Latest news with #RolanMilliganJr
National Post
10 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
Rider Rumblings Ep 164: Roughriders held off Redblacks, injuries in Week 1
Despite a few turnovers and a few injuries in their season-opening game against the Ottawa Redblacks last week, the Saskatchewan Roughriders escaped with a Week 1 victory. Article content The Roughriders lost running back A.J. Ouellette, receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker and defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. to injuries early in the game but they were still able to defeat the Redblacks 31-26 thanks to some strong performances by those who stepped up. Article content Article content Article content In Episode 164 of the Rider Rumblings podcast, Leader-Post sports editor Taylor Shire and columnist Darrell Davis dive into what made the Roughriders successful last Thursday and what they need to improve on going forward into Week 2 as Saskatchewan is set to visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday. Article content
National Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Post
Up Close: Meet Roughriders halfback Rolan Milligan Jr.
Saskatchewan Roughriders halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. enters the 2025 CFL season coming off a dominant year in 2024 when he was named a CFL all-star and the league's Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Article content And while he's been with the Roughriders since signing as a free agent near the end of the 2021 season, what about his life away from what we see on the field each and every week? Article content Article content Article content Before coming to Saskatchewan, Milligan played college football at the Reedley College, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Toledo, before signing with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys in 2016. He went on to have stints with the Detroit Lions (2017-18) and the Indianapolis Colts (2018-21) prior to signing with the Riders on Oct. 24, 2021. Article content This week, we sat down with the man they call 'Agent 0' to learn more about his journey: Article content Number: 0 Article content Age: 30 Article content Height and weight: 5-foot-11, 200 pounds Article content 'It's a small town. It ain't really big. Where all the orange groves are in Florida.' Article content 'Me and all my brothers played football. I started playing ball when I was like four years old. My dad, he (also) played football. Article content Article content 'I always played tackle football. I never played flag football. Even when I was four years old, I went straight into tackle football.' Article content Article content 'I got hurt in training camp with (NFL's Indianapolis) Colts, that was in August, and then I rehabbed for probably a month, until I got cleared. And then just still training and stuff. Article content '(The Roughriders) called me towards the end of September. Right before I got cleared, my agent called me and said they were interested in me. So they sent me the information packet and all that stuff. And I talked with my with my family about it. Article content 'I was still wanting to play football, so I was like, (it's) just another opportunity.' Article content Article content 'My most outstanding defensive player was obviously the highest award I've ever had. Besides that, probably signing my first pro contract when I signed with the Cowboys because that was always my dream growing up.'
CBC
21-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
CFL's reigning defensive MVP ready to make his mark again this year
Social Sharing It's going to be tough for Rolan Milligan Jr. to improve on last season's body of work, which included being named the CFL's most outstanding defensive player. The Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive back led the team with eight interceptions and made 71 tackles in 2024. But Milligan, who's entering his fifth year with the Riders, says there is always room for improvement. "My blitzing wasn't great last year," Milligan said. "I missed a lot of sacks when I had opportunities to make them. I dropped a few interceptions that I should have had, so I could be better there." Milligan said he wants to make sure to take every opportunity that comes his way, whether that's a tackle, sack, knockdown or interception. "Last year I told coach [Joshua] Bell I ended up missing probably three or four [interceptions]," he said. "I want to get at least 10 interceptions this year, personally. And then as a group trying to get first place in the west, get the home bye and win the Grey Cup." The 30-year-old from Lake Wales, Fla., said he has been taking more of a leadership role this year in training camp. "I'm trying to trying to be a better leader. You know, it's still kind of new to me as far as leading the room," he said. "I'm just trying to nitpick and make sure I'm doing what I can to help our group and then, overall, help the team be better." Why Roughriders receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker says he's the best in the biz 5 days ago Duration 4:06 Kian Schaffer-Baker is one of the most popular football players in Saskatchewan. He's also building invaluable personal relationships off the field. He said the club is ahead of where it was at this time last year. "Coming into camp we're not starting from Square 1. So we're implementing different techniques, different coverages that we started doing later in the season," Milligan said. "So now we're just making sure that all of those are on point and then being able to expand that playbook more." The added depth and veteran-laden roster come with high expectations heading into the new season. "As a team, we didn't win the Grey Cup, so you know, it wasn't good enough." he said. "I'm trying to get me a Grey Cup."
