The Saskatchewan Roughriders re-signed wide receiver/kick returner Mario Alford to a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season on Thursday.
Mario Alford is five foot nine and weighs 182 pounds. The 32-year-old from Greenville, Georgia, had 51 kick returns for 1,181 yards, and 89 punt returns for 980 yards, and three touchdowns in 18 games for the Roughriders in 2023. He was named a CFL West All-Star.
The Roughriders acquired Alford from the Montreal Alouettes on July 3, 2022. In 2022, Alford had 44 punt returns for 530 yards, one touchdown, and 38 kick returns for 990 yards, and two touchdowns in 13 games.
Before Saskatchewan, the Cincinnati Bengals drafted him in the seventh round (238th pick) in the 2015 NFL Draft and played one game for them. He also spent time with the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, and Cleveland Browns. Alford played three games for the Browns with eight punt returns for 68 yards and eight kick returns for 258 yards.
Then, Alford signed with the Toronto Argonauts on June 3, 2018. In 2018, Alford made seven catches for 57 yards, one carry for ten yards, five punt returns for seven yards, and eight kick returns for 170 yards in six games.
After Toronto, Alford signed with the Montreal Alouettes on September 24, 2019. Alford made one catch for 14 yards, 26 punt returns for 486 yards, three touchdowns, and 24 kick returns for 477 yards in nine games for the Alouettes.
Collegiately, Alford played two seasons at Georgia Military College (2011-12) with 87 carries for 767 yards, ten touchdowns, and ten catches for 122 yards, and one touchdown in 17 games for the Bulldogs. Then, Alford transferred to West Virginia (2013-14) with 92 catches for 1,497 yards, 13 touchdowns, 37 kick returns for 972 yards, two touchdowns, and three punt returns for -13 yards in 25 games for the Mountaineers.
