THE MOST REMARKABLE! Mauldin double winner as Redblacks awards are announced

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While the Ottawa Redblacks haven’t accomplished as much as they’d like in terms of team goals in 2022, some very strong individual accomplishments were recognized on Wednesday.

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The CFL has announced the Most Outstanding Player award winners for each of its nine teams.

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Defensive winger Lorenzo Mauldin IV was the big winner for the Rougenoirs; he was named both the team’s best defensive player and most outstanding player. Jacob Ruby has been named Ottawa’s top offensive lineman. Longtime snapper Louis-Philippe Bourassa was named the Rouge et Noir’s best special teams player. Running back Devonte Williams is the team’s top rookie. Nate Behar is the top Canadian.

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Signed as a free agent ahead of the season, Mauldin has shown he is a force to be reckoned with on defense. Part-time in two seasons with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats – he had 13 defensive tackles, 12 special teams tackles and four sacks in 17 games – the 30-year-old was top flight in 2022, with 41 defensive tackles, two forced fumbles and a league-leading 16 sacks, two ahead of Shawn Lemon of Calgary. The New York Jets selected Mauldin in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. During the 2015-16 seasons, Mauldin had 20 solo tackles, another 13 assists, and 6.5 sacks. After a season-ending back injury in 2017, he was released ahead of the 2018 season.

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“I don’t think Lorenzo gets as much credit as he should; as good a passing thrower as he is, he is also extremely physical against the run,” said Redblacks coach Bob Dyce.

» I did not know him. We didn’t know what we were getting,” said Rouge et Noir defensive coordinator Mike Benevides. “There was an opportunity, it was open competition (for the jobs) and what he did is absolutely spectacular. Often good passers or bag leaders are not good at running. (Lorenzo is) as good and efficient on the run as anyone in the game. He’s tough, he’s powerful, he knocks balls down, he gets forced fumbles. If you stack up his sacks, forced fumbles, tackles and knockdowns, he was sensational. He hasn’t played a lot where he comes from, but he had the opportunity here and he made the most of it and flourished.

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« It’s good to get the individual accolades,” Mauldin said. « But the Ws (wins) are the accolade we all really want. »

In his sixth season in the CFL (and his third with Ottawa), Behar set career highs in all statistical categories, with 59 catches for 727 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games.

Bourassa rebounded from missing half of the 2021 season through injury and appeared in all 17 games as a key part of Ottawa’s field goal and punt units.

Williams played in eight games, carrying the ball 90 times for 454 yards. He also had 27 receptions for 159 yards.

The 6 foot 7 inch and 325 lbs. Ruby was signed as a free agent before the start of the season and played in all 17 games as a key part of a rebuilt offensive line that has been much stronger than it was a while ago. a year.

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« There’s always more you can do, there’s always things you can work on, » Ruby said. « But overall, I’m proud of the way we’ve played as a group (offensive line) and the level at which I’ve played this season. »

The winners were selected by Ottawa voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC), with Dyce also getting a vote.

Kurleigh Gittens Jr., who hails from Ottawa, was Toronto’s candidate for the most outstanding Canadian.