Naming a first and second all-star team following the CFL postseason. The purpose of this project is to shine a light on players who stood out in their respective positions during the playoffs.
This strives to honor performances from players for their level of play in the playoffs. It is admittedly a little wonky to do an all-star team for the postseason with the imbalance of games played. But if the MLB can have an All-October team, then the CFL can have an All-November team.
Offense
Quarterback
1st Team: Trevor Harris (SSK)
There are a lot of names you can recognize at quarterback this postseason. Harris gets the nod from me after setting a completion percentage in the Grey Cup and reading the defense extremely well. Harris completed 26 of his 38 passes for 305 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Western Final, 68.4%. In the Grey Cup, he completed 23 of his 27 passes for 302 yards, 85.1%.
2nd Team: Vernon Adams Jr. (CGY)
VA did everything but win in the Western Semi-Final, making some really great plays in the face of pressure. He completed 23 of his 33 passes for 334 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Honorable Mentions: Nathan Rourke (BC), Bo Levi Mitchell (HAM), Davis Alexander (MTL)
Running Back
1st Team: Stevie Scott III (MTL)
Stevie Scott III rushed 42 times over his 3 postseason games for 259 yards (6.2 average) and 3 touchdowns. He had 10 missed tackles forced, by my count. He rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown in the Grey Cup with a 5.2 yards per carry. He also caught 7 passes for 66 yards.
2nd Team: A.J. Ouellette (SSK)
Ouellette rushed 34 times this postseason for 196 yards in 2 games (5.7 yards per carry). He rushed 17 times in the Grey Cup for 83 yards and a touchdown (4.9 ypc). By my count, he had 7 missed tackles forced in the postseason, 5 of which came in the Grey Cup. He also caught 3 passes for 45 yards.
Honorable Mentions: James Butler (BC), Dedrick Mills (CGY), Greg Bell (HAM)
Receivers
1st Team: Samuel Emilus (SSK)
Emilus caught 19 of his 21 targets over his 2 playoff games for 208 yards. He caught all 10 of his targets for 108 yards in the Grey Cup. He had 7 missed tackles forced in the playoffs by my count.
1st Team: Kenny Lawler (HAM)
Lawler caught 9 of his 13 targets for 117 yards and had an MTF (missed tackle forced) in the Eastern Final.
1st Team: Tyson Philpot (WPG)
Tyson Philpot had the most yards in a game this postseason when he caught 10 of his 11 targets for 135 yards and a touchdown in the Eastern Semi-Final. He caught 5 passes for 87 yards in the Grey Cup. Over his 3 playoff games, he caught 20 of his 27 targets for 252 yards and had 3 missed tackles forced.
1st Team: Jaylen Philpot (CGY)
Jaylen Philpot had the 2nd most yards in a playoff game this year as he caught 7 of his 8 targets for 120 yards and a touchdown. He took a big hit as he caught a 42-yard reception and held on for the catch.
1st Team: Charleston Rambo (MTL)
Rambo maximized his touches as he caught 12 of his 15 targets for 179 yards over his 3 playoff games. He had 6 missed tackles forced by my count, 3 of which were in the Grey Cup.
2nd Team: Justin McInnis (BC)
McInnis caught 8 of his 10 targets in the postseason for 152 yards over his 2 playoff appearances.
2nd Team: Dohnte Meyers (SSK)
Meyers caught all 7 of his targets over his 2 playoff games for 116 yards with 1 missed tackle forced. He had 4 grabs for 76 yards in the Grey Cup.
2nd Team: Keric Wheatfall (WPG)
Wheatfall caught 5 of his 6 targets for 104 yards, including a 53-yard strike in the East Semi-Final.
2nd Team: Tyler Snead (MTL)
Snead’s production increased with each passing game in the postseason. He had 1 grab for 15 yards in the East Semi-Final. The Est Final saw him catch all 3 targets for 57 yards and a touchdown. In the Grey Cup, he had 3 catches on 5 targets for 78 yards.
2nd Team: Keon Hatcher (BC)
Hatcher caught 8 of his 15 targets for 126 yards and a touchdown over his 2 playoff appearances.
Honorable Mentions: Clark Barnes (CGY), Austin Mack (MTL)
Left Tackle
1st Team: Payton Collins (SSK)
By my count, Collines allowed 2 pressures in each game, with half of them being a secondary source of pressure on the play.
2nd Team: Nick Callender (MTL)
Callender allowed only 3 pressures in the first 2 playoff games. In the Grey Cup, he allowed 4 total pressures by my count, with 3 of them being a secondary source of pressure on the play. He was a big driver in the success Montreal had in its running game.
Left Guard
1st Team: Des Holmes (MTL)
Holmes allowed 1 pressure in his lone playoff game in the East Semi-Final. He was a big part in helping Stevie Scott rush for 133 yards, which was the most in a CFL playoff game since Andrew Harris in 2021.
2nd Team: Brandon Revenberg (HAM)
Revenberg allowed only 1 pressure in the Eastern Semi-Final, which came on a play with a lot of confusion and chaos on the line that’s not his fault alone. It was a sack, but 1 pressure in a game where his team throws 36 times is impressive.
Honorable Mentions: Gabe Wallace (WPG)
Center
1st Team: Justin Lawrence (MTL)
Over his 3 games, Lawrence had 5 total pressures allowed by my count (3 of which were secondary sources of pressure on the play) with 0 sacks. He was an integral part in Montreal’s rushing success.
2nd Team: Chris Fortin (CGY)
Fortin allowed only 1 pressure in the Western Semi-Final, which was a secondary source of pressure on the play. His unit helped propel Dedrick Mills to a 7.9 yards per carry in the game.
Honorable Mentions: Coulter Woodmansey (HAM)
Right Guard
1st Team: Liam Dobson (HAM)
Dobson allowed 2 pressures in the Eastern Final by my count, 1 of which was a secondary source of pressure on the play. He was a solid contributor in the run game, helping Greg Bell average 6.6 yards per carry.
2nd Team: Christy Nikanu (CGY)
Nikanu allowed 2 pressures in the Western Final and helped drive a successful day on the ground.
Right Tackle
1st Team: Jamarcus Hardrick
Hardrick allowed 4 plays in which a form of pressure was allowed in the Western Final against BC’s edge rushers, 2 of which were a secondary source of pressure on the play. In the Grey Cup, he allowed only 1 pressure by my count, and it came on a play in which it was due to a miscue of whether he or the RB would pick up a blitzer.
2nd Team: Quinton Barrow (HAM)
Barrow allowed 2 pressures in the Eastern Final, 1 of which was a secondary source of pressure.
Defense
Please note, when I speak about pressures in this article, I am referring to pressures past a responsible blocker, not unblocked or allowed pressures. Coverage data are targets for plays that are NOT screen plays, but downfield coverage ability. Screen plays are quite different than a downfield pass in coverage assignment, so I separate that data.
Defensive End
1st Team: Habakkuk Baldonado (SSK)
Baldonado had 9 total pressures in each of his 2 playoff games by my count, including a sack in the Western Final and a QB hit in the Grey Cup (1 pressure in each game was a secondary source of pressure). He had 6 tackles and was in on 3 shared run stops.
1st Team: Julian Howsare (HAM)
Howsare had 5 total pressures in the Eastern Final, including a sack (1 pressure was a secondary source of pressure on the play). He had 3 tackles and was in on a shared run stop.
2nd Team: Levi Bell (BC)
Levi Bell had 12 total pressures over his 2 games by my count (4 of which were a secondary source of pressure on the play. He was a threat in the Western Final, generating pressure on 8 plays in that game, the most generated by a player against Saskatchewan this postseason. He had 4 tackles and was in on 3 shared run stops and a solo pass stop.
2nd Team: Mathieu Betts (BC)
Betts was a big problem for Calgary in the Western final, generating pressure on 6 total plays, including a sack. He had 4 tackles, including a solo run stop in that game. In the Western Fina,l he didn’t appear on the stats sheet but was in on 2 shared run stops and was a secondary source of pressure on 2 plays.
Honorable Mentions: Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund (MTL), Clarence Hicks (CGY)
Defensive Tackle
1st Team: Mike Rose (SSK)
Rose had 2 tackles over his 2 playoff games, including a solo and shared run stop. He generated pressure on 10 total plays (2 of which were a secondary source of pressure on the play), including 7 pressures in the Grey Cup.
1st Team: Micah Johnson (SSK)
Micah Johnson generated pressure on 6 total plays by my count over his 2 playoff games (3 of which were a secondary source of pressure. He had 2 tackles in the Grey Cup, including a 1-yard tackle for loss on a well read screen play. The 3 plays in which he generated pressure on in the Grey Cup averaged 6 yards per pass with an interception on one play.
2nd Team: Miles Brown (CGY)
Brown had 2 tackles in the Western Semi-Final. He was effective in the pass rush, generating pressure on 7 total plays, 2 of which were a secondary source of pressure.
2nd Team: Jonah Tavai (BC)
Jonah Tavai was credited with 4 tackles in the Western Semi-Final and 1 in the Western Final. He was on in 2 shared run stops in both of his playoff games. He generated pressure on 12 total plays (3 of which were a secondary source of pressure on the play). He generated pressure on 7 plays in the Western Final.
Honorable Mentions: Jaylon Hutchings (CGY)
Strongside Linebacker
1st Team: Reggie Stubblefield (HAM)
Stubblefield had 4 tackles officially in the Eastern Final and was in on 3 shared run stops and 2 shared pass stops. In coverage, 3 targets came his way, resulting in 2 completions for 8 yards, and he had a pass breakup.
2nd Team: Najee Murray (MTL)
Murray had 16 total tackles over his 3 playoff games, 9 of which were in the Grey Cup. He was in on a shared run stop in each of his games and 2 shared pass stops in the Grey Cup. In coverage, 3 targets came his way, resulting in 2 completions for 19 yards.
Honorable Mentions: Deontai Williams (BC)
Middle Linebacker
1st Team: Darnell Sankey (MTL)
Sankey had 13 tackles officially over his 3 playoff games, 10 of which came in the Eastern Final. While he was credited officially with 2 tackles in the Grey Cup, he was in on more as an assister, as he had a solo run stop, 4 shared run stops, and a shared stop against the pass. He had a solo run stop and 2 shared run stops in the 2 games leading up to the Grey Cup.
2nd Team: Jameer Thurman (SSK)
Thurman had 18 tackles over his 2 playoff games, including a solo run stop in each game and 3 solo pass stops in the Grey Cup. He was also in on 3 shared run stops over the playoffs. In coverage, 12 targets came his way. resulting in 7 completions for 56 yards.
Honorable Mentions: Micah Awe (BC)
Weakside Linebacker
1st Team: Tyrice Beverette (MTL)
Beverette had 15 tackles plus 3 special teams tackles over his 3 playoff games. He had 2 shared run stops and 2 solo pass stops in the Eastern Semi-Final. In the Grey Cup, he was in on a shared run stop, a solo pass stop, and a shared pass stop. In coverage, 14 targets came his way, resulting in 13 receptions for 102 yards with an interception.
2nd Team: Josh Woods (BC)
Woods had 10 tackles over his 2 playoff games. He had 4 total shared run stops and a pass stop over the postseason. He covered 7 targets that resulted in 6 completions for 92 yards and had a pass breakup.
Honorable Mentions: A.J. Allen (SSK)
Cornerback
1st Team: Marcus Sayles (SSK)
Sayles had the best postseason among corners, recording 4 tackles over 2 games. In coverage, 9 targets came his way, resulting in only 2 completions for 36 yards. He had an interception and a pass breakup in both games.
1st Team: Lorenzo Burns (MTL)
Burns had a solid postseason, recording 10 tackles without a missed tackle, with 3 solo pass stops and a shared pass stop. I attributed 3 completions for 75 yards and a touchdown going his way in the Eastern Semi-Final. He locked it down the next 2 games with 6 targets coming his way, resulting in 4 completions for 47 yards.
2nd Team: Jamal Peters (HAM)
Peters had only 1 completion come his way in the Easter Final, which was for 8 yards.
2nd Team: Robert Carter Jr. (BC)
Carter had 6 tackles over his 2 playoff games, including 3 solo pass stops in the Western Final. He had 7 targets come his way, resulting in 58 total yards over the 2 games, with only 2 passes being for more than 8 yards.
Honorable Mentions: Quavian White (HAM), Anthony Johnson (CGY), Adrian Greene (CGY)
Halfback
1st Team: Destin Talbert (HAM)
Talbert went to work in the Eastern Final, making 2 tackles, getting a solo run stop, and a shared run stop. He had 6 targets come his way and only gave up 3 completions for 26 yards while breaking up a pass and intercepting another.
1st Team: Wesley Sutton (MTL)
Sutton had 7 tackles over his 3 postseason games. In coverage, 9 targets came his way, resulting in 5 completions for 87 yards (29 allowed per game). He had a pass defended in the Eastern Semi-Final as well as the Grey Cup and an interception in the Eastern Final.
2nd Team: Ronald Kent Jr. (BC)
Kent Jr. had 4 tackles over his 2 games and was in on a shared run stop. He had 7 targets come his way, resulting in 3 completions for 50 yards.
2nd Team: Rolan Milligan Jr. (SSK)
Milligan had 7 targets come his way over 2 games, resulting in 5 completions for 62 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown in the Western Final. He allowed only 1 completion for 15 yards in the Grey Cup and had an interception.
Honorable Mentions: Evan Holm (WPG), Jaydon Grant (CGY)
Safety
1st Team: Marc-Antoine Dequoy (MTL)
Dequoy had 7 tackles over 3 games. I attributed 3 targets coming Dequoy’s way over the playoffs without a completion downfield. There was one play in which I felt he was out of position on a completion, but overall was a very solid postseason for him.
2nd Team: C.J. Reavis (SSK)
Reavis had 7 tackles over his 2 games. I counted 3 targets coming his way, resulting in 2 completions for 42 yards over the playoffs. He had a very clean pass breakup in the Grey Cup in the third quarter.
Honorable Mentions: Stavros Katsantonis (HAM)
Special Teams
Kicker
1st Team: Sergio Castillo (WPG)
Sergio made all 4 of his field goal attempts in the East Semi Final, with the longest being from 44, and made all 3 extra points.
2nd Team: Jose Maltos (MTL)
Maltos made 7 of his 8 field goals, including a 45-yard game-winner in the East Final. He made all 8 of his extra points.
Punter
1st Team: Jake Mirco (SSK)
Mirco punted 14 times this postseason for an average of 48.4 yards per punt and had 4 punts that I thought were beauties. In the Grey Cup, he had one that landed on the 5-yard line after travelling 57 yards in the air, far from the returner, and rolled in for a single. Another in the Grey Cup, he landed on the 3-yard line.
2nd Team: Joseph Zema (MTL)
Zema punted 13 times in the postseason, averaging 45.6 yards per punt. 5 of them stuck out as beauties to me, including 2 in the Grey Cup on which landed at the 3 and bounced out, and another landing at the 7.
Honorable Mentions: Cody Meyer (BC)
Special Teamer/Returner
1st Team: Robert Carter Jr. (BC)
Carter Jr. returned 2 kickoffs in the West Semi-Final for 110 yards, including a 95-yard touchdown with a missed tackle forced on the way.
2nd Team: Seven McGee (BC)
McGhee returned 7 kickoffs for 144 yards in the postseason, including a 55-yard return with a missed tackle forced that set BC up for a field goal on their opening drive of the Eastern Final despite going 2 and out. He also returned 8 punts for an average of 10.8 yards.
