By Canadian Press

Collaros, Stanback named as division finalists for CFL’s outstanding player honour

Nov 25, 2021 | 10:22 AM

TORONTO — Quarterback Zach Collaros of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and running back William Stanback of the Montreal Alouettes are the finalists for the CFL’s outstanding player award.

The CFL revealed the division finalists for its top individual honours Thursday. Voting was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada as well as the league’s nine head coaches.

Collaros, 33, led Winnipeg to a CFL-best 11-3 record and top spot in the West Division. The six-foot-two, 222-pound quarterback completed 243-of-346 passes (70.2 per cent) for 3,185 yards with a league-high 20 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Collaros, in his 10th CFL season, also had a league-best efficiency rating of 111.0.

Stanback, 27, ran for a CFL-high 1,176 yards and three TDs in 12 games this season with Montreal. The six-foot, 233-pound running back recorded six 100-yard games, including a 203-yard performance in a 37-16 home win over Toronto on Oct. 22.

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Stanback, in his third season with Montreal, averaged 6.1 yards per carry and added 16 receptions for 114 yards.

Collaros was one of four Bombers to be named a West Division finalist. The others were linebacker Adam Bighill (defensive player), Stanley Bryant (lineman) and Mike O’Shea (coach of the year).

Bryant was the CFL’s top lineman in 2017-18 before finishing as the runner-up to Hamilton’s Chris Van Zeyl in 2019.

The other West Division award finalists were linebackers Bo Lokombo (Canadian) and Jordan Williams (rookie) of the B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders kicker Rene Parades (special teams).

Linebacker Simoni Lawrence of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was the East Division’s top defensive player for a second straight season. He was the runner-up to Winnipeg’s Willie Jefferson for the league honour in 2019.

Teammate Brandon Revenberg was named the East Division’s top lineman. 

Defensive lineman David Menard of the Montreal Alouettes is the East Division’s outstanding Canadian while DeVonte Dedmon of the Ottawa Redblacks claimed the special-teams honour.

The Toronto Argonauts also have two finalists. Offensive lineman Peter Nicastro was named the East Division’s outstanding rookie while Ryan Dinwiddie claimed top coach honours.

The CFL’s awards banquet will held Dec. 10 in Hamilton. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2021.

The Canadian Press