Mountaineers set for Canadian Football League season

The 2024 Canadian Football League season kicks off later this month with the first weeks of preseason under way less than two weeks now. West Virginia University is represented in the NFL and the UFL, so no surprise that Mountaineers will be on rosters in the CFL as well. Here is who is currently listed on rosters, per the official CFL website. 

Alonzo Addae, DB, Ottawa Redblacks – Addae was born in Canada, and does not count toward the limited spots for former American college players. He was taken in the second round of the 2021 CFL Draft by Ottawa and remains with the team to this day. This past season, he registered 32 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles.

Deshawn Stevens, LB, Ottawa Redblacks – Stevens came to West Virginia from the University of Maine and, having also been born in Canada, was taken in the first round of the 2021 CFL Draft. He’s played in 30 games over the past two seasons, registering 18 tackles. 

Sam James, WR, Ottawa Redblacks – James signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent after a solid five-year career at WVU, but was later cut by the franchise. He then signed a one-year deal with the Redblacks earlier this spring. 

Mario Alford, WR, Saskatchewan Roughriders – Alford began his professional career in the National Football League, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. He made his way across the border in 2018 with the Toronto Argonauts. He spent the next three seasons with the Montreal Alouettes before being traded to the Roughriders. In his first year with Saskatchewan, Alford was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. He was named an All-Star the following year, and signed a contract extension this offseason.