11 Blue Bombers named Division All-Stars

[ModAdmin]

11 Blue Bombers named Division All-Stars

WINNIPEG, MB., November 2, 2022 - The Canadian Football League today unveiled its 2022 divisional all-star teams, with 11 members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers named to the West squad.

Honoured as West Division All-Stars are quarterback Zach Collaros, receiver Dalton Schoen, offensive tackles Stanley Bryant and Jermarcus Hardrick, guard Pat Neufeld, defensive end Willie Jefferson, linebacker Adam Bighill, cornerback Winston Rose, defensive back Deatrick Nichols, dime back Donald Rutledge, Jr. and kick returner Janarion Grant.

The voting for this round was conducted by local members of The Football Reporters of Canada, the FRC's national chapter and head coaches in the West Division.

Fans also took part in this year's selections through the All-Star Fan Vote, powered by the CFL's official data and technology partner, Genius Sports.

The CFL All-Star team will be announced on Thursday, November 10th.

Zach Collaros earned divisional all-star honours for the second straight year and the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player is a candidate for the award again after a sensational season.

Collaros established new career highs in passing yards (4,183) and touchdowns (37), with the latter the highest total in the CFL this year and the second-highest in Blue Bombers franchise history.

Collaros had a touchdown-to-interception differential of 37:13 (or +24) which is tied for the ninth highest in CFL history and established a new Blue Bombers record, eclipsing the +23 total Jack Jacobs posted in 1951.

The Blue Bombers are now a remarkable 32-4 in games Collaros has started since his arrival at the trade deadline in October of 2019 - including back-to-back Grey Cup championships - making him just the second pivot in franchise history to lead the team to consecutive titles after Ken Ploen first accomplished the feat in 1961-62.

Dalton Schoen authored a superb first season in the CFL and is the West Division nominee for the league's Most Outstanding Rookie award.

Schoen led the league in receiving yardage with 1,441 yards on 70 receptions and tied for first in touchdowns with 16 along with Caleb Evans of the Ottawa RedBlacks.

Schoen also led the CFL in second-down conversion catches, with a remarkable 41 of his 70 catches keeping the offence on the field. He also had five 100-yard receiving games this season.

Stanley Bryant is a three-time CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman - the only player in the history of the award to win it that many times - and the West Division nominee again this season.

This is his seventh divisional all-star award after also being selected in 2013-14 and 2017-21. The 36-year-old vet continues to anchor the left side of the offensive line as part of an offence that finished second in the CFL in scoring and first in touchdowns while allowing the second-fewest quarterback sacks.

Jermarcus Hardrick has been named a divisional all-star for the third time in his career after previously being selected in 2017 and in 2021. Hardrick is now in his fifth season with the Blue Bombers and remains one of the club's vocal and inspirational leaders.

Pat Neufeld has earned his second divisional all-star berth in his 11thCFL season, the last eight with the Blue Bombers. Winnipeg finished second in rushing yards per game at 113.5, with running back Brady Oliveira reaching the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career.

Willie Jefferson was named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Defensive Player last week and has earned a spot on the West Division All-Star team for the fifth consecutive season after previously being named from 2017-19 and in 2021.

Jefferson led the Blue Bombers with seven sacks and has added 33 tackles, an interception for a touchdown, two forced fumbles and has 10 pass knockdowns, tied for third-most in the CFL. Earlier this season he became the first player in CFL history to record 50 sacks and 50 pass knockdowns.

Adam Bighill has been named to the West Division All-Star Team for the eighth time in his career (also: 2012-16, 2018 and 2021). The veteran middle linebacker led the club with 72 tackles, adding two quarterback sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.

Deatrick Nichols has earned a spot on the West Division All-Star Team for a second straight season. Nichols had 46 tackles, one interception and finished with eight pass knockdowns.

Winston Rose is a West Division all-star for a second time, having previously been honoured in 2019. The veteran corner finished second on the club to Bighill with 66 tackles, adding three interceptions ? including one for a touchdown ? a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Donald Rutledge, Jr. has been named a divisional all-star in his rookie season at the cover linebacker/dime position. He started 15 games and finished third on the team with 60 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.

Janarion Grant has been named a West Division All-Star for the first time in his career. Grant made history this year by scoring two touchdowns on punt returns and a third on a kickoff return, giving him seven in his career with the Blue Bombers and allowing him to move past Keith Stokes as the all-time leader in return touchdowns. Grant finished first in the CFL in punt return yards with 817, was third in kickoff return yards at 782 and with his rushing and receiving contributions on offence, ranks fifth in the league in combined yardage at 1,817.

[bluengold204]

Wow that?s a lot of names lol

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Wow that?s a lot of names lol

Not enough, Demski got robbed!  Donald Rutledge, is like "what?".

[Pigskin]

Agree ND10 should be on this list. Rutledge was having a pretty good season before he was place on the PR. Which raises a few??? All-Star like season, again?? But with that said I would like to see him back on the AR for the play-offs.  Rose is another?? as an All-star. Didn't think he was terrible, but he did get beat more this year than any other in his career. 

[Tee42]

Not sure how these votes are calculated,  but how does Boris Bede get an all star when he has the lowest FG %? Ward or Small got robbed.

Andrew Harris hasn't played most of the season??

Strange.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Demski off is a crying shame.

Andrew Harris on signals this list is a fraud.

Rutledge is very strange as well.

[peg_city]

Rose?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Here is the entire list.


EAST DIVISION   WEST DIVISION
POSITION   OFFENCE   OFFENCE
QB   McLeod Bethel-Thompson (TOR)   Zach Collaros (WPG)
RB   Andrew Harris (TOR)*   Ka?Deem Carey (CGY)
REC   Eugene Lewis (MTL)   Dalton Schoen (WPG)
REC   Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (TOR)*   Dominique Rhymes (BC)
REC   Steven Dunbar Jr. (HAM)   Kenny Lawler (EDM)
REC   Jaelon Acklin (OTT)   Lucky Whitehead (BC)
REC   Tim White (HAM)   Kian Schaffer-Baker (SSK)*
CEN   Justin Lawrence (TOR)*   Peter Godber (BC)*
G   Brandon Revenberg (HAM)*   Patrick Neufeld (WPG)*
G   Dariusz Bladek (TOR)*   Sukh Chungh (BC)*
OT   Dejon Allen (TOR)   Stanley Bryant (WPG)
OT   Philip Blake (TOR)*   Jermarcus Hardrick (WPG)
DEFENCE   DEFENCE
DE   Ja?Gared Davis (TOR)   Willie Jefferson (WPG)
DE   Lorenzo Mauldin IV (OTT)   Shawn Lemon (CGY)
DT   Shawn Oakman (TOR)   Jake Ceresna (EDM)
DT   Dylan Wynn (HAM)   Mike Rose (CGY)
LB   Jovan Santos-Knox (HAM)   Adam Bighill (WPG)
LB   Wynton McManis (TOR)   Cameron Judge (CGY)*
CLB   Chris Edwards (TOR)   Donald Rutledge Jr. (WPG)
CB   Jamal Peters (TOR)   Winston Rose (WPG)
CB   Ciante Evans (HAM)   Garry Peters (BC)
HB   Najee Murray (MTL)   Deatrick Nichols (WPG)
HB   DaShaun Amos (TOR)   Treston Decoud (EDM)
S   Tunde Adeleke (HAM)*   Loucheiz Purifoy (BC)
SPECIAL TEAMS   SPECIAL TEAMS
K   Boris Bede (TOR)   Rene Paredes (CGY)*
P   John Haggerty (TOR)^   Cody Grace (CGY)^
ST   Daniel Adeboboye (TOR)*   Janarion Grant (WPG)

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Demski off is a crying shame.

Andrew Harris on signals this list is a fraud.

Rutledge is very strange as well.

"The Division All-Stars were selected by the local voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) in their respective division's markets and the National Chapter, as well as their respective division's head coaches."

For Harris to show up as an All-Star means a lot of journalists weren't even paying attention.

[GOLDMEMBER]

Demski for either Whitehead or the only Rider on there.

[Tee42]

They must have thought Winnipeg has won too many...

[Blue In BC]

Demski off is a crying shame.

Andrew Harris on signals this list is a fraud.

Rutledge is very strange as well.

It does beg the question about why Rutledge is on the PR. I don't think he is better than Darby but he might be the future in 2023. Darby can play multiple positions so will we see a change going into the WDF?

[Pigskin]

Demski off is a crying shame.

Andrew Harris on signals this list is a fraud.

Rutledge is very strange as well.

I do agree that AH33 as an All-star???

Antwi: 18 games, 600 yards 108, carries, avg. 5.66 per.
Quellette: 13 games, 516 yards, 98 carries, avg. 5.27 per
AH33: 8 games, 490 yards, 114 carries, avg. 4.3 per.

The RB position in the east was weak this year.

Carey, Logan, and Mills for Calgary all average over 6 yards per.

[3rdand1.5]

A few head scratchers for sure... Rutledge not positive about, Biggie, don't get me wrong he is one of the best but this was an off year for him, and Harris out of the East from the IR....

[pjrocksmb]

A few head scratchers for sure... Rutledge not positive about, Biggie, don't get me wrong he is one of the best but this was an off year for him, and Harris out of the East from the IR....

Biggie has a few bad games but otherwise has been good

Rutledge has been very good for a rookie.

Happy to see Rose on the list, a few peps way to hard on him, especially on the GDTs.

What a list of awesome Bombers.  So proud of this club.