2011 Most Outstanding Players Nominees Announced
Published on November 2, 2011 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Montreal Alouettes News Release
Montreal, November 2, 2011 - The Canadian Football League announced on Wednesday the Montreal Alouettes' nominees for the 2011 Most Outstanding Player awards as selected by the voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: ANTHONY CALVILLO
Alouettes all-star quaterback, Anthony Calvillo earns his ninth nomination as the team's Most Outstanding Player. The 2011 season has been nothing short of remarkable for the veteran pivot as he became football's all-time passing king, surpassing Damon Allen's pro football record for career passing yards. Author of 11 games over 300 passing yards this season, Calvillo has shattered several league benchmarks in 2011. Calvillo became the only CFL quarterback to ever throw 400 career TD passes, and he also holds the CFL all-time record for completions.
The league leader with 5,188 yards on the season, Calvillo also surpassed the 5,000 yard plateau for the sixth time in his illustrious career. Even at age 39, Calvillo is showing no signs of slowing down as he leads the league in touchdown passes with 32, while boasting the CFL's highest quarterback rating with an impressive 99.2.
He was named Offensive Player of the Week on four occasions this season. Named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player in 2003, 2008 and 2009, Calvillo was also a finalist for the award in 2002, 2004 and 2010.
TOP CANADIAN PLAYER and SPECIAL TEAMS MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER: SEAN WHYTE
Canadian kicker Sean Whyte, who is up for two awards, leads the CFL in points scored (196) and is tied for second in field goals made (45). Whyte successfully connected on 45 of his 51 field goal attempts so far in 2011, good for 88.2% and is perfect on all 50 of his extra point attempts. Earlier this season, Whyte etched his name in the Alouettes' record books after breaking the team's all-time mark of 21 consecutive field goals formerly set by Don Sweet in 1976. Whyte saw his consecutive field goal streak snapped at 24.
Whyte also excelled in the punting game, averaging 41.1 yards per kick on his 105 attempts. Whyte was named the CFL's Special Teams Player of the Month in August, marking the first time Whyte had ever received the honour, after he went perfect for the month, making nine field goals in as many attempts. Whyte was also named the Special Teams Player of the Week twice in August.
MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: CHIP COX
Als' standout linebacker Chip Cox earns his second consecutive nomination as the Alouettes' Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Cox continued to anchor the Alouettes' defence this season and proved once again why he is a game-changer. He ran back a fumble recovery 108 yards for a touchdown, tying a CFL record in Week 3 against the Toronto Argonauts.
Cox has racked up a team-high 72 tackles this season while also leading the Als in interceptions with three. Already the Alouettes all-time leading tackler, Cox is now just one tackle away from reaching the 400-mark. Cox also earned the nod as the league's Defensive Player of the Week on three separate occasions this season.
MOST OUTSTANDING LINEMAN: JOSH BOURKE
Josh Bourke earns his second consecutive nomination as the Alouettes' Most Outstanding Lineman. Bourke plays an integral part on the Alouettes' offensive line on a team which ranked first in points scored, passing yards and the most points scored per game. Bourke is also part of an o-line which has only allowed 30 sacks - second fewest in the league this season. He also contributed to a line that has allowed running back Brandon Whitaker to lead the league in rushing yards so far this season.
MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE: SETH WILLIAMS
Seth Williams is enjoying a successful rookie campaign with the Alouettes, currently sitting fifth on the team with 42 defensive tackles. He recorded his first CFL interception on September 23 against Edmonton.
Williams also chips in on special teams racking up five tackles. The product of Richmond, VA, made his CFL debut back in Week 9 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and has started the following nine games in Montreal's secondary.
The East and West nominees for the 2011 Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards will be revealed on Wednesday, November 9.
The league-wide winners will be announced during Grey Cup week at the Gibson's Finest CFL Player Awards on Thursday, November 24 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, B.C.
Canadian Football League Stories from November 2, 2011
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