University of Regina quarterback Noah Picton has been named the most outstanding player in Canadian university football.
Picton set a U Sports record this season with 3,186 passing yards in eight league games en route to becoming the 50th recipient of the Hec Crighton Trophy.
He played a major role in the Rams’ remarkable turnaround as the team improved from 0-8 a year ago to 6-2 and first place in the Canada West standings.
Picton beat out a trio of quarterbacks for the honour: St. Francis Xavier’s Tivon Cook, Montreal’s Samuel Caron and Ottawa’s Derek Wendel.
Manitoba linebacker DJ Lalama was named top defensive player, Laval defensive end Mathieu Betts earned most outstanding down lineman honours, Mount Allison quarterback Jakob Loucks was top rookie, Manitoba defensive back Cam Teschuk claimed the Russ Jackson Award for excellence in football, academics and citizenship and Wilfrid Laurier’s Michael Faulds was named head coach of the year.