While big brother Bo retired from the C-F-L earlier this month, Nelson Lokombo has re-signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Green and White announced Friday that the Canadian defensive back has inked a contract extension ahead of the opening of free agency. The length of the new deal was not disclosed. The 25-year-old is entering his fifth season with the Riders after being selected with the second overall pick in the 2021 C-F-L Draft. The Abbotsford, B-C product was an outstanding collegiate player for the Saskatchewan Huskies, winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2019 as the top stand-up defensive player in the country. This past season, Lokombo appeared in all 18 games, primarily at the safety position. He recorded 44 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, one tackle for loss, a sack, five pass knockdowns, and one forced fumble. The five-foot-11, 190-pound defender also started both of the team’s playoff games, managing two defensive tackles, one pass knockdown, and a game-sealing interception against B-C in the West semi-final. Following is the news release from the Roughriders…..
DATE: January 24, 2024
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR25-014
RIDERS EXTEND 2021 FIRST ROUND PICK NELSON LOKOMBO
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed National defensive back Nelson Lokombo to a contract extension.
Lokombo (5’11-190) returns to Saskatchewan for his fifth CFL season, after initially being drafted by the Roughriders in the first round, second overall, of the 2021 CFL Draft.
Lokombo played all 18 regular season games in 2024, starting Week 1 at halfback before transitioning to safety for the remainder of the season. The 25-year-old set a career-high in defensive tackles (44), while also tallying one tackle for loss, five pass knockdowns, one forced fumble and his first career sack. Lokombo started at safety in both the Western Semi-Final and the Western Final registering two defensive tackles, one pass knockdown and a clutch fourth-quarter interception that helped seal the Semi-Final victory against the B.C. Lions. Overall, Lokombo has suited up for 34 career regular season games, earning 64 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles.
Collegiately, Lokombo’s 2019 season at the University of Saskatchewan earned him the Presidents’ Trophy as the country’s most outstanding defensive player. During that season he made 39 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, five interceptions – two of which he returned for touchdowns, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble. He was also named Canada West’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, a Canada West All-Star and a U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadian. In 30 collegiate games with the Huskies, Lokombo made 115 tackles,10 interceptions, six tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. In 2017, the Abbotsford native was named the Huskies’ Rookie of the Year.
