3DownNation’s 2026 mid-season CFL awards

Montreal Alouettes

It’s Week 11, which means we have reached the official midway point of the CFL season.

We polled our contributors at 3DownNation for their mid-season all-star and award selections. Unlike the actual year-end CFL awards, divisions were not taken into consideration here — the only requirement was to vote for the best candidates available.

Enjoy our mid-season awards selections below and check back tomorrow for our mid-season all-stars.

Most Outstanding Player: QB Davis Alexander, Montreal Alouettes

The 27-year-old has been truly sensational this season, completing 72.3 percent of his passes for 3,140 yards, 18 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Alexander pushes the ball further downfield than every other quarterback in the CFL (10.4 yards per attempt) but has the lowest interception percentage of any full-time starter (0.7 percent). The six-foot, 195-pound passer has gone 8-1 this year and could realistically challenge the CFL’s all-time single-season passing record of 6,619 yards, which was set by Doug Flutie in 1991.

Runners-up: REC Tyson Philpot, MTL | QB Trevor Harris, SSK

Most Outstanding Defensive Player: DL Clarence Hicks, Calgary Stampeders

The native of Pensacola, Fla. has been disruptive all season long in Calgary, recording 11 defensive tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble. Hicks is tied for the league lead in sacks, though he may have even more if he weren’t forced to compete with fellow standouts Folarin Orimolade, Jaylon Hutchings, and Miles Brown. The 27-year-old has recorded 52 quarterback pressures this season, as per Pro Football Focus, which is 17 more than any other player in the CFL.

Runners-up: DL Willie Jefferson, WPG | DB Robert Kennedy III, MTL

Photo courtesy: Minas Panagiotakis/CFL

Most Outstanding Canadian: REC Tyson Philpot, Montreal Alouettes

This was the only unanimous first-place selection among our voters and it’s easy to see why. Philpot has been absolutely dominant this season, making 74 catches for 1,154 yards and seven touchdowns through just nine games. The native of Delta, B.C. is on pace to shatter the CFL’s single-season receiving record of 2,036 yards, which was set by Allen Pitts in 1994. Philpot only needs 508 more yards to break the single-season receiving record among Canadian players (1,662 yards), which was set by Terry Evanshen in 1967.

Runners-up: REC Kian Schaffer-Baker, SSK | DL Mathieu Betts, BC

Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: LT Nick Callender, Montreal Alouettes

The 32-year-old has been named All-East Division in each of the last three seasons and appears primed to add to his resumé. The six-foot-six, 356-pound blocker has been the CFL’s best blindside protector through the first half of the season. As per Pro Football Focus, Callender has allowed zero sacks this season with a pressure rate of just 2.4 percent. Now in his sixth season with the Alouettes, the native of Berkeley, Calif. is playing the best football of his career.

Runners-up: LG Pier-Olivier Lestage, MTL | LG Carter O’Donnell, EDM

Photo: Blair Takahashi/COACHTAK/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Most Outstanding Special Teams Player: KR Tyreik McAllister, Calgary Stampeders

The 28-year-old was a relatively late addition for the Stampeders following a stint in the NFL but he has been sensational since returning north of the border. McAllister has returned 29 kickoffs for 613 yards, 36 punts for 516 yards, three missed field goals for 265 yards, and scored three return touchdowns. The five-foot-nine, 183-pound speedster leads the CFL in punt return yards, missed field return yards, and combined yards.

Runners-up: K Vincent Blanchard, EDM | KR Janarion Grant, TOR

Most Outstanding Rookie: REC TJ Luther, Edmonton Elks

The native of Arcadia, Fla. had stints with five different NFL teams before joining the Elks, though he’d never previously dressed for a professional regular-season game. Luther’s made the most of his opportunity to do so this year, making 41 receptions for 517 yards and three touchdowns over nine outings, ranking him ninth league-wide in catches and fifteenth in receiving yards. The 26-year-old is on pace to surpass 1,000 yards on the season, which would bode well for his chances of winning this award.

Runners-up: LB Parker McKenna, BC | LB Dariel Djabome, EDM

Coach of the Year: Jason Maas, Montreal Alouettes

The Alouettes are clearly the CFL’s best team thus far, so it’s only fitting that Maas is the front-runner for this award. The 50-year-old relinquished play-calling duties this offseason to offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo, and it appears to have been the right decision as this team has reached new heights. Were it not for a controversial call back in Week 3, Montreal could very well be 9-0 right now.

Runners-up: Mark Kilam, EDM | Corey Mace, SSK