Brandon Whitaker (3) of the Toronto Argonauts during the game against the Ottawa REDBLACKS at TD Place stadium in Ottawa, ON. Sunday, July 31, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
TORONTO – The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced today the team nominees for the 2016 CFL Outstanding Player Awards. The Argonauts nominees include:
BRANDON WHITAKER / Running Back – Most Outstanding Player
Whitaker enters the final week of the season having put together his most productive campaign since his 2011 CFL All Star season, rushing 165 times for 892 yards and two touchdowns while setting a career-high in receptions (77) for 527 yards and four receiving touchdowns in 17 games. His 77 catches to date are the most recorded by a CFL running back since the 2012 season.
The eight-year CFL veteran currently leads East Division in rushing yards (892) and is pacing the CFL in carries of 10+ yards with 32.
SHAWN LEMON / Defensive End – Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Since being traded to Toronto via Saskatchewan in July, Shawn Lemon has been a force for the Argonauts defence. He currently leads the East Division and ranks second in the CFL with 14 sacks, adding 22 tackles, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a pass knockdown in 17 games this season. Lemon has registered multiple sacks in five of his last 13 games while recording the team’s highest single-season sack total since 2003.
GREG VAN ROTEN / Centre, Right Guard and Left Tackle – Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman
Greg Van Roten has been a steady presence on the offensive line while continuing to demonstrate his versatility by starting at centre, guard and tackle over 14 games. Of the 14 games, he started eight at left tackle, five at centre and one at right guard.
Van Roten has now been named the Argos Most Outstanding Lineman in back-to-back seasons. He received the honour in 2015 after also playing three positions along the offensive line over 16 games.
LIRIM HAJRULLAHU / Kicker – Most Outstanding Special Teams Players & Most Outstanding Canadian
Argonauts kicker Lirim Hajrullahu has put together a career year in his first season in Double Blue. The third-year specialist has connected on 36-of-41 field goal attempts this season while averaging 43.8 yards on 107 punts. His 87.8% field goal percentage currently ranks him first in the East Division, second in the CFL, and puts him on pace to set a career-high in the category. The Western University product etched his name in Argonauts history earlier this season, converting 15 straight field goals across five games to tie Noel Prefontaine for the club’s third-longest streak. His six field goals in Week 3 against the BC Lions marked the second-most in the team’s single-game history, while his 53-yard connection in Week 6 against Ottawa tied a career-long.
Hajrullahu was also named Winnipeg’s Most Outstanding Canadian and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player during his 2013 rookie campaign.
SEAN McEWEN / Centre – Most Outstanding Rookie
2015 CFL Draft pick Sean McEwen has appeared in 16 games, starting in 12, in his first season with the Argonauts. The Calgary product picked up the pro game with ease and played an integral part of an offensive line that paved the way for East Division rushing leader Brandon Whitaker and allowed the Argonauts to rank third in the league in yards per carry (5.2).