Ticats Award winners

TIGER-CATS 2008 CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYER AWARD NOMINEES

Hamilton, Ontario – Earlier today, the Canadian Football League announced the nominees for the 2008 CFL Most Outstanding Player Awards. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ nominees include the following players:

CHRIS THOMPSON / Defensive Back
Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Defensive Player

In his first season in Black and Gold, Thompson is currently tied for the CFL lead with nine interceptions through 17 games. The Week 7 CFL Defensive Player of the Week has also recorded 60 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, one fumble recovery and nine pass knockdowns. This is the first time Thompson has been nominated for a CFL Player award.

RAY MARIUZ / Linebacker
Most Outstanding Canadian

Mariuz has made 64 defensive tackles, two quarterback sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one pass knockdown and leads the Ticats with 14 special teams tackles. This is Mariuz’s first nomination for the Most Outstanding Canadian Award.

MARWAN HAGE / Centre
Most Outstanding Lineman

As the centre of the offensive line, Marwan Hage plays a pivotal role in the success of the Ticats offence. The fifth-year Tiger-Cat has helped power the league’s top rushing attack as the Black and Gold lead the CFL in six rushing categories, including a 6.5 yards per carry average. This is Hage’s second consecutive nomination for the Ticats Most Outstanding Lineman Award.

NICK SETTA / Kicker/Punter
Most Outstanding Special Teams Player

Nick Setta has been the CFL's most consistent punter through Week 18, averaging a league-leading 47.7 yards per punt this season.

Setta has also made his mark in the record book. During the Ticats Week 4 game in Calgary, Setta tied the Ticats record he set last season with a 97-yard punt and would go on to establish the new Canadian Football League single-game punting average record with a mark of 64.7 yards per kick, eclipsing the old record set by former Ticats kicker Paul Osbaldiston in 2002.

Setta has connected on 26 of 33 field goal attempts, has maintained a 60.8 yard kickoff average and is also a perfect 2-for-2 on fake punt attempts, completing passes of 12 and 21 yards in consecutive games.

This is Setta’s second consecutive nomination for the Ticats Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.

PRECHAE RODRIGUEZ / Wide Receiver
Most Outstanding Rookie

In 13 games this season, first-year wide receiver Prechae Rodriguez has posted 64 receptions for 970 yards and seven touchdowns. Rodriguez's finest performance of the season thus far came against Montreal in Week 15, when he tied Jimmy Edwards' 32-year-old single-game reception record of 12, while also adding 198 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

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