FAJARDO AND BANKS HEADLINE 2019 SHAW CFL AWARDS FINALISTS

The evening ceremony recognizes the league’s top performers in seven categories as voted by the Football Reporters of Canada and head coaches from across the league. In addition, The Commissioner’s Award, the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Award, the Tom Pate Memorial Award, the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award and the inaugural Jane Mawby Tribute Award will honour individuals from across the CFL.

In addition to the Shaw CFL Awards, several ticketed events for the 2019 Grey Cup Festival presented by Shaw are on-sale, including the Canadian Tire CFL Alumni Association Legends Luncheon, the Alberta Blue Cross Grey Cup Gala Dinner, the Cheer Extravaganza, the first-ever Grey Cup Rodeo, the SiriusXM Saturday Night Concert presented by Coors Light, and more. Additional event details, dates and purchasing information can be found at GreyCupFestival.ca.

The 107^th Grey Cup presented by Shaw will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2019 in Calgary at McMahon Stadium, and broadcast across Canada on RDS and TSN – the country’s most-watched specialty network. This year’s championship will mark the fifth time Calgary has hosted the game and the first since the 97^th Grey Cup in 2009. A limited number of tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.ca/GreyCup.

2019 SHAW CFL AWARDS FINALISTS

MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER

First-year starter, Cody Fajardo, established new career-highs in passing yards (4,302), rushing touchdowns (10) and touchdown passes (18), while completing 71.5% of his attempts, in leading Saskatchewan to its first Division title since 2009. The former member of the Nevada Wolfpack led the league in passing and reached the 300+ yards plateau on six occasions. The Brea, Calif., native finished 12-4 as a starter.

Brandon Banks’s stellar season included new personal-bests in receiving yards (1,550), receptions (112) and touchdowns-scored (16). The Kansas State alum helped guide the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a franchise-record 15 victories and his 112 catches established a new team record. The native of Garner, N.C., was the only player this season to score a touchdown in three different ways (kick return, receiving and rushing).

MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER

In his first season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Willie Jefferson set a career-high 12 sacks, added 24 tackles and an interception, forced six fumbles and recovered two, registered five tackles for a loss and set a CFL record for a defensive lineman with 16 pass knockdowns. Jefferson led the Bombers defence to league #1 rankings in opponent rushing yards, turnovers forced and pass knockdowns.

Simoni Lawrence’s eighth CFL campaign featured a career-high in tackles (98), three interceptions to match a personal-best, four sacks and seven pass knockdowns. The Minnesota product led all players with 117 defensive plays. The Upper Darby, Pa., native anchored the Tiger-Cats defence league-bests in fewest points allowed, fewest touchdowns allowed, and the lowest opponent passing efficiency in the league.

MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN

Third-year player and 2017 second-overall pick Cameron Judge broke through with 61 tackles, 12 special teams tackles, five sacks and two interceptions – all personal-bests. The Montreal, Que., native finished second on the Roughriders with 88 defensive plays and the team led the CFL in lowest opponent net offence.

Henoc Muamba notched 93 tackles, four tackles for a loss, three pass knockdowns and a sack, en route to his second-career Most Outstanding Canadian nomination with the first coming in 2013. The St. Francis Xavier X-Men alumnus helped guide the Alouettes to their first double-digit win season since 2012 and their first home playoff date since 2014.

NISSAN TITAN MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

Goldsboro, N.C., native, Stanley Bryant has been named a finalist for the Nissan TITAN Most Outstanding Lineman for the third consecutive season. The Winnipeg offence averaged the CFL’s second-most points (28.2) and led the league in rushing yards (147.9 per game) behind Andrew Harris’s rushing title. Bryant is trying to become the first player to win this award three years in a row.

In his first season with Hamilton, Chris Van Zeyl anchored an offensive line which enabled their quarterbacks to total league-highs in passing yards (5,626), touchdowns (48) and net offence (395.1 yards per game).

MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER

Riverview, N.B., native Mike Miller set a new personal benchmark with 25 special teams tackles. In a Week 4 matchup with Ottawa, the Acadia product set a CFL record with seven special teams tackles in a game.

Hamilton return man, Frankie Williams, topped the league in punt return yards (949), while adding 1,071 kickoff return yards. The Tampa, Fla., native also scored two special teams touchdowns this season.

MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE

Nate Holley appeared in all 18 games, recording 78 defensive tackles, 22 special teams tackles, a sack and an interception. The Kent State alum finished second in the league with 107 defensive plays.

Jake Wieneke notched 41 receptions for 569 yards and led the Alouettes with eight touchdown receptions.

COACH OF THE YEAR

In his first season with Saskatchewan, Craig Dickenson led the team to its first division crown since 2009, compiling a 13-5 record. The Roughriders led the West Division with a +101 point differential and an 8-1 mark at Mosaic Stadium.

Orlondo Steinauer matched a CFL record for victories by a first-year head coach (15), including a perfect 9-0 mark at Tim Hortons Field. Hamilton topped the league in points-for (551) while allowing the fewest points (344).