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November 5, 2014

REDBLACKS nominees for player awards announced

By: Barre Campbell
Photos: Scott Grant

OTTAWA – Linebackers Jasper Simmons and Antoine Pruneau, offensive lineman Jon Gott, defensive lineman Justin Capicciotti and kicker Brett Maher have been named candidates from the Ottawa REDBLACKS for the 2014 CFL Player Awards.

Simmons, the team’s top tackler, was chosen as the most outstanding player and the top defensive player, while fellow linebacker Pruneau received the nod for top rookie.

Meanwhile, Capicciotti was selected as the top Canadian of the season, Gott received the nod as the top offensive lineman and Maher was voted the REDBLACKS’ best special teams performer.

“All five players are very deserving of these nominations.,” said Marcel Desjardins, general manager of the REDBLACKS. “Jon Gott has been the anchor of the offensive line we expected him to be when we acquired him on draft day.  Justin Capicciotti, Antoine Pruneau and Jasper Simmons have taken full advantage of their opportunity to play on a regular basis and have been key contributors to our defence while Brett Maher has had a solid season handling the REDBLACKS kicking and punting duties.”

Simmons, a Missouri Tigers grad, leads the REDBLACKS with 83 tackles and has three interceptions. One of the more energetic performers on defence, Simmons had one of his best games of the season in Calgary in August after arriving hours before kick off following the birth of a daughter at home in Florida. He registered nine tackles and had an interception in the game against the Stampeders.

Pruneau, the 25-year-old rookie from Université de Montréal, came to Ottawa with great expectations after being selected fourth overall in the 2014 CFL Draft. The REDBLACKS made a trade with the Montreal Alouettes to move one position higher to ensure Pruneau’s selection. The move turned out to be a great one for REDBLACKS and Ottawa football fans.

After spending most of the early part of the season in the defensive secondary, Pruneau made his first CFL start at strongside linebacker on August 9 in Calgary and made an immediate impression, recording eight defensive tackles.

Later that month at home at TD Place, Pruneau, on a blitz, tipped an attempted pass by Bo Levi Mitchell in the rematch against Calgary that lofted into the waiting arms of Jonathan Williams who rumbled into the end zone for a major.

Pruneau leads the REDBLACKS with 63 tackles over the past 12 games and leads all CFL rookies in tackles. Heading into last week’s game against Hamilton, he ranked second in the entire league in defensive tackles during the previous 11-game period, behind only Solomon Elimimian who had 84.

For Capicciotti, the 2014 season was nothing short of a breakout season. Acquired in the 2013 CFL Expansion Draft from Edmonton, the Toronto native and Simon Fraser grad went on to record 10 sacks and was twice named the league’s top Canadian of the week.

Maher led the REDBLACKS in scoring with 107 kicking points and was stellar on punting duties.

He delivered a memorable performance during the team’s first regular season victory, an 18-17 nailbiter over the Toronto Argonauts on July 18 at TD Place.

Maher made all six field goal attempts, including a season-long 48-yarder in the fourth quarter and a 23-yarder with 28 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Maher’s efforts in that first victory earned him the special teams player of the week honour.

Gott, acquired in a draft-day deal with Calgary after the REDBLACKS traded the rights to quarterback Kevin Glenn to B.C. for the first overall selection, which was then traded to the Stampeders for the bearded centre, was a mainstay on the REDBLACKS’ offensive line, making starts in all games this season. Gott and his trademark beard are expected to start again on Friday when the REDBLACKS complete the inaugural 2014 season in Toronto against the Argonauts at Rogers Centre.

Members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and the head coach select players from each local CFL club.

One representative from each CFL division will be chosen as a finalist for each category for the announcement of the winners on Thursday, November 27 during Grey Cup Week in Vancouver.