The Saskatchewan Roughriders continue to fortify the foundation of their football team, signing American defensive lineman Caleb Sanders to a contract extension that will keep him in Green and White for the 2026 season.
Sanders has quietly become a dependable piece of Saskatchewan’s defensive line rotation, appearing in 30 games over the past three seasons. In that span, the 6-foot-1, 287-pound defensive tackle has recorded 26 defensive tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble.
The 25-year-old took a noticeable step forward in 2025, posting career highs across the board. Sanders finished the season with 13 defensive tackles, including a tackle for loss, added a special teams stop and chipped in two sacks while suiting up for 16 regular-season games. His breakout moment came early, as he was graded the CFL’s top defensive player by Pro Football Focus in Week 3 following a standout performance against the Toronto Argonauts.
When the games mattered most, Sanders was still in the lineup. He dressed for the West Final and the 2025 Grey Cup, contributing two tackles and a pass knockdown on the game’s biggest stage.
Before finding a home in Saskatchewan, Sanders took the NFL route. He attended rookie camp with the New York Giants following the 2023 NFL Draft, then spent training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles. He appeared in one preseason game with Philadelphia, registering three tackles while continuing to refine his pro game.
Sanders’ football résumé was built at South Dakota State, where he was a cornerstone of the Jackrabbits’ dominant run defence. Over five collegiate seasons from 2018 to 2022, the Iowa native played 66 games, piling up 137 tackles, 42.5 tackles for loss and 20.5 sacks. He added a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and multiple pass knockdowns.
His final season was his most decorated. Named a team captain in 2022, Sanders earned Associated Press FCS First-Team All-America honours and helped South Dakota State capture the NCAA Division I Football Championship. He was also a First-Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection in 2022 and 2020, with a Second-Team nod in 2021.
