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Sask. Roughriders' Rolan Milligan Jr. snatches CFL's top defensive player award

Defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders captured the CFL's outstanding defensive player award Thursday night.

Milligan led the league in interceptions and defensive takeaways

The Canadian Press ·
A man in a green and white jersey stretches his hands for a football.
Saskatchewan Roughriders' Rolan Milligan Jr. nearly intercepts a pass intended for the B.C. Lions' Stanley Berryhill III during a CFL game in Vancouver on July 13, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. of the Saskatchewan Roughriders captured the CFL's outstanding defensive player award Thursday night.

Milligan was honoured at the league's awards banquet.

Voting for the award was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and nine CFL head coaches.

The five-foot-11, 200-pound Milligan led the CFL in interceptions and defensive takeaways (both eight) and registered 111 defensive plays, good for fifth overall.

He also finished third overall in special-teams tackles (20) and helped Saskatchewan's defence rank first in turnovers (49), forced fumbles (17) and fumble recoveries (14) and second in interceptions (24).

Milligan was chosen over Montreal Alouettes linebacker Tyrice Beverette, who registered a CFL-high 137 defensive plays — including 102 tackles to stand fourth — and finishing second overall in tackles for a loss (eight).

Beverette also registered five sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions.

A man in a suit holds a trophy.
Milligan was awarded the most outstanding defensive player award during the CFL Awards in Vancouver on Thursday. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press)
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