Lions’ Rourke big winner at CFL Awards

BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke was the big winner on Thursday night, taking home the George Reed Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian at the CFL Awards.

It’s the second time Rourke had won the Most Outstanding Canadian award, doing so also in 2022 and it’s his first George Reed Most Outstanding Player award.

Voting was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and all nine CFL head coaches.

Rourke was second in both passing yards (5,290) and touchdowns (31) but was the CFL’s top rushing quarterback (564 yards, 9.2-yard average, 10 TDs) as B.C. finished the regular season with six straight wins to claim second in the West Division with an 11-7 record.

Bo Levi Mitchell of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was also a finalist for Most Outstanding Player award for a second straight year. He led the CFL in pass attempts (626), completions (428), yards (5,296) and touchdowns (a career-best 36), and was the only quarterback to start all 18 regular-season games as the Ticats (11-7) finished first in the East Division.

Defensive lineman Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund of the Montreal Alouettes was the other finalist for the Most Outstanding Canadian award. The six-foot-one, 250-pound Adeyemi-Berglund, of Dartmouth, N.S., recorded a career-best 11 sacks along with 29 tackles (one for a loss), two fumble recoveries and a special-teams tackle.

Adeyemi-Berglund will finish his season playing in the Grey Cup as Montreal faces the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday.

Blue Bombers’ Vaval double dips at CFL Awards

Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Trey Vaval double dipped at the CFL Awards on Thursday, taking home the Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player awards.

Vaval received the honour at the CFL’s awards banquet.

Voting was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and all nine CFL head coaches.

The five-foot-11, 163-pound Vaval led the CFL in punt returns (75) and yards (957) with a touchdown while returning two kickoffs for scores -- the most in the league.

He was also tops in missed field goal returns (six), yards (391), longest return (128) and touchdowns (one).

Veteran kicker Lirim Hajrullahu of the Toronto Argonauts was also a finalist for the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. The 35-year-old from St. Catharines, Ont., made 57-of-64 field goals, including a CFL-record 12 from 50-plus yards (on 15 attempts) and a league-best 25-of-30 from 40-plus yards.

Linebacker Devin Veresuk of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was also a finalist for the Most Outstanding Rookie. The six-foot-two, 240-pound Windsor, Ont., native — taken second overall in the 2025 CFL draft — posted 67 tackles, three special-teams tackles, two sacks and an interception.

The interception was a 36-yard pick-six in his first pro start, a 35-17 win over Montreal on June 27.Roughriders’ Hardrick takes home Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman

Jermarcus Hardrick of the Saskatchewan Roughriders has his first CFL top lineman award.

Hardrick was honoured during the CFL awards banquet Thursday night.

Voting was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and all nine CFL head coaches.

Hardrick anchored a Riders front line that helped quarterback Trevor Harris pass for 4,549 yards and A.J. Ouellette run for 1,22 yards.

Saskatchewan’s offence also finished second overall in net yards (382.6 per game) as the franchise finished atop the West Division for the first time since 2019.

Brandon Revenberg of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was also a finalist. He helped quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell lead the CFL in passing (5,296 yards) and touchdowns (a career-best 36), and running back Greg Bell rush for 1,038 yards as the Ticats (11-7) finished first in the East Division.

Lions’ Betts wins Most Outstanding Defensive Player

Defensive end Mathieu Betts of the B.C. Lions is again the CFL’s top defensive player.

Betts received the honour Thursday at the league’s awards banquet.

Voting for the award was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and all nine CFL head coaches.

Betts, who posted a CFL-high 15 sacks this season, also won the award in 2023.

He added 42 tackles (two for loss), four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery this year.

Hamilton’s Julian Howsare was also a finalist. He finished second to Betts with a career-best 13 sacks while also recording 43 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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