CFL Awards: Bombers' Collaros named MOP for second season in a row; Lions' Rourke earns MOC
Published
Ahead of the 109th Grey Cup between the Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Canadian Football League held their annual awards ceremony, with Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros winning his second straight MOP and BC Lions' quarterback Nathan Rourke winning MOC.
Bombers' Collaros named Most Outstanding Player for second season in a row
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros was named the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Player for the second season in a row at the 2022 CFL Awards in Regina on Thursday night, making him the first player to win back-to-back honours since Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo accomplished the feat in 2008 and 2009.
The 34-year-old from Steubenville, Ohio, topped his 2021 MOP season with a 2022 campaign full of career highs.
The three-time Grey Cup champion and the Most Valuable Player of the 108th Grey Cup threw for a CFL-best 37 touchdowns and for a second-best 4,183 yards. A product of the University of Cincinnati, Collaros played in 17 of the Blue Bombers' 18 regular season games, completing 70 per cent of his passes for a quarterback efficiency of 116.2
Collaros led the Blue Bombers to a 15-3 record, clinching the West Division for the second season in a row.
In the Western Final against the BC Lions, Collaros threw for 178 yards and an interception to help the Bombers reach a third straight Grey Cup.
Rourke takes home Most Outstanding Canadian award
BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian for the 2022 season in Regina on Thursday night.
After spending the 2021 season behind Michael Reilly, the Victoria-born, Ontario-raised product dazzled in his first season as a starter with head coach Rick Campbell and the Lions.
Rourke played in 10 games over the 2022 season, missing time after suffering a Lisfranc sprain to his right foot. The former Ohio Bobcat finished the regular season with 3,349 passing yards for 25 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
Rourke, 24, returned to the Lions in the final week of the regular season before starting the West Division Semi-Final against the Calgary Stampeders, throwing for 321 yards and a pair of touchdowns to advance to the Western Final against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Rourke threw for 299 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions the following week as the Lions' season came to an end.
Rourke was named a top performer of the week on multiple occasions and is the first quarterback to win the MOC award since Gerry Dattilio earned it in 1980.
Blue Bombers' O'Shea named Coach of the Year for second straight season
For the second time in as many seasons, Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea has been named the Canadian Football League's Coach of the Year.
The North Bay, Ont., native led the Blue Bombers to a league-best 15-3 record and a West Division title. In his eight seasons at the helm of the Bombers, O'Shea has reached the Western Final four consecutive times, is the longest-serving coach in the CFL, has a career record of 82-58 and sports an .833 winning percentage.
Blue Bombers' Bryant wins fourth-career Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award
For the fourth time in five seasons, Winnipeg Blue Bomber Stanley Bryant was named the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Lineman for the 2022 season in Regina on Thursday night.
The 36-year-old East Carolina University product helped lead a Blue Bombers offensive line that allowed the second-fewest sacks in the league with 28 while finishing first in offensive touchdowns (58) and second in rushing yards per game (110.5).
Bryant is the CFL's first four-time recipient of the award since its inception in 1974.
Roughriders returner Alford named Most Outstanding Special Teamer
Saskatchewan Roughrider Mario Alford was named the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player for the 2022 season in Regina on Thursday night.
Alford, 30, led the league with four kick return touchdowns, while also accumulating 1,689 combined kick return yards. The Greenville, Ga., native was acquired by the Roughriders after starting the season with the Montreal Alouettes.
The former West Virginia Mountaineer led the CFL in kickoff return average (25.8 yards β minimum 25 returns) and he tied a CFL record with two kickoff return touchdowns.
Redblacks defensive end Mauldin named Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Ottawa Redblacks defensive end Lorenzo Mauldin IV was named the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the 2022 season at the CFL Awards in Regina on Thursday night.
Mauldin, 30, eclipsed his prior season highs in his first season with the Redblacks. The former Louisville Cardinal played in 18 games for the Redblacks, recording 43 tackles and became the first Ottawa player to lead the league in sacks (17) since Angelo Snipes did so in the 1992 season with 20 for the Rough Riders.
Mauldin is the first Ottawa player to win the award since Greg Marshall was named MODP for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1983.
Blue Bombers WR Schoen named Most Outstanding Rookie
Winnipeg Blue Bombers wide receiver Dalton Schoen was named the Canadian Football League's Most Outstanding Rookie for the 2022 season in Regina on Thursday night.
The 26-year-old Kansas State product appeared in all 18 games for the Bombers and led the league in receiving yards (1,441), average yards per catch (20.6) and touchdown receptions (16).
A native of Overland Park, Kan., Schoen becomes only the fourth Bombers wide receiver to win the honour, joining Chris Matthews (2013) Albert Johnson III (2000) and Joe Poplawski (1978).
Roughriders OL Clark named recipient of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Trophy
Dan Clark of the Saskatchewan Roughriders was the recipient of the Jake Gaudaur Veterans' Trophy at the 2022 CFL Awards in Regina on Thursday night.
The annual award is presented to a Canadian player who best demonstrates the attributes of Canadaβs 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 β a distinguished Second World War veteran and the longest-serving commissioner in CFL history (1968 to 1984).