Samuel Emilus, Ferland, defensive tackle Micah Johnson, linebacker Jameer Thurman, linebacker C.J. Reavis, Milligan, and Marcus Sayles.

Milligan, who was the Riders’ nominee for Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, bounced back from season-ending foot injury he suffered in 2023 to become one of the best players in the league.

The 30-year-old Lake Wales, Fla. product recorded 111 defensive plays this season, ranking fifth in the CFL. His eight interceptions were the most by any player this year to go along with 10 pass deflections. Milligan Jr. also made 71 defensives tackles, including two for a loss, in 16 regular-season games. This is the first time he has been the West Division award winner.

With the Riders’ offensive line ravaged by injuries, Ferland was called on to do a lot for the team. The Melfort product suited up for all 18 regular-season games in 2024 and played every position along the line except left guard.

Ferland was the opening-day starter at right guard, where he made 11 starts, but he also started one game at right tackle and the past six games at centre.

The 27-year-old has been the Riders’ nominee for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for three straight seasons.