The Alouettes might have the CFL’s best record this season, but the defending Grey Cup champions have been devoid of a dominant offensive player.
Cody Fajardo, their starting quarterback, missed five complete games and the majority of a sixth, primarily because of a hamstring injury. Canadian receiver Tyson Philpot was having a career year until suffering a foot injury halfway through the season. And only two teams run the ball less frequently than do the Als.
Therefore it comes as no great surprise the majority of Als players nominated for the CFL’s outstanding player awards play on defence.
Leading the list is boundary linebacker Tyrice Beverette, a double nominee as most outstanding player and defensive player of the year, the league announced on Wednesday.
Defensive-end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund (Canadian) and linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku (rookie) also were nominated by selected members of the Football Reporters of Canada. Montreal head coach Jason Maas also participated in the voting.
Completing the list is guard Pier-Olivier Lestage (offensive lineman) and return-specialist James Letcher Jr. (special teams).
Beverette has been one of many Als players who have excelled defensively this season while also playing on special teams.
He has 98 defensive tackles, four sacks, four forced fumbles along with a fumble recovery and has intercepted two passes. Beverette has been involved in a league-leading 132 defensive plays while adding nine special teams tackles.
Beverette, now in his third season with Montreal, broke into the CFL with Hamilton, but the Tiger-Cats used him primarily on special teams. Als general manager Danny Maciocia believed Beverette was capable of more and signed him as a free agent.
“I saw a guy that obviously is athletically gifted and brings physicality to the game,” Maciocia said earlier this season. “He can play defensive back, outside linebacker, strong safety … can come off the edge and beat a tackle one-on-one. He plays the game at one speed. He just has that gift and is able to make plays because of that tenacity.”
Beverette could have easily been joined by others, including middle-linebacker Darnell Sankey, who has a team-leading 100 defensive tackles, or defensive-back Dionté Ruffin, who leads the Als with five interceptions, including one returned 79 yards for a touchdown.
Adeyemi-Berglund, who signed with the Als as a free agent this season after playing for Calgary, has been dominant off the edge, with a team-leading seven sacks.
Cantin-Arku, Montreal’s first-round (ninth overall) draft choice this year, played more than expected following a season-ending injury to Reggie Stubblefield in the opening game. The rookie always seems to be around the ball and is a playmaker, with five sacks and an interception.
Letcher leads the CFL in combined yards with 2,329. He returned a punt 100 yards for a touchdown and brought a field goal back 128 yards for another score while averaging 23.7 yards on kickoff returns. Letcher has the potential to break any game open with an electrifying return.
Lestage, 6-foot-3 and 299 pounds, is considered the Als’ steadiest offensive lineman. He was selected 10th overall by Montreal in 2021, but didn’t join the team until the following season. He spent 2021 on the Seattle Seahawks’ practice roster, signing with the NFL club as an undrafted free agent.
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