{"id":278710,"date":"2025-11-12T18:27:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/278710\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T18:27:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:27:11","slug":"the-weekly-say-picks-for-the-2025-cfl-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/278710\/","title":{"rendered":"The Weekly Say: Picks for the 2025 CFL Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This is a week to celebrate great performances and to look forward to a few more.<\/p>\n<p>The CFL Awards on Thursday are a chance to highlight some of the league\u2019s top performers after an exciting regular season. The 112th Grey Cup on Sunday, meanwhile, crowns the best of the best after a year\u2019s worth of work for everyone involved.<\/p>\n<p>CFL.ca\u2019s writers pooled their picks together to choose a winner in each category for the CFL Awards, on Thursday, November 13.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2780408 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1762780508_415_112th-Grey-Cup-Logo-EN.png\" alt=\"112th GREY CUP\" width=\"144\" height=\"113\" data-uw-rm-alt-original=\"\" data-uw-rm-alt=\"CT\"\/>112th GREY CUP<br \/>\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2025\/11\/11\/3-strengths-for-each-team-in-the-112th-grey-cup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">3 strengths for each team in the 112th Grey Cup<\/a><br \/>\u00bb\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2025\/11\/11\/kpmg-playoff-probability-who-will-win-the-112th-grey-cup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-uw-rm-brl=\"PR\" data-uw-original-href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2025\/11\/11\/kpmg-playoff-probability-who-will-win-the-112th-grey-cup\/\" aria-label=\"KPMG Playoff Probability: Who will win the 112th Grey Cup? - open in a new tab\" data-uw-rm-ext-link=\"\" data-uw-original->KPMG Playoff Probability: Who will win the 112th Grey Cup?<\/a><br \/>\u00bb\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2025\/11\/10\/where-to-watch-the-cfls-112th-grey-cup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-uw-rm-brl=\"PR\" data-uw-original-href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2025\/11\/10\/where-to-watch-the-cfls-112th-grey-cup\/\" aria-label=\"Where to watch the CFL\u2019s 112th Grey Cup - open in a new tab\" data-uw-rm-ext-link=\"\" data-uw-original->Where to watch the CFL\u2019s 112th Grey Cup<\/a><br \/>\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2025\/11\/10\/cfl-awards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Watch the CFL Awards on CFL+<\/a><\/p>\n<p>WHO WILL WIN MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER?<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Kristina Costabile: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/bo-levi-mitchell\/158222\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Bo Levi Mitchell\">Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a> had an outstanding season, leading the CFL in passing yards (5,296), passing touchdowns (36), throwing just 11 interceptions and had a passer rating of 106.2. Mitchell missed out on winning MOP in 2024, and I don\u2019t think he misses this year after leading his Ticats to the top of the East Division.<\/p>\n<p>Jose Ferraz: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a>. Even though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/bo-levi-mitchell\/158222\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Bo Levi Mitchell\">Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a> might be just as deserving, Rourke\u2019s season was exactly what the Lions envisioned when they brought him back in 2024. The pivot gained close to 6,000 yards from scrimmage (5,290 passing, 564 rushing) while also scoring 41 touchdowns.<\/p>\n<p>Pat Steinberg: My guess is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a>. The roll he went on in the second half of the season was pretty spectacular, and the fact that he got the All-CFL nod at quarterback speaks to that.<\/p>\n<p>Matthew Cauz: When you happen to be both the best passing and running quarterback in the league, the choice is an easy one. I expect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/bo-levi-mitchell\/158222\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Bo Levi Mitchell\">Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a> to get plenty of support, but there is no quarterback harder to defend against than the BC Lions starter.<\/p>\n<p>Don Landry: I think that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a> will wind up with the MOP trophy. His passing numbers are comparable to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/bo-levi-mitchell\/158222\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Bo Levi Mitchell\">Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a>\u2019s, even with two fewer starts. And his rushing totals are impressive.<\/p>\n<p>Marshall Ferguson: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a> has been special this season, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/bo-levi-mitchell\/158222\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Bo Levi Mitchell\">Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a>\u2018s 2025 revival in Black &amp; Gold can\u2019t be denied but I believe the voters will lean Rourke.<\/p>\n<p>Jamie Nye: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a>. While Bo and Nathan\u2019s passing stats point to Mitchell, it\u2019s what Nathan has done running the ball that sets him apart.<\/p>\n<p>WHO WILL WIN MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE?<\/p>\n<p>Costabile: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/devin-veresuk\/182835\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Devin Veresuk\">Devin Veresuk<\/a> started his first game in Week 4 against the Montreal Alouettes and immediately made an impact, scoring a pick-six. Ever since then, the first-year linebacker played at a high level, patrolling the middle of the defence in his first CFL season.<\/p>\n<p>Ferraz: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/devin-veresuk\/182835\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Devin Veresuk\">Devin Veresuk<\/a>. It is very rare for a rookie to step into a starting role and perform as well as Veresuk did. The linebacker had a full stat sheet in 2025, registering two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and two defensive touchdowns scored (a pick-six and a fumble return).<\/p>\n<p>Steinberg:\u00a0I think <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/devin-veresuk\/182835\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Devin Veresuk\">Devin Veresuk<\/a> takes it home with how he helped Hamilton\u2019s defence from a high leverage position.<\/p>\n<p>Cauz: Trey Vaval. Winnipeg\u2019s newest special teams weapon is the clear winner. The leader in punt return yards, Vaval hit the magical return trifecta as he scored touchdowns on a kickoff, punt and a missed field goal.<\/p>\n<p>Landry:\u00a0Hamilton linebacker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/devin-veresuk\/182835\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Devin Veresuk\">Devin Veresuk<\/a> gets the nod for outstanding rookie. Not only did he earn a starting role very early in his rookie season, he took that role and made himself indispensable in the middle of the Ticats\u2019 defence.<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson: Trey Vaval was electric this season, he lifted the Bombers so often when they dearly needed the juice and his immediate feel for the CFL return game means this is anything but the end of the road for his return theatrics.<\/p>\n<p>Nye: Trey Vaval. The wow factor of the plays Vaval made are too hard to ignore for the voters.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>WHO WILL WIN MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER?<\/p>\n<p>Costabile: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/julian-howsare\/161115\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Julian Howsare\">Julian Howsare<\/a>\u2019s impact on the Tiger-Cats\u2019 defence this season can\u2019t be understated. Sure, he finished second in sacks (13), but even more important, he was constantly disrupting quarterbacks. Howsare ended the regular season with the most pressures, according to PFF, with 75 and had two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a pick-six.<\/p>\n<p>Ferraz: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/julian-howsare\/161115\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Julian Howsare\">Julian Howsare<\/a> enjoyed a career season in his first year back with the Black and Gold. Not only did he finish second in sacks, but he also forced two fumbles, registered one interception and returned a fumble for a touchdown. He also led the league in pressures (75) according to PFF, five more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/mathieu-betts\/164861\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Mathieu Betts\">Mathieu Betts<\/a>, who finished a close second.<\/p>\n<p>Steinberg: This one is tougher to gauge, but with Betts leading the league with 15 sacks and four forced fumbles, my guess is he brings home this award for the second time in three years.<\/p>\n<p>Cauz: I\u2019ll go with Julian Howsare. How many members of the secondary who made the All-CFL team benefitted from the constant pressure Howsare applied?<\/p>\n<p>Landry:\u00a0Call it two for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/mathieu-betts\/164861\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Mathieu Betts\">Mathieu Betts<\/a>. Both he and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/julian-howsare\/161115\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Julian Howsare\">Julian Howsare<\/a> had tremendous campaigns, but lots of voters like sacks and Betts\u2019 red-hot stretch run allows for recency bias to kick in too.<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/mathieu-betts\/164861\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Mathieu Betts\">Mathieu Betts<\/a> second half tear this season proves his top end is better than any pass rusher in the CFL. If he can sustain that for most of a season or most of it for his career the numbers by the end of either will be stunning and 2025 adds to his hardware collection.<\/p>\n<p>Nye: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/mathieu-betts\/164861\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Mathieu Betts\">Mathieu Betts<\/a>. Betts was red hot down the stretch and with sacks being such an important stat, he led the league.<\/p>\n<p>WHO WILL WIN MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN?<\/p>\n<p>Costabile: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a> will win Most Outstanding Canadian. Rourke had a sensational year, ending the year just behind Mitchell in passing yards (5,290) and touchdowns (31), averaging a whopping 10.6 yards per throw. He\u2019s the best Canadian to play our game.<\/p>\n<p>Ferraz: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a>. Most passing yards ever by a Canadian, first Canadian to throw for over 4,000 and 5,000 yards. This one is a no-brainer.<\/p>\n<p>Steinberg:\u00a0If it feels like Rourke is the MOP frontrunner, then him being named MOC feels like the biggest shoo-in there is this year.<\/p>\n<p>Cauz:\u00a0Rourke. We all know it will be Rourke, so I\u2019ll use this space for his excellent teammate, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/mathieu-betts\/164861\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Mathieu Betts\">Mathieu Betts<\/a>. For the second time in his career, Betts is your CFL sacks leader. Love seeing the 2023 version back in our game.<\/p>\n<p>Landry: If I\u2019ve got <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a> winning MOP, can\u2019t very well have him NOT winning MOC as well. I mean, I could, since he\u2019s up against a defensive player in this category. But, no, it\u2019s Rourke.<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson: Rourke is an unstoppable\u00a0freight train of award recognition this November.<\/p>\n<p>Nye: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a>. You can\u2019t win MOP and not win the other one!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This is a week to celebrate great performances and to look forward to a few more. The CFL&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":278711,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-278710","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cfl","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-canadian-football-league","11":"tag-canadianfootballleague","12":"tag-cfl","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=278710"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278710\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/278711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=278710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=278710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=278710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}