Former UAB standout named CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player

Former UAB standout Rolan Milligan Jr. didn’t make it to Sunday night’s Grey Cup, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive halfback still finished the Canadian Football League season with a trophy.

Milligan has been named the CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the 2024 season. In a comeback season after missing nearly all of 2023 because of a foot injury, Milligan led the CFL with eight interceptions in 2024. He also made 71 tackles on defense and 20 on special teams.

“It feels great getting the recognition for all the work I put in coming from the injury and becoming a better version of myself this season,” Milligan said. “Once I realized I would be fine, it was just making sure that once I started training I had to lock back in and be who I am.”

Milligan is the second defensive back to win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award.

A JUCO transfer, Milligan played at UAB in 2014, then spent a season at Toledo before trying to make it in the NFL.

Milligan signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted rookie in 2016, but he got hurt in training camp. He spent most of the 2017 season on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad and made it to the active roster for one game, but he didn’t get to play. The same thing happened in 2018, but as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Milligan started the 2019 season on the Colts’ practice squad again. Promoted to the active roster, Milligan made his NFL regular-season debut on Sept. 22, 2019, and played in 11 games. In the 11th game, the safety made his first NFL start and also suffered a foot injury that landed him on injured reserve.

In 2020, Milligan took the opt-out provision offered to players as part of the NFL’s plan to play during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Colts released Milligan during training camp in 2021, and he signed with Saskatchewan. He’s been with the Roughriders since.

The Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers will play for the 2024 CFL championship. The Grey Cup kicks off at 5 p.m. CST Sunday at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.