The Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards were voted on by 62 voting members, including representation from the Football Reporters of Canada from the eight CFL markets, a national chapter and the CFL head coaches. The 2011 awards were presented on Thursday Nov. 24, 2011 in Vancouver B.C.
Voters were asked to select players who, through on-field excellence, best represent the awards' title: Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
Most Outstanding Player - QB Travis Lulay - B.C. Lions
In his first full season as the Lions starting quarterback, Travis Lulay led his team to a first place finish in the CFL West. Lulay threw for 4,815 yards and tied for the league lead with 32 touchdown passes against just 11 interceptions during the regular season. The dynamic Montana State product also picked up 391 yards and three touchdowns along the ground.
| 2011 Stats |
| Comp |
Att |
% |
Yards |
TD |
INT |
Rating |
| 342 |
583 |
58.7 |
4,815 |
32* |
11 |
95.8 |
East Nominee: QB Anthony Calvillo - Montreal Alouettes2010 Winner: QB Henry Burris - Calgary Stampeders
Most Outstanding Canadian - RB Jerome Messam - Edmonton Eskimos
Messam had a breakout year in 2011 rushing for 1,057 yards and six touchdowns for the Eskimos this season. The Toronto native is the the first Canadian running back to finish with more than 1,00 yards rushing in a season since Sean Millington in 2000. He also added 27 receptions for 248 yards. In just his second season, Messam was also voted a CFL All-Star.
| 2011 Stats |
| Att |
Yards |
Avg |
TD |
Rec |
Yards |
TD |
| 195 |
1,057 |
5.4 |
6 |
27 |
248 |
0 |
East Nominee: K/P Sean Whyte - Montreal Alouettes2010 Winner: SB Andy Fantuz - Saskatchewan Roughriders
Most Outstanding Defensive Player - DB Jovon Johnson - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Jovon Johnson had a career year in 2011 finishing the season with a league-leading eight interceptions, two of which he took back for touchdowns. Johnson also piled up 55 tackles and five pass knockdowns. He was the anchor for a defensive secondary that ranked first in the CFL in pass yards allowed, opponent completion percentage and interceptions.
| 2011 Stats |
| TKL |
Sacks |
Ints |
Yards |
Long |
TD |
KD |
| 55 |
0 |
8* |
104 |
67 |
2* |
5 |
West Nominee: LB Jerrell Freeman - Saskatchewan Roughriders2010 Winner: LB Markeith Knowlton - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Most Outstanding Special Teams Player - K/P Paul McCallum - B.C. Lions
A 19-year CFL veteran, McCallum had a record setting year in 2011hitting 50-of-53 field goal attempts for a CFL single season record completion percentange of 94.3. He also connected on 30 consecutive field goals at one point during the season to break the previous record of 28 held by Dave Ridgway. McCallum led the CFL in scoring with 203 points and also added 123 punts for 5,183 yards.
| 2011 Stats |
| FG Made |
FG Att |
% |
Pts |
Punts |
Avg |
Net Avg |
| 50* |
53 |
94.3** |
203* |
123 |
42.1 |
35.3 |
East Nominee: KR Chad Owens - Toronto Argonauts2010 Winner: KR Chad Owens - Toronto Argonauts
Most Outstanding Lineman - OL Josh Bourke - Montreal Alouettes
Bourke anchored a Montreal Alouettes offensive line that allowed the second fewest quarterback sacks in the CFL with 34. Bourke also helped the Alouettes finish the season with the most passing yards and third most rushing yards in the CFL. The Als left tackle was also named a CFL All-Star.
| 2011 Team Stats |
| Sacks Allowed |
Rush Yards |
Pass Yards |
Rush TD |
Pass TD |
| 34 |
2,006 |
5,562* |
16 |
33* |
West Nominee: OL Jovan Olafioye - B.C. Lions2010 Winner: OL Ben Archibald - Calgary Stampeders
Most Outstanding Rookie - WR Chris Williams - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
In his first season in the CFL, Williams led the Ticats with 1,064 receving yards and six touchdowns on 70 receptions. The first-year star was also called upon to return kicks on occasion returning 12 punts for 81 yards and 12 kickoffs for 252 yards including a 93-yard touchdown. He was also voted as the CFL's fastest player in the 2011 CFL on TSN player poll.
| 2011 Stats |
| Rec |
Yards |
Avg |
Long |
TD |
| 70 |
1,064 |
15.2 |
71 |
6 |
West Nominee: LB JC Sherritt - Edmonton Eskimos2010 Winner: LB Solomon Elimimian - B.C. Lions
*Led CFL
**CFL Record
Player Awards Finalists and Team Nominees
