All Access: CFL Midseason Awards
Former CFL executive and four-time Grey Cup champion John Murphy hands out his CFL midseason awards.
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With 10 weeks of CFL action in the books and 11 weeks still left to play, we have officially hit the mid-way point of the regular season. The Montreal Alouettes have staked claim as the most complete team thus far with an 8-1 record and enter Week 11 on a bye. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Ottawa REDBLACKS remain the lone winless team at 0-8. In between has been one of the most exciting CFL seasons of all-time. So where do accolades sit at the halfway mark? We attempt to answer.
All Access Football special guest contributor, former CFL executive and four-time Grey Cup champion John Murphy hands out his CFL midseason awards below:
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYERL DAVIS ALEXANDER, QB, MTL
Alexander is just ahead of his teammate Tyson Philpot. Riders QB Trevor Harris and Elks QB Cody Fajardo are still alive, the dark horse would be if one of the other QB’s goes on a hot streak the rest of the way.
MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN: TYSON PHILPOT, WR, MTL
Philpot has captured the league’s attention, it has also been a highlight year for Canadian receivers. This award has been Brady Oliveira’s to lose and then Nathan Rourke. Right now, Tyson has it in a head lock.
MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: WILLIE JEFFERSON, DE, WIN
Jefferson is one of four players with six sacks, so you could make an argument for any of those other three. Elks DB Tyrell Ford has five picks, MTL LB Tyrice Beverette, if healthy, could battle his way into contention, while Stamps DE Clarence Hicks is one to keep an eye on. Hicks is one of the other three with six sacks and his film catches my eye weekly and usually both eyes.
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER: KELON THOMAS, DE, CGY
Thomas has 16 special teams tackles, he’s built like an edge rusher, Canadian and came to the Stamps through the CJFL’s Okanagan Sun. It is very possible one of Tyreik McAllister, Janarion Grant, Isaiah Wooten or Trey Vaval add a few more game-changing TD returns and come back to win this. OTT K Brett Lauther was 20-for-20 on FG’s before his injury and MTL K Jose Maltos-Diaz is 23-24 on FG so far too.
MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: NICK CALLENDER, OT, MTL
Callender is ahead of Riders OL Logan Ferland with Elks OL Carter O’Donnell having had the early lead for me, as the starting left tackle. The edge would go for me to Callender over Ferland but it is tight race.
MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE: DARIEL DJABOME, LB, EDM
Djabome has 32 tackles, four special teams tackles, one sack, one interception and the Canadian rookie LB from Rutgers has given them an excellent “Ratio” depth piece. Elks WR TJ Luther, Argos WR Tyler Kahmann, Argos DB James Ceasar and Bombers DB Major Williams are all names to keep evaluating.
COACH OF THE YEAR: JASON MAAS, MTL
Maas has a big lead here with an 8-1 record, first place in the East. Mark Kilam has the Elks in playoff contention and Corey Mace’s ability to juggle his roster and keep them in first place contention in the West cannot go overlooked.
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