Winnipeg Blue Bombers win big at CFL Awards

Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill and tackle Stanley Bryant both won some hardware on Thursday.

Bighill was voted the winner of the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award, while Bryant was named the winner of the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award at the CFL Awards banquet in Edmonton.

Running back Andrew Harris went home empty-handed though. Harris was bidding for a second straight top Canadian award, but voters instead chose Ottawa RedBlacks receiver Brad Sinopoli for the Most Outstanding Canadian Award. The vote was almost split with Sinopoli taking 32 of the 60 first-place votes. It’s the second time Sinopoli took the honour, also winning in 2015.

Bo Levi Mitchell became the second youngest player to ever win the Most Outstanding Player award twice. The Calgary Stampeders quarterback was chosen over Hamilton Tiger-Cats QB Jeremiah Masoli with 47 first-place votes.

RELATED: Blue Bombers named as CFLPA all-stars, but not Bighill or Harris

It’s just the fifth time a Bombers’ player has won the top defensive player award. The 30-year-old Bighill is the first Bombers’ player to win it since Jovon Johnson in 2011. Bighill also took home the trophy in 2015 as a member of the BC Lions.

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“I’d say it is different,” Bighill said. “Coming back from the NFL experience and being in a new organization — a lot of question marks with being somewhere new. And for me, it’s just getting back to playing football like I’ve done before.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I'd say it is different," Bighill said. "Coming back from the NFL experience and being in a new organization — a lot of question marks with being somewhere new. And for me, it's just getting back to playing football like I've done before."

Voters chose Bighill over Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Larry Dean. Bighill received 57 of the 60 first-place votes.

WATCH: Raw Adam Bighill Interview

3:55 RAW: Blue Bombers Adam Bighill On CFL Awards

RELATED: Winnipeg Blue Bombers cut Maurice Leggett loose

It’s the second straight year Bryant was chosen as the league’s best lineman. He beat out Brandon Revenberg from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

“Just a great feeling,” Bryant said. “A lot of offensive lineman don’t get the notoriety or exposure.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Just a great feeling," Bryant said. "A lot of offensive lineman don't get the notoriety or exposure."

“You never really know that you’re going be in a position to even be nominated, or win an award one time, to let alone have it happen back-to-back. It’s really just a blessing all around.”

Bryant is only the second Bombers’ player to win the best lineman award twice. He joins Chris Walby as the Bombers only multi-award winners. Walby won in 1987 and again in 1993.

Bryant received 44 first-place votes.

WATCH: Raw Stanley Bryant Interview

1:54 RAW: Blue Bombers Stanley Bryant On CFL Award

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