Argonauts.ca Staff |
TORONTO – The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced today the team nominees for the 2015 CFL Outstanding Player Awards. All six Argonauts players selected to represent this year’s team are first time award nominees. Three of the team’s six nominees are first year CFL players.
The players were selected by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches. In this first ballot, FRC representatives from each CFL city plus the respective head coach submitted votes for the six categories. Voters were asked to select players from their local CFL club who, through on-field performance excellence, best represent the awards’ titles – Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Most Outstanding Rookie, and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
The Toronto Argonauts Most Outstanding Player award winners are as follow:
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CFL Awards |
Award Nominee |
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Most Outstanding Player |
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Most Outstanding Defensive Player |
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Most Outstanding Lineman |
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Most Outstanding Special Teams Player |
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Most Outstanding Canadian |
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Most Outstanding Rookie |
TREVOR HARRIS / Quarterback – Argos Most Outstanding Player
Fourth-year Argonauts QB Trevor Harris led the Double Blue to a 9-7 record in 16 starts in 2015. The Waldo, Ohio native has completed 368-of-517 passing attempts for 4,144 passing yards and a league-high 32 touchdown passes – all career-highs. His passing yards total to date is the 7th best single-season total in Argonauts history, his 368 passes complete put him at first all-time in an Argonauts season, his 71.2 completion percentage is second all-time in the Argos record books and his 32 passing touchdowns tie him for fourth-most in an Argos season. Heading into the final week of the CFL regular season, Harris continues to be ranked among the CFL’s most efficient passers as he leads the league in completion percent (71.2%) and ranks second in passing efficiency (100.9). As a starter, he led the Argos to six come-from-behind victories and was named a Shaw CFL Top Performer in weeks 1, 2 and 16. He was also honoured as the Shaw CFL Top Performer of the Month in June/July.
GREG JONES / Linebacker – Argos Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Linebacker Greg Jones has been a sure-handed tackler for the Argonauts on both defence and special teams this season. The Michigan State product currently leads the Argonauts and ranks fourth in the CFL with 94 defensive tackles while also leading the team in special teams tackles with 17. Jones, who was named the Argonauts defensive captain earlier this week, has registered 5+ tackles in 12 of the Argos 17 regular season games and needs just six tackles on Friday night vs. Winnipeg to become the first Argonaut to record 100 defensive tackles in a single-season since Kevin Eiben in 2010.
GREG VAN ROTEN / Offensive Lineman – Argos Most Outstanding Lineman
OL Greg Van Roten has been the anchor of the Argonauts offensive line this season. As a first-year CFL player, he has started 16 games and showcased his versatility by starting games at Centre, Guard and Tackle for the Double Blue. His line helped QB Trevor Harris achieve a number of career, team and CFL milestones as a first-year starter.
BRIAN ROLLE / Linebacker – Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
The first year Argos player was among the team’s most important weapons on special teams for his tenacity and his effort. The Ohio-native, who played at Ohio State, registered eight special teams tackles in 14 games this season while playing in nearly every special teams package and supporting on defence. Argonauts cover teams in 2015 have allowed opponents to average just 8.5 yards on punt returns and less than 20 yards on kickoff returns.
CLEYON LAING / Defensive Tackle – Argos Most Outstanding Canadian
The 2015 season has been career-year for Canadian defensive tackle Cleyon Laing. In 17 starts this season, Laing has posted career numbers in every defensive category. He has registered 39 defensive tackles – eight more tackles than he’s posted in the last two seasons combined (31), eight (8) quarterback sacks (second-most on the club), and two (2) forced fumbles.
VIDAL HAZELTON / Receiver – Argos Most Outstanding Rookie
In his first CFL season, receiver Vidal Hazelton has hauled in a team-high 70 passes for 803 yards, an average of 11.5 yards per catch, and six touchdowns (fourth-most on the team) in 17 starts. He currently leads all East Division true rookie receivers in pass receiving yards and receptions. The Cincinnati product recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game on August 3 at Hamilton when he posted 10 catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. Hazelton has caught at least four passes in 13 of his 17 appearances this season, and went on a stretch of nine games where he recorded 4+ receptions.
The East and West Division finalists for the 2015 CFL Outstanding Player Awards will be announced next week.
The Shaw CFL Awards Show will be hosted on Thursday, November 26 at the Club Regent Event Centre in Winnipeg, MB.