Sometimes it seems like Tyrice Beverette is all over the field, considering everything the Alouettes’ linebacker brings to the team’s defence.
And now, following a career season, Beverette’s being recognized.
Beverette, 6-foot-1 and 204 pounds, is the East Division finalist for the CFL’s most outstanding defensive player award, the league announced on Thursday. Beverette also was the Als’ nominee in the most outstanding player category.
Beverette’s defensive teammate, rush-end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, is the division finalist as outstanding Canadian, while Jason Maas will represent the division as the coach of the year. The voting was conducted by national and local members of the Football Reporters of Canada and the league’s nine head coaches.
“It’s the number of boxes (Beverette) checks off,” Als general manager Danny Maciocia told The Gazette. “He can stop the run, he’s an established tackler. He can pass-rush the quarterback and come off the edge. Sometimes he’s matched up on a back. Sometimes he’s matched up on a tackle. But his sheer desire and willingness to get to the quarterback is unmatched. He plays everything at one speed.
“His ability to drop into coverage and make plays on the ball, on receivers,” Maciocia added. “He’s well-versed and complete.”
Beverette was involved in a league-leading 137 total defensive plays, including 102 tackles. He had five sacks, forced four fumbles, recovered one and intercepted two passes. He also contributed on special teams.
Saskatchewan defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. is the West Division finalist in the defensive player category.
Adeyemi-Berglund, 6 foot 2 and 248 pounds, joined the Als this season as a free agent following three seasons in Calgary. The Stampeders selected the defensive-end third overall in the 2020 draft.
Adeyemi-Berglund had a team-leading seven sacks, forced a fumble and made 36 defensive tackles while also contributing on special teams. Maciocia signed him last winter, knowing he had lost former first-round draft choice Lwal Uguak to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Uguak failed to crack the Bucs’ roster out of training camp and rejoined the Als late in the season.
“I had him graded highly when he was coming out of school,” Maciocia said of Adeyemi-Berglund. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have a pick that high. But I watched his career flourish over the last three years. He’s done a lot of great things. I felt strongly about the defensive component he would bring here. He’s a ratio changer and when I looked at his defensive snaps, I thought, ‘This is a guy that can play and be productive’.”
Winnipeg tailback Brady Oliveira, last season’s outstanding Canadian, is the West Division finalist again, along with the division nominee as outstanding player, where he’ll be against Hamilton quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. Oliveira led the CFL in rushing, with 1,353 yards, while Mitchell passed for a league-leading 5,451 yards and 32 touchdowns but was also intercepted 18 times.
Maas, in his second year coaching the Als, led Montreal to the Grey Cup last season along with a league-best 12-5-1 record this year despite injuries to quarterback Cody Fajardo and receiver Tyson Philpot, among others. Saskatchewan’s Corey Mace is the West Division nominee. The Roughriders (9-8-1) finished in second place after missing the playoffs in 2023.
“He (Maas) is the reason we’re in the position that we’re in,” said Maciocia, who hired Maas after he was fired as Saskatchewan’s offensive co-ordinator. “His leadership. His ability to connect with people. He came in and bought into the project and the culture we’ve been able to establish. What he did last year is a greater story than what we’re living right now.”
Other division finalists: Toronto’s Ryan Hunter, Saskatchewan’s Logan Ferland (offensive lineman); Hamilton’s Shemar Bridges, Edmonton’s Nick Anderson (rookie), Toronto’s Janarion Grant, B.C.’s Sean Whyte (special teams). The winners will be announced Nov. 14 in Vancouver at an awards ceremony during the Grey Cup festival.
The Als are preparing to host the division final, against either Toronto or Ottawa, Nov. 9 at Molson Stadium.