Sports Take

The CFL Season is at the midway point going into week 11, breakout stars emerging and top candidates for end of season award are pulling away from the pack. In this I’ll pick my award winners in the East and the West and ultimately in the CFL.

The CFL awards are as follows,

-Most Outstanding Player

-Most Outstanding Canadian

-Most Outstanding Defensive Player

-Most Outstanding Rookie

-Most Outstanding Special Teams Player

So let’s get this party started with the Special Teams.

In the West it is hard to not pick BC Lions kicker Sean Whyte. So far he is the only kicker to be 100% success rate on field goals going 27 for 27 including 3 for 3 at 50+ yard attempt with a season long 52 yarder.

In the East there’s no debate it’s Janarion Grant of the Toronto Argonauts. He leads the league with 4 total returns for touchdowns, 3 being punt returns and 3 kickoff returns of over 40 yards. He’s consistently the most dangerous returners in the CFL and teams are game planning against his returns.

Most Outstanding Special Teams Player – Janarion Grant

Moving along to the Most Outstanding Rookie.

In the West I believe it’s Ontaria Wilson, the receiver of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is enjoying himself with 37 catches on 58 targets for 575 yards, 5 of those qualify as big plays (30 yards or more) and 2 touchdowns. He’s on pace for over 1000 yards this season.

The East is a little tougher, but I’m going with Charleston Rambo of the Montreal Alouettes. Another receiver who’s on pace for just shy of the 1000 yard mark, 31 catches for 410 yards and 4 touchdowns. If this is just the beginning these two could be future MOP candidates.

Most Outstanding Rookie – Ontaria Wilson

Let’s get a bit more interesting, with the ever contentions Defensive Player.

Roland Milligan Jr. stands out with 6 interceptions, 10 pass knockdowns, both leading the league. Add on the 13 special teams tackles he is just around the ball all the time. The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a breakout defensive all-star and my pick as the West M.O.D.O.P.

Tyrice Beverette has been on the field the most, participating in 76 defensive plays, with 53 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and 6 pass knockdowns. The 5th year Linebacker adds on 3 sacks and 1 pick and is on pace to break the 100 tackle barrier in a season for the first time in his career.

Most Outstanding Defensive Player – Tyrice Beverette

This next award to me is the backbone of the CFL, Most Outstanding Canadian. To me this is the second most prestigious awards in the CFL highlighting the amazing Canadian talent we have.

Winnipeg has another division winner in Brady Olivera, it seems repetitive but there’s no doubting the running backs dominance, 611 yards, 5.7 yards per carry, 6 runs over 20 yards. The only knock so far from him is the big zero under the touchdown stat.

The Alouettes are so fortunate to have Tyson Philpot, he has truly become one of the best receivers in the CFL racking up 779 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns, on 58 catches. 6 of those going for 30+ yards, and making people miss with 361 yards after the catch. To put in perspective, last season (marred by injury) he had 532 yards. This is a career year so far.

Most Outstanding Canadian – Tyson Philpot

Now for the main event, the MOP. Before his injury and the signing of Nathan Rourke, quarterback Vernon Adams Jr would have been my choice in the West as he was on pace for 6000+ yards.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that a Quarterback likely won’t win this award this year with the injuries to quarterbacks, so in the West I’m going with BC Lions receiver Justin McInnis, 834 receiving and on pace for over 1600 yards, 6 touchdowns with 51 catches.

In the East I’m going with Cody Fajardo, he’s missed the last 3 games with an injury, but has a completion percentage of 77.5, 1636 yards passing but the 10 touchdowns is the key thing, he finds his guys in the endzone, and I think when he returns it will continue in fine form.

CFL Most Outstanding Player – Justin McInnis