A trio of B.C. Lions up for CFL year-end awards

by Jeff Paterson on November 7th, 2012 at 9:33 AM

The Canadian Football League has announced the finalists for its individual awards that will be handed out later this month during Grey Cup week in Toronto.

Jovan Olafioye will represent the West in the Outstanding Lineman category, while defensive lineman Jabar Westerman gets the nod as Top Rookie and kick returner Tim Brown is in the running for Outstanding Special Teams player. Westerman and Olafioye are the best bets to take home hardware for the Lions. Brown will be in tough against Hamilton's Chris Williams who set a new CFL record for kick return touchdowns in a season.

Lions quarterback Travis Lulay will not repeat as CFL Most Outstanding Player, as Calgary Stampeder running back and New Westminster native Jon Cornish will represent the West against Toronto's Chad Owens. Cornish also got the West nod as Outstanding Canadian over Lions running back Andrew Harris and will be up against Richmond's Shea Emry of the Montreal Alouettes. Emry is also double-finalist earning top defensive player honours in the East.

Cornish, who led the league in rushing, will likely become the first Canadian player named CFL Most Outstanding Player since Ottawa's Tony Gabriel took home the trophy in 1978.