RIDERS INK CFL’S LEADING TACKLER DARNELL SANKEY
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed American linebacker Darnell Sankey.
Sankey (6’1-245lbs) joins the Green and White after an extraordinary CFL debut in 2021. The San Jose, California native played 14 regular season games with the Calgary Stampeders in 2021, making a league-leading 97 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, one sack and one forced fumble. He made another six tackles in the West Semi-Finals and was named a West Division All-Star.
Sankey was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2016. In 2017, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts and played six regular season games. From 2016 to 2019, he spent time with several NFL teams, including on the practice rosters of the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints.
Collegiately, Sankey played 42 games over four seasons (2012-15) at Sacramento State. He earned First Team All-Big Sky honours his senior season after making 153 tackles (one shy of the school record). He led the conference and finished second in the country with an average 13.9 tackles per game while also adding nine tackles for loss, three-and-a-half sacks and one forced fumble. Sankey recorded 330 tackles over his time as Hornet including 27.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception he returned for a touchdown.
