The Saskatchewan chapter of the Football Reporters of Canada, along with Roughriders’ G-M and head coach Chris Jones, liked so much of what Brett Lauther and Willie Jefferson did during the 2018 regular-season that they nominated in two different categories for C-F-L Awards.
Place-kicker Lauther is the Green and White’s Most Outstanding Canadian and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player while defensive end Jefferson is the Riders’ nominee for Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player. Rounding out the Roughriders’ list of nominees are Brendan Labatte as Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman and receiver Jordan Williams-Lambert as Most Outstanding Rookie. Following is the news release from the Riders…
DATE: October 31, 2018
RELEASE TIME: IMMEDIATELY
RELEASE: SR18-112
AND THE NOMINEES ARE….
The Saskatchewan Roughrider nominees for the CFL Awards were announced today. This year’s nominees are: Willie Jefferson (Most Outstanding Player & Most Outstanding Defensive Player), Brett Lauther (Most Outstanding Canadian & Most Outstanding Special-Teams Player), Brendon LaBatte (Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman), and Jordan Williams-Lambert (Most Outstanding Rookie).
WILLIE JEFFERSON
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER & MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER
First career nominations as Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player…started 18 regular-season games at defensive end…registered 34 defensive tackles, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries…had a career-high 10 quarterback sacks…added two interceptions, returning one 97 yards for a touchdown and one 49 yards for a touchdown…was named a CFL Top Performer for Week 17…last Roughrider to win CFL Most Outstanding Player was Kerry Joseph in 2007…last Roughrider to win CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player was John Chick in 2009.
BRETT LAUTHER
MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN & MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL-TEAMS PLAYER
First career team award nominations…unanimous selection as Most Outstanding Special-Teams Player…connected on 54 of 60 field-goal attempts (90%), with a 56-yard long…made 33 of 36 convert attempts…had 65 kickoffs for 4,155 yards…last Rider to win CFL Outstanding Canadian was Andy Fantuz in 2010…last Rider to win CFL Most Outstanding Special-Teams Player was Corey Holmes in 2005.
BRENDON LABATTE
MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
Unanimous selection…seventh career nomination as Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman…started all 18 regular-season contests…played the first 15 games at left guard before moving to centre for the final three games…previously nominated with the Riders in 2013, 2015 and 2017, and with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2009-11…LaBatte is the last Rider to be named CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman when he picked up the award in 2013.
JORDAN WILLIAMS-LAMBERT
MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE
Unanimous selection…started 17 regular-season games at receiver…picked up 764 yards on a team-leading 62 receptions and four touchdown catches … was named a CFL Top Performer for Week 10…last Rider to win CFL Most Outstanding Rookie was Weston Dressler in 2008.
The players were selected by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches.
In this first ballot, FRC representatives from each CFL city plus the respective head coach submitted votes for the six categories. Voters were asked to select players from their local CFL club who, through on-field performance excellence, best represent the awards titled – Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Most Outstanding Rookie, and Most Outstanding Special-Teams Player.
