Running backs Ka’Deem Carey and Peyton Logan, defensive lineman Shawn Lemon, linebacker Cameron Judge, offensive lineman Derek Dennis and kicker René Paredes are Calgary’s nominees for the 2022 Canadian Football League player awards.
Calgary’s award finalists were determined by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) as well as one vote from the Stampeders coaching staff.
Here is a closer look at the Stamps’ nominees:
Ka’Deem Carey (Most Outstanding Player): Carey is the Stampeders’ MOP nominee for a second consecutive season. Through Week 20, he leads the CFL in rushing yards and he’s tops among running backs with 10 rushing touchdowns. Carey also leads the league in average rushing yards per game (77.7), yards per carry (6.6), 100-yard games (three), carries of at least 10 yards (34) and carries of at least 20 yards (11). Carey is bidding to be the 11th Stampeder to win the CFL football rushing title.
Peyton Logan (Most Outstanding Rookie): The University of Tennessee-Martin alum has made a significant impact both on special teams and on offence during his inaugural pro season. Logan is second in the CFL with 1,976 all-purpose yards and he has produced touchdowns three different ways – three on rushing attempts, one on a kickoff return and one on a missed-field goal return. Logan has 53 carries for 344 yards, 17 catches for 180 yards, 67 punt returns for 718 yards, 25 kickoff returns for 612 yards including a 99-yarder that is the longest in the CFL this season and one missed-field goal return for 122 yards that is the longest play of any type in 2022.
Shawn Lemon (Most Outstanding Defensive Player): The 34-year-old defensive end enters the final week of the regular season with a share of the CFL lead in forced fumbles (five) and the league’s second-best total in sacks (14). Lemon has matched his career high in sacks and has climbed to 15th place on the CFL’s all-time list with 92 career QB takedowns. The 11-year veteran also has 28 defensive tackles this season including one tackle for loss, two fumble recoveries and four pass knockdowns. This is the third time Lemon has been his team’s nominee for the defensive player award, having previously been named in 2014 with the Stamps and in 2016 with Toronto.
Cameron Judge (Most Outstanding Canadian): In his first season with the Red and White, Judge leads the CFL in both fumble recoveries with five and big plays (a combination of interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries, blocked kicks and tackles, sacks or knockdowns leading to a turnover on downs) with 11. Judge also is No. 1 on the Stamps with 77 defensive tackles and has added three tackles for loss, two special-teams tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He has scored two defensive touchdowns – one on an interception and one on a fumble return. Judge was the West Division finalist for the top-Canadian award in 2019 when he was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Derek Dennis (Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman): Dennis made 14 starts at the all-important left tackle position and was an integral part of an offensive line that has allowed a league-low 15 sacks – 13 fewer than any other team. The o-line has also paved the way for Calgary to lead the CFL in rushing offence with an average of 125.1 yards gained per game on the ground. Dennis was previously Calgary’s nominee for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2016 and 2018 and he won the league award in 2016.
René Paredes (Most Outstanding Special Teams Player): This is the sixth time Paredes is Calgary’s nominee for the league’s special teams award, having previously been selected in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2021. He was voted the CFL’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2013. This season, Paredes leads the league with 199 points, 51 field goals and five field goals of at least 50 yards. Paredes is 44 of 45 on converts and his average of 66.7 yards on regular kickoffs (which excludes onside kicks) is second-best in the league. He has one game this season in which he was perfect on five field-goal tries and four in which he was successful on all four of his attempts.