Four members of the East Division-champion Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League have been named 2015 CFL All-Stars, as selected by the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and league head coaches.
To no surprise, Henry Burris has been named the 2015 all-star quarterback. The 40-year-old from Oklahoma, named a league all-star for the second time in his 16-season CFL career, manufactured a season that a professional of any age would yearn for, leading the league in passing yards and the REDBLACKS to an astonishing division title and a trip to the championship Grey Cup match in the franchise’s second season.
The other members of the REDBLACKS were all chosen as CFL-wide all-stars for the first time in their respective careers: centre Jon Gott, one of eight national players selected, offensive tackle SirVincent Rogers, and cornerback Abdul Kanneh.
Burris, a Temple grad, set a career high with 5,693 passing yards and became only the third quarterback in CFL history, joining Anthony Calvillo and Damon Allen, to surpass the 60,000-yards milestone. He also established a new standard for completions in one season with 481, guiding the REDBLACKS to a 12-6 record, including a 7-2 mark in the second half and victory in the Eastern Final, which included that astounding 93-yard pass-and-run play on second-and-25 to Greg Ellingson in front of 25,000 delirious spectators at TD Place, securing a berth in the 103rd Grey Cup in Winnipeg and providing the starving football fans of Ottawa – members of #RNation – with an iconic moment already being considered one of the best ever in professional sports to take place in the city of Ottawa.
Burris’ list of amazing accomplishments included a 45-completion effort during a victory on October 1 at TD Place against the Montreal Alouettes, setting a new league record.
Burris also completed 70.9% of his passes, threw 26 touchdowns against 13 interceptions and ran for seven majors, the second-highest total of his career.
Last month during Grey Cup week in Winnipeg, Burris was named the Shaw CFL Most Outstanding Player, the second time he received the distinction; the other in 2010 when he played for the Calgary Stampeders. Burris was also named the CFL’s all-star quarterback in 2010.
In addition to the MOP accolade, Burris also received the Tom Pate Award from the CFL Players Association for contributions to the game of football, the community and leadership.
Gott and Rogers were the only offensive-line teammates named to the 2015 CFL All-Star squad, the first O-line mates from Ottawa to be named league all-stars in the same season since Keith Powell and Rudy Phillips of the Rough Riders were honoured in 1983.
Gott, a 30-year-old, seven-year veteran born in Edmonton and a Boise State grad, anchored the Ottawa offensive line for a second season. The REDBLACKS’ O-line – including starters J’Micheal Deane, Nolan MacMillan and Colin Kelly – was the only front-five in the CFL to start all 20 games in 2015, including the Eastern Final and the Grey Cup, an amazing feat.
Rogers competed for the REDBLACKS for his first season after joining the club as a free agent in February after an impressive two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts. The 29-year-old Texan and product of the Houston Cougars football program served as a stalwart defender of Burris and was held in high regard for his steady play and leadership. His efforts were ultimately recognized during Grey Cup week last month when he was named the Shaw CFL Most Outstanding Lineman.
Kanneh, a second-year CFL defensive back who was born in London, raised in Virginia and played collegiate football at New Mexico State, led the REDBLACKS and the East Division with six interceptions. He also finished tied for the league lead with Deon Lacey of Edmonton with three forced fumbles and with Matt Black of Toronto and JC Sherritt of Edmonton with four fumble recoveries.
This season’s four representatives from the REDBLACKS marks the first time since 1992 that as many as four players from an Ottawa CFL were named CFL All-Stars (the four in 1992 were receiver Stephen Jones, defensive back Anthony Drawhorn, offensive lineman Rob Smith and linebacker Angelo Snipes).
The 1969 Ottawa Rough Riders sent seven players to the CFL All-Star squad, the largest continent of Ottawa players to the team: linebacker Ken Lehmann, quarterback Russ Jackson, running back Vic Washington, linebacker Jerry “Soupie” Campbell, defensive back Don Sutherin, defensive end Margene Adkins and defensive end Billy Joe Booth.
