2017 Tiger-cats Team Awards Announced

The Canadian Football League announced Wednesday the Hamilton Tiger-Cats team winners for the 2017 CFL Awards:
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER/DEFENSIVE PLAYER: LB Larry Dean
Dean, 29, has registered 93 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, three quarterback sacks, eight quarterback pressures, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, five pass knock downs and one tackle for loss in 17 games this season. With one game remaining in 2017, the 6-0, 226-pound native of Tifton, Georgia, ranks tied for the CFL lead in forced fumbles (3) and is fifth in defensive tackles (93). Dean was voted as the team’s 2017 defensive team captain in just his second season in the CFL.
MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN/OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: OL Ryan Bomben
Bomben, 30, has started all 17 games at right guard for the Tiger-Cats so far this season. The durable offensive lineman is on pace to play in all 18 regular season games for the sixth time in his seven-year CFL career. A 6-5, 295-pound native of Burlington, Ontario, Bomben was also the Tiger-Cats Most Outstanding Lineman last season and was named an East Division All-Star in both 2015 and 2016.
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER: P/K Sergio Castillo*
Castillo, 27, appeared in 14 games with the Tiger-Cats this season, converting 29 of his 34 field goal attempts (85.3%) and averaging 44.9 yards per punt on 94 attempts. He was also a perfect 5-for-5 on field goal attempts of 50-plus yards, 20-of-21 on one-point convert attempts, and currently ranks fourth overall in the CFL in both field goal percentage (85.3%) and average yards per punt (44.9). The 5-9, 194-pound native of La Joya, Texas, suffered a season-ending knee injury on October 6 at Winnipeg.
MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE: DB Richard Leonard*
Leonard, 26, has started 17 games at both cornerback and halfback for the Tiger-Cats so far in 2017, posting 71 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, five interceptions, 12 pass knock downs and one tackle for loss. He also returned one of his fumble recoveries 84 yards for a touchdown after a blocked kick in Week 1 against Toronto. The 5-8, 173-pound native of Miami, Florida, is currently tied for the CFL lead in pass knock downs (12) and fumble recoveries (3), tied for second in interceptions (5), and tied for 10^th in defensive tackles (71).
*Indicates unanimous selection.
The award recipients were selected by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) and CFL head coaches.
In this first ballot, FRC representatives from each CFL city as well as the respective head coach submitted votes for six categories. Voters were asked to select players from their local CFL club who, through the excellence of their on-field performances, best represent the awards’ titles – Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Most Outstanding Rookie, and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
The East and West Division winners for the 2017 CFL Awards will be announced on Thursday, November 9.
The 2017 CFL Awards will be handed out on Thursday, November 23 in Ottawa, Ontario. To purchase tickets to the CFL Awards and Rev-Up Party, please visit www.greycupfestival105.ca.