RIDERS ANNOUNCE 2017 MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYERS
The Saskatchewan Roughrider nominees for the CFL Awards were announced on Wednesday.
This year’s nominees are: Duron Carter (Outstanding Player), Ed Gainey (Outstanding Defensive Player), Henoc Muamba (Outstanding Canadian), Brendon LaBatte (Outstanding Offensive Lineman), Christion Jones (Outstanding Special Teams Player), and Tobi Antigha (Outstanding Rookie).
DURON CARTER
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Second career nomination as Most Outstanding Player…started 16 regular-season games at wide receiver…has registered 73 receptions for a team-leading 1,043 yards and eight touchdowns…surpassed 100 yards receiving in three games…averaged 14.3 yards per catch with an 88-yard long…started one game at defensive back…has four defensive tackles and one interception which was returned 43 yards for a touchdown…added 15 punt returns for 115 yards…returned a missed convert 113 yards resulting in a two-point score…was named a CFL Top Performer for week 6, week 17 and week 18…previously nominated by Montreal Alouettes in 2014…last Roughrider to win CFL Most Outstanding Player was Kerry Joseph in 2007.
ED GAINEY
MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER
First career nomination as Most Outstanding Defensive Player…has started all 17 regular-season games in the Riders’ secondary…leads the league with a career-high 10 interceptions, including one which was returned 49 yards for a touchdown…has added 43 defensive tackles, seven knockdowns, two fumble recoveries and one special-teams tackle…was named a CFL Top Performer for week 8 after setting a single-game Rider record with four interceptions…last Roughrider to win CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player was John Chick in 2009.
HENOC MUAMBA*
MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN
Unanimous selection…third career nomination as Most Outstanding Canadian…has started 12 of 16 games at middle linebacker…has a team-leading 76 defensive tackles…added 11 special-teams tackles, five knockdowns, three forced fumbles and two interceptions…previously nominated in 2012 and 2013 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers…last Rider to win CFL Outstanding Canadian was Andy Fantuz in 2010.
BRENDON LABATTE*
MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
Unanimous selection…sixth career nomination as Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman…has played all 17 regular-season contests…started the first six games at left guard before moving to centre for nine games, then returned to left guard for the last two games…previously nominated with the Riders in 2013 and 2015, and with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2009-11…LaBatte is the last Rider to be named CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman when he picked up the award in 2013.
CHRISTION JONES
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL-TEAMS PLAYER
First career nomination as Most Outstanding Special-Teams Player…played nine regular-season games…has 42 punt returns for 618 yards and two touchdowns…ranks second in the CFL with a punt-return average of 14.7 yards…added 18 kickoff returns for 423 yards…last Rider to win CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player was Corey Holmes in 2005.
TOBI ANTIGHA
MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE
Played 16 regular-season games with one start at defensive end…has registered 29 defensive tackles, six special-teams tackles, five quarterback sacks and one fumble recovery…last Rider to win CFL Most Outstanding Rookie was Weston Dressler in 2008.
The players were selected by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches.
In this first ballot, FRC representatives from each CFL city plus the respective head coach submitted votes for the six categories. Voters were asked to select players from their local CFL club who, through on-field performance excellence, best represent the awards’ titled – Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Most Outstanding Rookie, and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
The East and West Division winners for the 2017 CFL Awards will be announced on Thursday, November 9th.
