WINNIPEG – Winnipeg Blue Bombers kicker Lirim Hajrullahu will be going to Grey Cup week but he’ll need a suit and tie and not his equipment. Hajrullahu will head to the Canadian Football League Awards after getting chosen as the West Division nominee for the league’s John Agro Award for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
The rookie kicker made 40 of his 46 field goal attempts this past season to set a franchise record for accuracy in a season by connecting on 87 per cent of his kicks.
“As a head coach, you are always proud of your players for putting it maximum effort and achieving success,” said Bombers Head Coach Mike O’Shea in a media release from the football club. “Lirim was a solid piece of our football team this season, and for him to be recognized as the top special teams players in the division is a testament to his work ethic, focus and consistency.”
The East Division nomination is Toronto Argonauts kicker Swayze Waters. Three members of the Blue Bombers have been nominated for the award since it was introduced in 1999 and all three were voted winners. Keith Stokes won in 2004, Charles Roberts in 2001 and Albert Johnson III in 2000.
B.C. Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian was nominated for both the Most Outstanding Player (MOP) award and the Top Defensive Player. Ricky Ray of the Argos is the East nominee for MOP while the Montreal Alouettes’ Bear Woods is up for the defensive award from the east. No defensive player has ever won the CFL’s top award for most valuable player since its inception in 1953.
The nominees for Most Outstanding Canadian are Calgary Stampeders’ running back Jon Cornish and defensive lineman Ted Laurent of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Brett Jones (Calgary) and Jeff Perrett (Montreal) have been nominated for Best Offensive Lineman while Dexter McCoil (Edmonton) and Tristan Okpalaugo (Toronto) are the division nominations for top rookie.
The 2014 CFL Awards will be handed out on November 27 in Vancouver.
Comments