2014 Argos Team Award Nominees Announced

ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

TORONTO – The Canadian Football League announced today the Argonauts’ team award nominees for the 2014 CFL Player Awards. For the second straight season, QB Ricky Ray has received the Argos’ team nomination for Most Outstanding Player, this time with a unanimous selection.  First year DL Tristan Okpalaugo (Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Defensive Player) and veteran OT Chris Van Zeyl (Most Outstanding Canadian and Most Outstanding Lineman) are both double nominees. Okpalaugo was a unanimous selection as the Argos’ Most Outstanding Rookie. K/P Swayze Waters takes home the team’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award for the second straight year.

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’ titles – Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Most Outstanding Rookie, and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.

Here are the Toronto Argonauts’ 2014 nominees in each category:

* – unanimous selection

QB Ricky Ray has been selected as the Argos’ unanimous nominee for the Most Outstanding Player award.  This is the eighth time Ray has been his team’s nominee for the award and his second as a member of the Toronto Argonauts (six prior nominations as a member of the Edmonton Eskimos). Ray was named CFL Player of the Week twice in 2014 for his performances in week two (2) against Saskatchewan when he had 407 yards and three (3) touchdowns, as well as in week 16 against Hamilton when he threw for 431 yards and three (3) touchdowns.  With 4,595 passing yards and 28 touchdowns through week 19, Ray sits atop the CFL in both major statistical categories and will finish the season as the leader in both.  In addition, his 68.5% completion percentage is good for tops in the CFL as well as his 425 completions and his 95.1 passer rating.  Last season, Ray represented the East at the CFL Player Awards as the East Division nominee for Most Outstanding Player.

OT Chris Van Zeyl has received the Argos’ nomination for Most Outstanding Canadian as well as the team’s nomination for Most Outstanding Lineman.  Van Zeyl has been a staple on the Argos’ offensive line all season, starting 16 of 17 games, through week 19, and is part of an offensive line that has allowed the third-fewest sacks in the CFL.  Blocking for QB Ricky Ray, Van Zeyl and the offensive line unit have allowed Ray the time he needs in the pocket to lead the league in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage.  This is the second time Van Zeyl has been the Argos’ nominee for Most Outstanding Lineman (he was nominated in 2012) and the first time he has been nominated for Most Outstanding Canadian.

Rookie DT Tristan Okpalaugo burst onto the scene in 2014 and has received the Argos’ nomination for Most Outstanding Defensive Player and a unanimous selection as the team’s Most Outstanding Rookie.  Appearing in 16 games this season, Okpalaugo has totalled 34 defensive tackles and leads the club in quarterback sacks with eleven; his eleven sacks are  six (6) more than any other Argonauts defensive player.  Okpalaugo’s best game came against the Ottawa REDBLACKS in their home opener at TD Place when he recorded three (3) quarterback sacks and five (5) defensive tackles. This is the first time that Okpalaugo has been named the Argos’ nominee for Outstanding Defensive Player and Outstanding Rookie.

K/P Swayze Waters has once again been named the Argos’ nominee for Most Outstanding Special Teams player.  Waters leads the CFL in punting average at 47.7 yards per punt for a total of 6,055 punting yards, and also sits atop the league in total kicking points though week 19 with 173.  Waters has been good on 44 of 49 field goals so far in 2014, which puts him in top spot in the CFL for total makes (44), completion percentage (89.8) and he has connected on the league’s longest field goal of 2014 at 53 yards.  Waters does more than kick as he has added three (3) special teams tackles this season.  This is the second time Waters has been named the Argos’ nominee for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player as he previously received the nod in 2013.

The 2014 CFL Awards will be handed out on Thursday, November 27 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, B.C. Tickets for the show are available at ticketmaster.ca. Tickets can be upgraded to provide access to the pre-show reception, the Concert Series VIP viewing deck or the CFLPA Official Player’s Party at FIVESIXTY.