VANCOUVER – B.C. Lions linebacker Solomon Elimimian made history at the 2014 CFL Awards, taking home trophies for Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
The Lions linebacker beat out Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray to become the first pure defensive player to win the league’s most prestigious individual award.
Elimimian had one of the most dominant defensive performances in league history, finishing with a record 143 defensive tackles.
Factoring in his 2010 Most Outstanding Rookie award, Elimimian is the first player to win three different CFL awards in his career.
During his acceptance speech for Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Elimimian thanked recently-fired Lions head coach Mike Benevides for “cultivating his skills.”
After the ceremony, the record-breaking linebacker told reporters he felt he has yet to play his best football.
“I think I haven’t reached my peak and that’s kind of scary,” said the 28-year-old, adding that by midway through the season, he no longer felt nervous before games.
“My thing was I knew that I was going to dominate every game,” he said. “It was just about how much I was going to dominate. I feel like I’m starting to come into my own.”
The awards were dominated by West Division players, who took home five of six awards.
To the surprise of no one, league-leading rusher Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders was named Most Outstanding Canadian. The native of New Westminster, B.C. was the only player in the CFL to rush for more than 1,000 yards, despite having played in just nine regular season games.
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Brett Jones of the Calgary Stampeders took home the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award. The big man from Weyburn, Saskatchewan led a Stampeders offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the league. The award comes one year after Jones was named the league’s Most Outstanding Rookie.
Edmonton Eskimos linebacker Dexter McCoil earned Most Outstanding Rookie honours. The linebacker finished his rookie campaign with 67 tackles, four sacks and six interceptions. McCoil accepted the award just one day after attending his grandmother’s funeral in Louisiana.
The lone East Division representative was Toronto Argonauts kicker Swayze Waters, who won the award for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. Waters led the league in kicking points, field goals and punting, making him the first kicker since Lions legend Lui Passaglia to lead the league in those three statistical categories.
Elimimian becomes the seventh Lions player to be recognized as the league’s best player. Past Lions to be named MOP include Travis Lulay, Geroy Simon, Casey Printers, Doug Flutie, David Williams and Mervyn Fernandez.
Elimimian becomes the first pure defensive player to win the league’s top honour. Hal Patterson of the Montreal Alouettes was named MOP in 1956 and played on both sides of the ball.
Here are full 2014 CFL Awards results:
Most Outstanding Player – Solomon Elimimian, B.C. Lions
Most Outstanding Defensive Player – Solomon Elimimian, B.C. Lions
Most Outstanding Canadian Player – Jon Cornish, Calgary Stampeders
Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman – Brett Jones, Calgary Stampeders
Most Outstanding Special Teams Player – Swayze Waters, Toronto Argonauts
Most Outstanding Rookie – Dexter McCoil, Edmonton Eskimos
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