WINNIPEG - Adam Bighill of the B.C. Lions is the CFL's top defensive player.

Bighill was honoured at the league's awards banquet Thursday night, receiving 46-of-75 first-place ballots in voting conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada.

Linebacker Simoni Lawrence of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was the finalist.

Bighill is the second straight Lion to capture the honour as teammate Solomon Elimimian won it last year as well as the CFL's outstanding player award.

Bighill recorded a CFL- and career-high 121 tackles this season. The five-foot-10 230-pound linebacker also had four sacks, an interception and fumble recovery.

The six-foot-one 228-pound Lawrence recorded career highs in tackles (80) and sacks (five) while adding two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.