Elgersma earns top marks once again with second straight MVP honour

Burlington, Ont. – The football season always sets itself up to be filled with excitement. And true to form, the 2024 campaign did not disappoint, with many exceptional performances from across the province. Headlining the best and brightest from the gridiron's award winners and all-stars is once again Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks Taylor Elgersma, with a second straight most valuable player nod.  

Larry Haylor Award (Most Valuable Player) - Taylor Elgersma, Laurier 

For the second year in a row, Elgersma led the OUA in many statistical categories, including his 74.5 pass completion percentage, 2643 total yards, and 330.4 passing yards per game. He also threw for 20 touchdowns this season, while combining that with the third-most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with six.   

He threw for over 400 yards in a game on three separate occasions this year, including a career-best and an OUA season-best 464 yards against Carleton in Laurier's final regular season game. He also passed for three or more touchdowns in four contests, including a season-high five against Queen's.   

The London, Ont. product set a new program record for the Golden Hawks for passing yards in a season for the second straight year, en route to being named the Canadian Football Perspective OUA Offensive Player of the Week twice this season. 

The talented quarterback becomes the first back-to-back recipient of the award since Tom Dennison in 2002 and 2003.  

President's Award (Outstanding Stand-Up Defensive Player) - Jackson Findlay, Western 

While his season stats are impactful, the fact that most teams will formulate their offensive plan around avoiding Findlay is even more impressive because the league knows just how talented he is.   

In his fourth year, the defensive back had nearly 30 total tackles, a forced fumble, and caused multiple pass breakups for the Western Mustangs.   

Not only is the medical science student a star on field, he is also the president of the Mustangs' Student Athlete Council and assists with multiple community and charitable events on campus and around London.  

Findlay adds to a growing list of Western recipients of the award, becoming the ninth Mustang to earn the honour. 

J.P. Metras Award (Lineman of the Year) - Erik Andersen, Western 

Andersen's effort on the offensive line was a key reason why the Western Mustangs led the OUA in points per game this season, while also racking up almost 500 yards per game.   

The fourth-year King's University College student was influential in allowing the Mustangs' playmakers time and space to make their mark all season long.  

Only a year after suffering a serious lower body injury, the London, Ont. native, who is the 10th Western recipient of this award, continued to show why he is among the best in the country.  

Norm Marshall Award - Jackson Taylor, McMaster 

Looking like a seasoned veteran in his rookie campaign, Taylor secured four touchdown catches as part of his 31 receptions, while also putting up 374 receiving yards to lead his team's pass-catching core.   

He made his presence known early with a touchdown in just his second game in the OUA, while his most influential game was a two-touchdown performance to help his team narrowly defeat Carleton in Week 5.   

The first-year standout also ranked in the OUA's top 15 for most receiving yards during the 2024 season.  

Russ Jackson Award - Ben Maracle, Ottawa 

On-field, Maracle had 511 passing yards and two touchdowns, only getting the start in four games due to injuries he sustained.   

In the classroom, he recently started his master's in experimental psychology after graduating with a joint bachelor's degree in Indigenous studies and psychology. An OUA Academic Award winner previously, his 2023-24 annual GPA was 9.0.   

He has also built a long resume of community involvement, a result of his desire to provide Indigenous kids with the opportunity to see themselves in higher level sports.  Some of the ways he has done this are by organizing a visit from members of the Toronto Argos and Ottawa RedBlacks to Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and Akwesasne Mohawk Reserve, to assist with youth camps.   

He organized members of the camps attending a Toronto Argos game, where the youth and their families met Argos players. He also invited the campers and their families from the Akwesasne Mohawk Reserve Kids Camp to attend a Gee-Gees game introducing them to his Gee-Gees teammates.   

Additionally, he took part in the Ottawa Sooners Camp as a guest coach of high school level players and provided motivational speaking on the next steps in football and how football helps with academics.    

Bernie Custis Champion of EDI Award - Kwabena-Nana Gyimah, Ottawa 

From his first season in 2021, Gyimah has been an impactful member of the Gee-Gees community, as he now holds a well-established leadership role supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion in multiple forums.   

He is the current Co-President of the University of Ottawa Black Student-Athlete Advocacy Council (BSAAC) and led many initiatives in 2024 including the Annual Black Excellence Gala, as well as multiple fundraising events leading to the endowment of the BIPOC Student-Athlete Scholarship.  

The Hamilton, Ont. native is very active in the Ottawa community, spending time volunteering for the Brotherhood Mentoring Program, where he visited Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre and acted as a mentor for the young men in the community. He organized BSAAC Connect, a space for black student-athletes to connect with other student-athletes and black professionals within different industries. 

Through Level Up, an initiative that gives underserved youth an opportunity to experience academics and athletics at a university level, he was a lead member of a team which gives the youth a day of STEM workshops as well as student-athlete led sessions on campus.  

Gyimah is actively supporting the curation of Ottawa's Black Coalition, currently working on unifying all the black student-led groups at the University of Ottawa, to create synergy throughout the groups.  

The third-year linebacker has also been a key participant in building the Ottawa Gee-Gees Recreation and Varsity Sport Anti-Racism plan.   

David "Tuffy" Knight Award - Michael Faulds, Laurier 

Faulds led his team to its first undefeated season since 2005 and just the eighth time overall in its 63-year history. They topped 300 points in a season for the first time since 2017, backed by an OUA-leading 508 yards per contest.  

Under his watch, the team also boasted the conference's leading passer in Taylor Elgersma, leading receiver Ethan Jordan, and third-leading rusher in Tanner Nelmes. Their defence was also second in the OUA this season, giving up just 22.5 points per game.   

In 10 seasons since taking on the bench boss role, Faulds has accumulated a regular season coaching record of 53-33, while his 60 total wins (including playoffs) ranks third all-time in program history.  

This also marks the second time a Laurier head coach has been named OUA Coach of the year in back-to-back seasons.   

Assistant Coach of the Year - PJ Edgeworth, Western 

A native of London, Ont., Edgeworth has been teaching in Thames Valley District School Board for 27 years.  

A certified Level 3 NCCP coach, he joined the Western Mustangs coaching staff in 2004, coaching the defensive backs and kick returners until 2018. He took a short leave to focus on family, and returned to staff in 2022, moving to the offensive side of the ball to coach receivers and returners.   

He values the enjoyment that is gained from being a part of the coach-player relationship, assisting them as they grow into outstanding young men. He has been both a mentor and role model to so many student-athletes over the past 17 years of coaching at Western.  

During his time at Western, he has coached in 13 Yates Cups, seven national semifinals, and three Vanier Cups, winning a national championship in 2017. He is proud to have helped develop numerous OUA all-stars and all-Canadians.   

Ken Green Officials Award of Merit - Kevin Baird 

Baird, who is in his 31st year of officiating amateur football, is no stranger to the award, having earned the honour on multiple occasions, including now back-to-back honours.   

The president of the Ontario University Football Officials Association strives to work collaboratively with OUA staff, other officials, coaches, and athletes, and he has done so throughout his 14 years officiating OUA football.   

Known for his straight-forward, no nonsense approach to officiating, this year's recipient has earned the respect of players, coaches, and fellow officials alike, which has helped him to be a part of numerous Yates Cups, including the upcoming 116th edition, as well as umpire in the 2017 Vanier Cup, and the head referee in the 2022 Mitchell Bowl.  

MAJOR AWARDS  

Larry Haylor Award (Most Valuable Player) - Taylor Elgersma, Laurier 
President's Award (Outstanding Stand-Up Defensive Player) - Jackson Findlay, Western 
J.P. Metras Award (Lineman of the Year) - Erik Andersen, Western 
Norm Marshall Award (Rookie of the Year) - Jackson Taylor, McMaster 
Russ Jackson Award - Ben Maracle, Ottawa 
Bernie Custis Champion of EDI Award – Kwabena-Nana Gyimah, Ottawa 
David 'Tuffy' Knight Award (Coach of the Year) - Michael Faulds, Laurier 
Assistant Coach of the Year - PJ Edgeworth, Western 
Ken Green Officials Award of Merit - Kevin Baird