Super Mario Alford Is The West Division’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are pleased to announce that Mario Alford has been named the 2022 West Division nominee for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
The nomination caps off a sensational, history-making season for Alford after joining the Roughriders via trade in Week 5. His Week 20 punt return on against Calgary Stampeders saw him become 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, in addition to breaking the Roughriders’ record for most return touchdowns by an individual in a single season (4).
Alford made an immediate impact on special teams for the Riders, taking a missed field goal by the Argonauts 112-yards to the house in just his second game in Green and White. 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. An electric athlete, Alford 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.
The East and West award winners were selected by members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches. Voters were asked to select candidates from their local CFL division who, through on-field performance excellence, best represent the awards’ title.
The winner will be announced at the 2022 CFL Awards on Thursday, November 17th at the Conexus Arts Centre as part of the festivities for the 109th Grey Cup. Tickets are available at greycupfestival.ca.
