Montrealer Becomes first Quebec Athlete to Win
VANCOUVER, BC/PISCATAWAY, N.J.β Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back Antwan Raymond (MontrΓ©al, Que.) has been named the 2025 Jon Cornish Trophy recipient, awarded annually to the top Canadian player in NCAA football.
Raymond finished the 2025 season with 244 rushing attempts for 1,241 yards (5.1 per carry) and 13 rushing touchdowns, adding 18 receptions for 225 yards and two receiving touchdowns for 1,466 all-purpose yards and 15 total touchdowns. He ranked second in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards and recorded four 100-yard rushing gamesβat Minnesota, at Purdue, versus Maryland and versus Penn State.
His signature performance came against Maryland, when he erupted for 240 rushing yards on 41 carries, one of the most dominant single-game rushing totals in the NCAA this season. He added additional statement outings including 189 rushing yards against Penn State and 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns at Minnesota, repeatedly delivering against top-tier competition.
Raymondβs breakout year also brought major conference and national recognition. He was named a Doak Walker Award semi-finalist, earned Second Team All-Big Ten honours, and was selected Academic All-Big Ten, reflecting achievement in the classroom alongside elite on-field impact.
With the 2025 win, Raymond becomes the first Jon Cornish Trophy winner from Quebec, and the third running back to capture the award (joining Chuba Hubbard, 2019, and Chase Brown, 2022). He topped a national field of 274 Canadians playing college football stateside this season.
βIt is an honour to be included with running backs like (Chase) Brown and Chuba (Hubbard) in winning this award,β Raymond said.
It was not lost on Raymond that he plays on a team which may have the strongest compliment of Canadian talent in NCAA Division one with linebacker Dariel Djabome, D-linemen Djbril Abudo-Rahman and Farrell Gnagno all from Quebec, along with fellow Cornish nominee Jett Elad from Ontario. That group is there for each other on and off the field.Β
βIt means a lot, with the other Canadians on this team. We all support each other when it feels like weβre far away from home,β he said.Β
Final 2025 Jon Cornish Trophy Voting (Top Five)
- Winner β Antwan Raymond, RB, Rutgers (MontrΓ©al, QC)
- 2nd β Akheem Mesidor, DL, Miami (Ottawa, ON)
- 3rd β Ty Benefield, S, Boise State (Vancouver, BC)
- 4th β Nuer Gatkuoth, DL, Wake Forest (Edmonton, AB)
- 5th β Jett Elad, S, Rutgers (Mississauga, ON)
βIn a year where the dominant defensive players from Canada played on the defensive side of the ball, Antwan Raymond burst from the pack and convinced the selection committee with his performance that he was worthy of a unanimous selection as the top Canadian in NCAA football,β said Cornish Trophy trustee and chair Jim Mullin.Β
Past Winners
2017 β Nathan Rourke, QB, Ohio
2018 β Nathan Rourke, QB, Ohio
2019 β Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
2020 β John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
2021 β John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
2022 β Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
2023 β Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
2024 β Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana
About the Jon Cornish Trophy
The Jon Cornish Trophy is presented annually to the top Canadian player in NCAA football. Named after Canadian Football Hall of Famer Jon Cornish, the award was established in 2017 by trustees L. David Dube and Jim Mullin to celebrate Canadian achievement on U.S. collegiate fields. The award is supported by NFL Canada and Krown Produce. The perpetual trophy is housed at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario, with each winner receiving an individual award.
For more information:
Jim Mullin
Chair, Cornish Trophy Committee
[email protected]
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