CFL.ca
TORONTO — The Canadian Football League highlighted the league’s brightest stars on Wednesday, unveiling the 2015 CFL All-Star selections.
Most Outstanding Player Henry Burris leads the list of 27 players, including 16 first-time All-Stars and eight nationals, selected by the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and the league’s head coaches.
In total, 75 voters selected the 27 All-Stars. This is the 53rd year in which the CFL has named an All-Star team in recognition of the season’s best performers.
QUARTERBACK
Henry Burris, Ottawa REDBLACKS
RUNNING BACKS
Andrew Harris*, BC Lions
Tyrell Sutton, Montreal Alouettes
RECEIVERS
Eric Rogers, Calgary Stampeders
Adarius Bowman, Edmonton Eskimos
Derel Walker, Edmonton Eskimos
Emmanuel Arceneaux, BC Lions
CENTRE
Jon Gott*, Ottawa REDBLACKS
OFFENSIVE GUARDS
Brendon LaBatte*, Saskatchewan Roughriders
Spencer Wilson*, Calgary Stampeders
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
SirVincent Rogers, Ottawa REDBLACKS
Jovan Olafioye, BC Lions
DEFENSIVE ENDS
John Bowman, Montreal Alouettes
Jamaal Westerman*, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Ted Laurent*, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Almondo Sewell, Edmonton Eskimos
LINEBACKERS
Adam Bighill, BC Lions
Simoni Lawrence, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Winston Venable, Montreal Alouettes
CORNERBACKS
John Ojo, Edmonton Eskimos
Abdul Kanneh, Ottawa REDBLACKS
HALFBACKS
Emanuel Davis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Aaron Grymes, Edmonton Eskimos
SAFETY
Craig Butler*, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
KICKER
Rene Paredes*, Calgary Stampeders
PUNTER
Richie Leone, BC Lions
SPECIAL TEAMS
Brandon Banks, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
*Indicates Nationals
OLAFIOYE SHINES BRIGHT: After earning a nomination for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman but losing the honour to SirVincent Rogers, Olafioye did earn his fifth straight All-Star nod in a row.
Lions offensive tackle Jovan Olafioye is used to having his name announced at this time of year, as he earns his fifth career nomination and has made the list five straight seasons. Olafioye was the key part of a Lions’ O-line that allowed only 34 sacks in 2015, one off league-leading Calgary and Montreal’s 33.
Olafioye is one of five Lions to be named to the All-Star roster as BC, Edmonton and Hamilton led all teams with five players each getting the call.
SirVincent Rogers edged Olafioye for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in November and was named an All-Star tackle along with the Lions’ left tackle, while Brendon LaBatte continues what’s been a solid career for him with his fourth All-Star honour.
Six All-Stars were named for consecutive seasons as LaBatte, Olafioye, Brandon Banks, Adarius Bowman, Ted Laurent and Almondo Sewell earn the honour for the second straight season, while LaBatte and Sewell join Olafioye as the only player with three straight years.
Edmonton’s Derel Walker sticks out as the only rookie on the list, but his star power is as bright as any other All-Star’s. Walker, 24, caught 89 passes for 1,110 yards with six touchdowns in only 12 regular season starts for the Green and Gold, and in the Western Final he caught 11 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown to lead Edmonton past the Stampeders and to the Grey Cup.
Only one team, the Toronto Argonauts, did not have a single All-Star nod while Winnipeg and Saskatchewan each had one All-Star.
BY THE NUMBERS
15 – All-Stars from the West Division
12 – All-Stars from the East Division
8 – Nationals named All-Stars
6 – All-Stars with consecutive selections (Brandon Banks, Adarius Bowman, Brendon LaBatte, Ted Laurent, Jovan Olafioye, Almondo Sewell)
3 – All-Stars with three consecutive selections (Brendon LaBatte, Jovan Olafioye, Almondo Sewell)
1 – All-Star with five-straight selections (Jovan Olafioye).
TEAM BREAKDOWN
5 – BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
4 – Ottawa REDBLACKS
3 – Calgary Stampeders, Montreal Alouettes
1 – Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
MULTIPLE CAREER ALL-STAR SELECTIONS
5 – Jovan Olafioye
4 – Brendon LaBatte
3 – Adam Bighill, Almondo Sewell, Rene Paredes
2 – Brandon Banks, Adarius Bowman, John Bowman, Henry Burris, Andrew Harris, Ted Laurent
