CIS Award nominees: Hec – Nixon, Sinopoli, Charbonneau Campeau, Taylor

OTTAWA (CIS) – The list of nominees for the Hec Crighton trophy as CIS football player of the year was completed on Friday when University of Saskatchewan quarterback Laurence Nixon was announced as the Canada West MVP for the 2010 season.

Nixon joins Sherbrooke wide receiver Simon Charbonneau Campeau (QUFL), Ottawa quarterback Brad Sinopoli (OUA) and Saint Mary’s inside receiver and kick returner Jahmeek Taylor (AUS), who were named most outstanding player in their respective conference earlier this week.

A native of Richmond, B.C., Nixon was stellar in his final campaign in Saskatoon, his fourth as the Huskies’ starting pivot. The 6-foot, 200-pound senior finished third in the country with 2,424 passing yards and a Canada West-best 16 touchdown passes – both career highs – as well as a 65.2 completion percentage. The arts and science student, who was intercepted only six times in eight conference games, was at the helm of the highest-scoring offence in Canada West (35.9 ppg) and led the Huskies to first place in the standings thanks to a 6-2 mark.

Calgary linebacker Sam Hurl (defensive MVP), Calgary quarterback Eric Dzwilewski (rookie of the year), Calgary tackle Paul Swiston (outstanding down lineman), Manitoba linebacker Thomas Hall (Russ Jackson award nominee) and Saskatchewan head coach Brian Towriss (coach of the year) were also honoured by Canada West.

Following is the complete list of nominees for the CIS football individual awards which will be presented in two weeks in Quebec City as part as the Desjardins Vanier Cup festivities. All awards will be handed out on Thursday, November 25, during the All-Canadian Banquet, with the exception of the Frank Tindall trophy, which will be presented to the coach of the year on the Friday morning.

HEC CRIGHTON TROPHY (CIS player of the year):

AUS: Jahmeek Taylor, inside receiver & kick returner, Saint Mary’s
QUFL: Simon Charbonneau Campeau, wide receiver, Sherbrooke
OUA: Brad Sinopoli, quarterback, Ottawa
CWUAA: Laurence Nixon, quarterback, Saskatchewan

PRESIDENTS’ TROPHY (defensive player of the year)

AUS: Henoc Muamba, linebacker, St. Francis Xavier
QUFL: Frédérick Plesius, linebacker, Laval
OUA: Giancarlo Rapanaro, linebacker, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Sam Hurl, linebacker, Calgary

J.P. METRAS TROPHY (outstanding down lineman)

AUS: Adrian Saturley, defensive end, Acadia
QUFL: Arnaud Gascon-Nadon, defensive end, Laval
OUA: Matt O’Donnell, offensive tackle, Queen’s
CWUAA: Paul Swiston, offensive tackle, Calgary

PETER GORMAN TROPHY (rookie of the year)

AUS: Jordan Catterall, wide receiver, St. Francis Xavier
QUFL: David Ménard, defensive end, Montreal
OUA: Sam Sabourin, linebacker, Queen’s
CWUAA: Eric Dzwilewski, quarterback, Calgary

RUSS JACKSON AWARD (outstanding student-athlete & citizenship)

AUS: Kwame Osei, slotback, education, St. Francis Xavier
QUFL: Guillaume Saliah, guard, administration, Montreal
OUA: Dillon Heap, receiver & kick returner, business, Wilfrid Laurier
CWUAA: Thomas Hall, linebacker, kinesiology and recreational management, Manitoba

FRANK TINDALL TROPHY (coach of the year)

AUS: Kelly Jeffrey, Mount Allison
QUFL: Glen Constantin, Laval
OUA: Greg Marshall, Western Ontario
CWUAA: Brian Towriss, Saskatchewan

-CIS-