November 24, 2016

Mitchell, Jackson eye top honours at Shaw CFL Awards

Solomon Elimimian admits he may be a little biased.

But as the nominee as the league’s top defensive player, the BC Lions’ middle linebacker may have a better idea than most who should win the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award Thursday night.

Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is the West’s nominee. Ottawa REDBLACKS’ receiver Ernest Jackson is nominated from the East.

“I think the outstanding player is geared toward the quarterback,” said Elimimian, who won the MOP and top defensive award in 2014.

“Bo has done everything you can possibly imagine in terms of quarterback. Bo runs that team.”

Larry MacDougal/CFL.ca

Bo Levi Mitchell (left) has a chance to build on an already-impressive CFL resume (Larry MacDougal/CFL.ca)

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Mitchell is a big reason why the Stampeders led the CFL with a 15-2-1 record this year. He completed 412 of 606 passes for 5,385 yards, a league-leading 32 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

Jackson was one of four Ottawa receivers with over 1,000 yards. He finished the year with 88 catches for 1,225 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Elimimian remembers when Jackson first started in the CFL, playing on the Lions’ practice roster.

“He is tough physically and mentally,” said Elimimian, who was the league’s top rookie in 2010. “When he got the opportunity, he took off.

“Ernest Jackson is also deserving. It’s tough.”

Besides the most outstanding player, the awards for defensive player, top Canadian, offensive lineman, special teams, rookie and AGF Coach of the Year will also be handed out.

The winners will be named at the Shaw CFL Awards show held at the Art Gallery of Ontario as part of the festivities for the 104th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

Mitchell was nominated for MOP last year but lost to Ottawa quarterback Henry Burris.

“It would be something to cross off the list,” he said about winning the award. “It’s going to mean a lot because there are so many great players in his league.

“We’ll see what happens. I think Ernest had a hell of a year.”

Other Stampeders nominated for awards are running back Jerome Messam (top Canadian); Derek Dennis (offensive lineman) and receiver DaVaris Daniels (rookie).

In a preview to Sunday’s Grey Cup, Calgary’s Dave Dickenson will face Ottawa’s Rick Campbell for coach of the year.

Montreal Alouette linebacker Bear Woods is the East nominee for the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award.

Elimimian led the CFL with 129 tackles this year. Woods was next with 126.

2016 SHAW CFL AWARDS FINALISTS

AWARD WEST NOMINEE EAST NOMINEE
MOST OUTSTANDING Bo Levi Mitchell Ernest Jackson
DEFENSIVE Solomon Elimimian Bear Woods
CANADIAN Jerome Messam Andy Fantuz
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Derek Dennis Jon Gott
SPECIAL TEAMS Justin Medlock Brandon Banks
ROOKIE DaVaris Daniels Jason Lauzon-Seguin
AGF COACH OF THE YEAR Dave Dickenson Rick Campbell

 

Winning the award would be special for Elimimian, who battled back from a season-ending Achilles injury in August 2015.

“Of all the awards I have won . . . it would mean a lot because of what I had to do to achieve it,” he said. “If you had told me a year ago I would be in this position, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Messam, a Toronto native, led the league with 1,198 yards rushing yards and scored the second-most touchdowns in the league with 12.

Hamilton Tiger-Cat receiver Andy Fantuz, from Chatham, Ont., is the East’s nominee for top Canadian.

Fantuz had 101 catches for 1,059 yards and five touchdowns.

“In a league that has so much Canadian talent . . . just to be here and be part of this event really makes me feel special,” said Fantuz, who was hobbling on crutches after undergoing surgery five days ago to repair the ACL in his left knee.

Fantuz won’t be surprised to see Messam win the award.

“He’s an amazing player,” he said. “I have all the respect for him.

“I expect he might come out with it.”

Dennis was part of the Calgary offensive line that opened up holes for Messam and protected Mitchell. Calgary scored a league-leading 586 points and allowed just 20 sacks.

Ottawa’s Jon Gott anchored a REDBLACKS’ line that led all East Division teams in net offence (7,466 yards), rushing yards (1,691) and passing yards (6,191).

The special teams award will be decided between Winnipeg Blue Bomber placekicker Justin Medlock and Hamilton Tiger-Cat returner Brandon Banks.

Medlock broke David Ridgway’s record by kicking 60 field goals in a single season. He is the CFL’s all-time field goal percentage leader at 87.7 per cent.

Banks, who won the award last year, recorded 2,082 total kick return yards this season and had three return touchdowns.

Daniels will be up against Ottawa’s offensive lineman Jason Lauzon-Séguin for the top rookie award.

In 11 games Daniels had 51 catches for 885 yards and nine touchdowns.

Lauzon-Séguin is just the second offensive lineman to be a named the East Division rookie nominee.

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

Ticats returner/receiver Brandon Banks continued his dominant on special teams (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Dickenson, a former quarterback in the CFL and NFL, can become the first player since Ron Lancaster to be named coach of the year and also win a Grey Cup.

He said his players deserve all the credit for Calgary’s season.

“I have a philosophy that coaches can help, but you are really at the mercy of your players,” he said. “Players win and lose games.

“Coaches can help screw it up as well. We give them a little bit of help and some tips. It’s still the players’ game.”

Campbell is taking the third-year REDBLACKS to the Grey Cup for the second consecutive year.

“It is very hard to win in pro sports,” said Campbell, who was the 2015 coach of the year. “You have to do a lot of things right and not screw up.

“That’s what we strive to do.”

The Most Outstanding Player awards are decided by 88 voters from the Football Reporters of Canada and head coaches from across the league.