The CFL announced its finalists for the league’s 7 major awards Thursday. With a nominee from each division making the final cut, here’s who could be taking home some hardware during Grey Cup week:
Most Outstanding Player:
Montreal Alouettes running back William Stanback easily captured the rushing title this year, accumulating 300 more yards than his next closest competitor. Averaging 98yds per game, he would ultimately finish with a career best 1176 yds on the ground.
From the west, Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros earned the nod after throwing a league high 20TD passes and guiding the Blue Bombers to an 11-3 record. As a team, Winnipeg finished first in offensive touchdowns and yards per play, while also committing the fewest turnovers.
Most Outstanding Canadian:
A pair of defensive menaces headlined the MOC nominations this year. Montreal’s David Ménard and BC’s Bo Lokombo earned the nods for their stellar defensive play in 2021. Ménard set a career high, despite the shortened season, with 8 sacks while also forcing 2 fumbles. Lokombo did a little bit of everything in 2021, tying a career best for sacks (4), intercepting 3 passes, scoring a TD, and coming 5 tackles shy of his career high 71 for the year in fewer games.
Most Outstanding Rookie:
Peter Nicastro was a day 1 starter on the Argos offensive line. The former 7th overall selection helped shore up the Toronto front and earned the unit top 3 honours in most statistical categories for O-linemen around the league. Meanwhile Jordan Williams from the BC Lions shattered the Canadian rookie record for defensive tackles (75 in 18 games) by notching 92 in only 14 games played. This will be only the 2nd time in league history where the top rookie award will be contested between two Canadians.
Coach of the Year:
To no one’s surprise, this award will be contested between the head coaches of the league’s top two seeds. Mike O’Shea and Ryan Dinwiddie guided their squads to 11-3 and 9-5 records respectively, earning them the top spots in the West and East. While Dinwiddie earned the nomination for turning around a team that struggled to a 4-14 record in 2019, O’Shea was chosen for keeping the high standard of Winnipeg football intact.
Most Outstanding Special Teams Player:
Not much went right for the RedBlacks this year. But DeVonte Dedmon’s special teams play was an unexpected bright spot on an otherwise forgettable season for Ottawa. Dedmon had 3 return touchdowns, and led the league in punt returns, punt return yards, kickoff returns, and kickoff return yards. Out west Rene Paredes converted 44 out of 48 field goal attempts (91.7%) while having two games where he notched 6 made field goals.
Most Outstanding O-Lineman:
Two familiar faces earned nominations for the Outstanding Offensive Lineman award this year. Hamilton’s Brandon Revenberg earned his 2nd career nomination, while Stanley Bryant was put forth for a 4th consecutive time. Bryant is hoping to ditch the “always a bridesmaid” title having only won the award once prior (2019) despite being a perennial finalist.
Most Outstanding Defensive Player:
Simoni Lawrence earned his 3rd career nomination after recording 73 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 2 TDs on the year. Hamilton as a team allowed the 2nd fewest points against in the league, while holding opponents to the lowest rushing yards per game total in the league (79.6 per game). Adam Bighill, already a two time MODP winner himself, posted 70 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 picks while anchoring the league’s top defensive unit. Winnipeg’s 13.4 points against per game is the 9th lowest mark in CFL history. Bighill and Lawrence previously went head to head for this award back in 2015, a contest Bighill ultimately won.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner