The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed defensive back Phalen Sanford on Friday.
Phalen Sanford is five foot eleven and weighs 195 pounds. The 25-year-old from Benkelman, Nebraska, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, he made three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) in three games. The Raiders released him on October 1, 2024.
Collegiately, Sanford played one season at Hastings College in 2018 as a multi-sport athlete competing in numerous track and field events winning three titles as a freshman and qualifying for the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the high jump, finishing 24th.
Then, he transferred to Nebraska (2020-23) making 55 tackles (32 solos, 23 assists), half tackle for loss, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 40 games for the Cornhuskers. In 2023, he made 40 tackles (22 solos, 18 assists), half tackle for loss, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 12 games.
He was named Nebraska Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021, Academic All-Big Ten in 2020, Brook Berringer Citizenship Team in 2023, and the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2023.
