First off, Football Canada is the governing body of amateur football in Canada, as per the organization’s own official website. They have been in place since 1880 with a reconstitution way back in 1884. They develop programs specifically for amateur football players nation-wide.
About the prestigious award in question…the Jon Cornish Trophy…it is given to what is voted to be the most outstanding NCAA player for a given year. Cornish himself, whom the award is named after, was a CFL player, having played for the Calgary Stampeders in his day, and before turning pro, he played his high school football in British Columbia and his college ball in Kansas.
The finalists for the trophy were just announced. Football Canada made a statement on Twitter. A vote will be made ahead of the presentation of the award at the Canadian Football Hall Of Fame in Hamilton Ontario. Voters consist of journalists, evaluators from the CFL, and even former NCAA players themselves.
The trophy itself has been handed out since 2017. Previous winners include: John Metchie III, Jr. (2 times), Chuba Hubbard, Jr., and of course none other than Nathan Rourke himself of the BC Lions (he is 2-time winner as well – 2017 and 2018)).
The complete list of finalists is as follows:
Chase Brown, who is a Junior Running Back from London, Ontario and plays his football for the ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI. Accolades include: A semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year and he was ranked at the number one spot for prospects for the CFL scouting bureau…
Kurtis Rourke of course, the Junior QB who is billed from Oakville, Ontario and plays his college ball for OHIO UNIVERSITY BOBCATS. He was selected also for the Most Valuable Player of the Mid-American Conference…
Tavius Robinson, a senior defensive lineman, billed out of Guelph, Ontario, who plays his college ball for the OLE MISS REBELS. He not only made the 2022 Senior Bowl Watch List, but he also made the Dean’s Honor Roll not once but twice…
Sydney Brown, the Senior Defensive back, billed out of London, Ontario, and who plays his college ball also for the ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI, like Chase Brown above. He is ranked third on that aforementioned CFL Scouting Bureau…
And finally we have Jared Wayne, who is billed out of Peterborough, Ontario and who plays his ball for the PITT PANTHERS—a junior wide receiver. He is a CFL Scouting Bureau’s 2023 draft prospect, ranking fourth on that illustrious list.
All five of the finalists have outstanding performances behind them and their stats read like previous winners’ stats and in some cases their stats outshine even the previous winners, the proof that the system works well—the support system these athletes get, and the recognition they receive for the work they put in. As Dwayne Johnson believed and still does: “Hard work always pays.”
Nathan Rourke himself shows just what kind of boost this award can place on a hungry athlete and it’s an exceptional advantage to have come draft season, as we saw above.
And on the subject of his younger brother, Nathan Rourke had some very encouraging words for his brother, Kurtis, a few years back:
“It’s really different…If we haven’t been on the same team, whenever we’d chat and talk it would usually be about each other’s game or upcoming games and it’s weird to not be playing myself…
But it’s good to sit back and kind of get a different perspective on the time I had at Ohio and see it from a fan’s perspective. It’s been fun for me but awesome for us to see Kurtis play. I know it’s only been two games but it’s great to see all the hard work he’s put into it pays off…
If you look at Kurtis’s raw talent, he’s always had a very strong and accurate arm, and couple that with his frame, I think you see a guy who’s the prototypical pro-style quarterback. He hasn’t put it all together yet but when he does I think it’s going to be really tough to stop.”
via TSN
TSN has announced that the presentation of the award will be aired during the final episode of the Krown Gridiron Nation show on December 14th and will of course air on TSN.
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