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 Toronto Argonauts

Hazelton Honoured to be Nominated for CFL Most Outstanding Rookie

November 26, 2015 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Toronto Argonauts News Release


Bo Levi Mitchell won't be disappointed if Ottawa REDBLACK quarterback Henry Burris is named the league's Most Outstanding Player at tonight's Shaw CFL Awards.

As a matter of fact, if Mitchell had a vote he would cast it for Burris, the Eastern nominee.

"I am happy for Henry," said Mitchell, the Calgary Stampeder quarterback who is the West nominee. "Henry has had an amazing year.

"The stats are amazing, but the fact he took his team, where they were last year to where they are this year, that is a very big attribute. I would give him my vote."

The 40-year-old Burris defied time and logic with one of his best seasons ever. In the process he led the second-year REDBLACKS into Sunday's 103rd Grey Cup presented by Shaw against the Edmonton Eskimos.

The REDBLACKS were 2-16 in their inaugural season but finished first in the East with a 12-6 record this year. They then defeated Hamilton in the Eastern Final to send Ottawa to the its first CFL championship since 1981.

Burris led the CFL in yards (5,693), attempts (678) and completions (481). He threw 26 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and his 70.9 per cent completion percentage was second best in the CFL.

"If he was my age right now, what's he's dong would be amazing," said the 25-year-old Mitchell. "It's very impressive what he's done this year and over the course of his career.

"I'd love to have his stature and the career he has had."

Mitchell finished second to Burris with 4,551 passing yards while throwing the same number of touchdowns and interceptions for the 14-4 Stampeders.

Mitchell chuckled when asked if he thought he could win the MOP.

"Not a chance," he said.

The award for Most Outstanding Defensive player is between two hard-hitting linebackers. Adam Bighill of the BC Lions is the West's nominee while Simoni Lawrence of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats represents the East.

Bighill led the CFL with 121 tackles, had four quarterback sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.

"At the beginning of the season I never set goals to be standing where I am right now," said Bighill. "I set goals to basically work as hard as I can and put myself in a position to make plays week in and week out and be a consistent football player.

"If you take care of business from week one . . . good things happen and you find yourself here."

Lawrence was part of a Hamilton defence that scored a league-leading 184 points off turnovers. He had 72 tackles, five sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Lawrence said it's difficult to compare his season with Bighill's.

"We're two different kinds of linebackers," he said. "Adam is in the box, running around, making tackles.

"I am back there covering a whole lot. I blitz off the edge, I'm dropping in coverage, I'm tackling. Adam Bighill had a good season. I feel like I had a good season as well."

The Most Outstanding Canadian award is a choice between Winnipeg defensive end Jamaal Westerman and Ottawa slotback Brad Sinopoli.

Westerman, who grew up in Brampton, Ont., after his family moved from the Barbados, was second in the league with 17 sacks in his first CFL season.

"I think every Canadian goes out there, not trying to be the top Canadian, but trying to be the best player you can be," he said. "I approach it every day that kind of way.

"You're not thinking about rewards. You're thinking about being the best player you can be and helping the team be the best it can be."

Sinopoli, a Peterborough, Ont., native who attended the University of Ottawa and started his career as a quarterback, had 86 catches for 1,035 yards and three touchdowns.

"Every day I'm still learning something and picking up little things that these guys (other receivers) do and try to bring that to my game," said Sinopoli, who had his first 1,000-plus season after spending his first four years playing in Calgary.

"It's still a process."

BC's Jovan Olafioye is looking to be named the most outstanding offensive lineman for the second time in four years. The East's nominee is Ottawa left tackle SirVincent Rogers.

"I feel very blessed," said Olafioye, a right tackle. "I feel all my hard work has come to past."

Olafioye didn't pull any punches when asked to compare his season to Rogers.

"SirVincent is a good player," he said. "But I feel like I'm better.

"Film don't lie. You can watch my film, watch his film, and see who is the better player."

The award for the most outstanding special teams player will see Calgary place kicker Rene Parades up against Hamilton returner Brandon Banks.

Parades made 41 of 47 field goals this year to finish second in the league with 156 points. It was a return to form after Parades struggled last year, hitting just 33 of 45 field goal attempts.

"Whether I win or lose . . . the reason I am most satisfied is because of the season I had last year," said Parades, who won the special teams award in 2013.

"I bounced back and proved to everybody I am one of the top kickers in this league."

The speedy Banks returned 75 punts for 930 yards and four touchdowns. He led the CFL with seven returns of 30 or more yards.

"I had an OK season," he said. "I wanted to play in the Grey Cup and have a chance to be the best.

"We had a great season with the things we overcome and the things we learned."

The Most Outstanding Rookie award features a pair of sure-handed wide receivers.

Derel Walker of the Edmonton Eskimos had 89 catches for 1,110 yards and six touchdowns in just 12 games. Vidal Hazelton of the Toronto Argonauts had 70 catches for 803 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games.

"It's just an honour to be here and I'm soaking everything in," said Hazelton.


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