Lions' Betts takes home Most Outstanding Defensive Player at CFL Awards
Published
Ahead of the 110th Grey Cup between the Montreal Alouettes and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Canadian Football League held their annual awards ceremony, with Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly winning the George Reed Most Outstanding Player award, while Blue Bombers' running back Brady Oliveira takes home the Most Outstanding Canadian award.
Lions' DL Betts named Most Outstanding Defensive Player
BC Lions Canadian defensive lineman Mathieu Betts was named the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Defensive Player on Thursday night.
Betts, 28, had a record-setting season with the Lions.
The Montreal, Que., native became the new single-season sack leader by a Canadian with 18 in 18 regular-season games, surpassing previous record-holders Jamaal Westerman (2015), and former Lion, Brent Johnson, who set the record in 2005 with 17 after setting the new Canadian record with 16 just a year prior.
Betts started the season on a six-game sack streak and finished the 2023 campaign with six more sacks than AC Leonard (12), Jake Ceresna (12), and Carter Bryce (12) for the league crown.
A product of Laval University, Betts also racked up a career-high 42 defensive tackles and four forced fumbles, earning a CFL All-Star nod.
Argos QB Kelly named George Reed Most Outstanding Player
Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly was named the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Player on Thursday night.
The 29-year-old Buffalo native earned his MOP nod after leading the Double Blue to a CFL and franchise-best 16-2 record this season to finish atop the East Division.
Kelly, in his first season as a full-time starter after McLeod Bethel-Thompson opted to join the UFSL's New Orleans Breakers, threw for 4,123 yards with 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
The former Ole Miss product also rushed for a CFL second-best eight touchdowns, one behind Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Dustin Crum and fellow MOP nominee Brady Oliveira from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the league lead.
Bombers RB Oliveira named Most Outstanding Canadian
Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira was named the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Canadian on Thursday night.
The homegrown 26-year-old flourished in his second full season as the Blue Bombers’ No. 1 back, joining Jon Cornish as just the second Canadian to rush for over 1,500 yards in a single season.
Oliveira took the reins for the Blue Bombers' backfield after the departure of fellow Winnipeg native Andrew Harris, who joined the Toronto Argonauts in 2022 after an illustrious and decorated career with the Bombers.
The University of North Dakota product rushed for 4,249 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his rookie campaign, helping the Blue Bombers capture the 108th Grey Cup over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Oliveira eclipsed his season stats a year later in 2022, taking 202 touches for 1,001 yards and four touchdowns.
Oliveira also earned a nomination for the Most Outstanding Player for his 2,014 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns.
Argos coach Dinwiddie named Coach of the Year
Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie was named the Canadian Football League’s Coach of the Year.
The first Coach of the Year honour for Dinwiddie in his third season with the Double Blue, he led the Argonauts to a 16-2 record, tying Edmonton’s all-time mark set in 1989.
The Elk Grove, Calif., native also became the ninth head coach to win division titles in each of his first three seasons on the strength of perfect records at home (9-0) and against divisional opponents (10-0).
Argos OL Allen named Most Outstanding Lineman
Toronto Argonauts offensive lineman Dejon Allen was named the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Lineman on Thursday night.
The California-born University of Hawai’i product made 16 regular-season starts for the Double Blue, helping Chad Kelly and Co. led the East Division with 56 offensive touchdowns and allowed a league-low 19 sacks.
Allen and the Argos’ offensive line also helped produced the team’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2016 in A.J. Ouellette
Argos returner Leake named Most Outstanding Special Teams Player
Toronto Argonauts returner Javon Leake was named the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player Thursday night.
Leake, 25, set an Argonauts record with four punt-return touchdowns on the season and came one shy of the CFL record.
The Greensboro, N.C., native and former Maryland Terrapin tallied 1,216 return yards – the third highest in CFL history – in 17 games this season.
Roughriders' Lenius named recipient of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Trophy
Brayden Lenius of the Saskatchewan Roughriders was the recipient of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Trophy at the 2023 CFL Awards in Regina on Thursday night.
The annual award is presented to a Canadian player who best demonstrates the attributes of Canada’s veterans: strength, perseverance, courage, comradeship and contribution to Canadian communities.
The award was first presented in 2010 to Mike McCullough of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and is named in honour of Jake Gaudaur – a distinguished Second World War veteran and the longest-serving commissioner in CFL history (1968 to 1984).
Argos DB Stiggers named Most Outstanding Rookie
Toronto Argonauts defensive back Qwan’tez Stiggers was named the Canadian Football League’s Most Outstanding Rookie on Thursday night.
The 21-year-old from Atlanta, Ga., led the Argonauts with five interceptions and tallied 53 defensive tackles in 16 regular-season games.