ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
TORONTO – The Canadian Football League announced today that QB Ricky Ray, K/P Swayze Waters and DE Tristan Okpalaugo (OH-PAH-LAH-UGO) have been named East Division Most Outstanding Player, East Division Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and East Division Most Outstanding Rookie, respectively. As a result, Toronto Argonauts players will represent the East Division in three of six categories at the 2014 CFL Awards show in Vancouver.
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The players were selected by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches. In this second ballot, FRC representatives from each CFL city in the East Division plus the respective East Division head coaches submitted votes for the six categories. Voters were asked to select from players who were nominated at the team level for each award, in the first round of balloting, 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.
QB Ricky Ray has again been selected as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Player making this his second consecutive Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy. This is the third straight season the Argos have had a player represent the East Division in this category at the CFL player awards (WR/KR Chad Owens represented and won the award in 2012). Ray’s numbers were spectacular in 2014. He finished the season tops in the CFL in passing yards (4,595), touchdowns (28), completion percentage (68.5%) and completions (425). Ray was named CFL Player of the Week twice in 2014 for his performances in Week 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. Ray was recently named the East Division All-Star at quarterback for the second straight year. He will be up against B.C. Lions LB Solomon Elimimian, who will represent the West Division, for the 2014 CFL Most Outstanding Player award.
K/P Swayze Waters has concluded his incredible 2014 campaign having been selected as the East Division’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player for the first time in his career. Leading the CFL in punting average (47.7 yards), kicking points (184) and made field goals (47), Waters also finished the 2014 season a perfect 40/40 on converts, a stellar 90.4% on field goals, and hit a 53-yard field goal which stood as the longest made field goal by any kicker in 2014. Waters does more than kick as he has added three (3) special teams tackles this season and was named Special Teams Player of the Week in Weeks 15 and 20. He was also named Special Teams Player of the Month for July. Waters recently earned 2014 East Division All-Star at both punter and kicker for the first time in his career. Dating back to 2003 (a 12 year span), an Argonauts player has now represented the East Division in this category eight (8) times. He will be up against Winnipeg Blue Bombers K/P Lirim Hajrullahu, who will represent the West Division, for the 2014 CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award.
DT Tristan Okpalaugo (OH-PAH-LAH-UGO) burst onto the scene in 2014 and has topped off his rookie campaign by claiming the Frank M. Gibson trophy as the East Divisions Most Outstanding Rookie. Appearing in 17 games this season, Okpalaugo totalled 38 defensive tackles and led the club in quarterback sacks with twelve (12). He also tallied two interceptions in 2014 to go along with 1 fumble recovery. Okpalaugo’s best game statistically came against the Ottawa REDBLACKS in their home opener at TD Place when he recorded three (3) quarterback sacks and five (5) defensive tackles. He will be up against Edmonton Eskimos LB Dexter McCoil, who will represent the West Division, for the 2014 CFL Most Outstanding Rookie award.
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.