MONTREAL – A pair of student-athletes from McGill University are among the All-Canadians announced at the annual U SPORTS football awards gala held in Quebec City, Thursday, two days in advance of the upcoming Scotiabank Vanier Cup national championship game between Western and Saskatchewan.
Receiver
Darius Simmons of Lachine, Que., was selected on offence, while linebacker
Benjamin Carre of Trois-Rivieres, Que., was picked on defence. Both were named to the second team. The duo is among 56 All-Canadians to play for the McGill football program since the first one in 1969. It marked the first time that McGill had produced two All-Canadians in the same season since 2012 when future NFL offensive lineman
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and future CFL receiver
Shaq Johnson were selected.
(SEE BELOW FOR ALL-TIME LIST OF McGILL ALL-CANADIANS)
Simmons, a 22-year-old economics sophomore in his first year of eligibility, was the RSEQ conference's offensive rookie of the year. Despite missing two of McGill's eight games, the six-foot, 180-pound wide receiver had 34 receptions for 596 yards and one touchdown. He added 32 yards on a pair of kickoff returns. Simmons ranked first among RSEQ reception leaders in yards per catch (17.5), second in reception yardage per game (99.3), second in catches per game (5.7), fourth in all-purpose yards per game (104.7), fourth in reception yards and fifth in receptions.
"The future is bright for Darius, he's an amazing talent," said McGill head coach
Ronald Hilaire. "The sky's the limit as to what he can accomplish, as long as he stays focussed and dedicated to the game as he did this year. He can achieve great things at this level of football and beyond."
Carré, an all-star linebacker this season, previously merited all-conference status as a defensive back in 2018. The 5-foot-11, 186-pounder registered 15 tackles in six games, including nine solos and a tackle for loss. A 25-year-old civil engineering senior in his fifth season, Carré also had a team-leading two interceptions, one knockdown and a forced fumble on a blocked punt.
"I'm extremely happy for Benjamin, capping off his career with an honour that is very well-deserved," said Hilaire. "He's been a cornerstone of our defence over the last five seasons and for him to get rewarded in that way in his final year is an amazing feat."
Vanier Cup finalists Western and Saskatchewan led the way with 12 players named. The Mustangs had seven, including three on the first team, while the Huskies had five overall, with four on the first squad. StFX , the top team in Atlantic University Sport, led the conference with three. The Dunsmore Cup champion Montréal Carabins and Vanier Cup host Laval Rouge et Or led the RSEQ conference with four national all-stars apiece.
The Vanier Cup game is slated for Saturday at 1 pm (EST) on
CBC TV and
TVA Sports. Live streaming of the match-up between Saskatchewan and Western is also available on the CBC's digital platforms (
CBC Gem,
CBCSports.ca, and the CBC Sports app) and on TVASports.ca with a valid subscription.
2021 U SPORTS FOOTBALL ALL-CANADIANS
FIRST TEAM
Offence
Centre:
Elliot Beamer - Western (OUA)
Guard:
Rodeem Brown - Alberta (CW)
Guard:
Nicolas Guay - Laval (RSEQ)
Tackle:
Noah Zerr - Saskatchewan (CW)
Tackle:
Andy Genois - Laval (RSEQ)
Running Back:
Adam Machart - Saskatchewan (CW)
Running Back:
Rasheed Tucker - Queen's (OUA)
Receiver:
Tyson Philpot - Calgary (CW)
Receiver:
Jalen Philpot - Calgary (CW)
Receiver:
Savaughn Magnaye-Jones - Western (OUA)
Receiver:
Jaylan Greaves - Concordia (RSEQ)
Quarterback:
Tre Ford - Waterloo (OUA)
Defence
Defensive Tackle:
Reece Martin - Mount Allison (AUS)
Defensive Tackle:
Nathan Cherry - Saskatchewan (CW)
Defensive End:
Deionte Knight - Western (OUA)
Defensive End:
Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal - Montréal (RSEQ)
Linebacker:
Nick Thomas - Manitoba (CW)
Linebacker:
Josiah Schakel - Alberta (CW)
Linebacker:
A.J. Allen - Guelph (OUA)
Halfback:
Daniel Bell - Mount Allison (AUS)
Halfback:
Tyshon Blackburn - Alberta (CW)
Free Safety:
Daniel Valente - Western (OUA)
Cornerback:
Marcel Arruda-Welch - Manitoba (CW)
Cornerback:
Siriman-Harrison Bagayogo - Guelph (OUA)
Special Teams
Kick Returner:
Kiondre Smith - Guelph (OUA)
Place Kicker:
Eric Stranz - Guelph (OUA)
Punter:
David Solie - Saskatchewan (CW)
SECOND TEAM
Offence
Centre:
Connor Berglof - Saskatchewan (CW)
Guard:
Che Morales - St. Francis Xavier (AUS)
Guard:
Phillip Grohovac - Western (OUA)
Tackle:
Gregor MacKellar - St. Francis Xavier (AUS)
Tackle:
Zach Fry - Western (OUA)
Running Back:
Malcolm Bussey - St. Francis Xavier (AUS)
Running Back:
Keon Edwards - Western (OUA)
Receiver:
Kiondre Smith - Guelph (OUA)
Receiver:
Kevin Mital - Laval (RSEQ)
Receiver: Darius Simmons - McGill (RSEQ)
Receiver:
Hassane Dosso - Montréal (RSEQ)
Quarterback:
Olivier Roy - Concordia (RSEQ)
Defence
Defensive Tackle:
Malcolm Hinds - Western (OUA)
Defensive Tackle:
Jean William Rouleau - Laval (RSEQ)
Defensive End:
Brock Gowanlock - Manitoba (CW)
Defensive End:
Anthony Federico - Queen's (OUA)
Linebacker:
Alec Poirier - Laval (RSEQ)
Linebacker:
Michael Brodrique - Montréal (RSEQ)
Linebacker: Benjamin Carré - McGill (RSEQ)
Halfback:
Devynn Cromwell - Guelph (OUA)
Halfback:
Bruno Lagacé - Montréal (RSEQ)
Free Safety:
Jayden Dalke - Alberta (CW)
Cornerback:
Tyrell Ford - Waterloo (OUA)
Cornerback:
Ahmadou Boubacar - Concordia (RSEQ)
Special Teams
Kick Returner:
Justin Julien - Saint Mary's (AUS)
Place Kicker:
Michael Arpin - Montréal (RSEQ)
Punter:
Cole Crossett - Waterloo (OUA)
McGILL FOOTBALL ALL-CANADIANS
| 1969-70 |
Chris Rumball |
1st |
| 1969-70 |
Dave Fleiszer |
1st |
| 1969-70 |
Jay Harris |
1st |
| 1973-74 |
Brian Quick |
1st |
| 1973-74 |
Don Dawson |
1st |
| 1973-74 |
Ross Brooks |
1st |
| 1977-78 |
Bill Wendel |
1st |
| 1978-79 |
Kevin Rooney |
1st |
| 1980-81 |
Marc Lemery |
1st |
| 1980-81 |
Mark Joncas |
1st |
| 1981-82 |
Marc Chouinard |
1st |
| 1981-82 |
Mark Joncas |
1st |
| 1981-82 |
Ron Poulton |
1st |
| 1986-87 |
Al Lekun |
2nd |
| 1987-88 |
Al Lekun |
2nd |
| 1987-88 |
Michael Soles |
1st |
| 1988-89 |
Michael Soles |
2nd |
| 1988-89 |
Vincent Gagné |
1st |
| 1989-90 |
Paul Kerr |
2nd |
| 1990-91 |
Jeff Challice |
2nd |
| 1992-93 |
Doug Naudie |
1st |
| 1992-93 |
Matthieu Quiviger |
1st |
| 1992-93 |
Val St. Germain |
2nd |
| 1993-94 |
Val St. Germain |
1st |
| 1994-95 |
Matthieu Quiviger |
1st |
| 1995-96 |
Samir Chahine |
1st |
| 1995-96 |
Wes Barbour |
1st |
| 1996-97 |
Samir Chahine |
1st |
| 1996-97 |
Shawn Linden |
2nd |
| 1997-98 |
Samir Chahine |
1st |
| 1999-00 |
Randy Chevrier |
2nd |
| 2000-01 |
Ben Wearing |
1st |
| 2000-01 |
Randy Chevrier |
1st |
| 2001-02 |
John Macdonald |
2nd |
| 2002-03 |
Anand Pillai |
2nd |
| 2002-03 |
Jim Merrick |
1st |
| 2002-03 |
Mike Mahoney |
2nd |
| 2002-03 |
Nick Hoffmann |
2nd |
| 2002-03 |
Stephen Young |
1st |
| 2003-04 |
Anand Pillai |
1st |
| 2003-04 |
Guillaume Roy |
1st |
| 2004-05 |
Ben Walsh |
1st |
| 2006-07 |
Ben Walsh |
2nd |
| 2006-07 |
Greg Hetherington |
2nd |
| 2007-08 |
Charles-Antoine Sinotte |
1st |
| 2007-08 |
Erik Galas |
2nd |
| 2008-09 |
Erik Galas |
1st |
| 2010-11 |
Ben Thompson |
2nd |
| 2012-13 |
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif |
1st |
| 2012-13 |
Shaq Johnson |
2nd |
| 2013-14 |
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif |
1st |
| 2017-18 |
Jérémy Sauvageau |
2nd |
| 2018-19 |
Jérémy Sauvageau |
2nd |
| 2019-20 |
Andrew Seinet-Spaulding |
1st |
| 2021-22 |
Darius Simmons |
2nd |
| 2021-22 |
Benjamin Carré |
2nd |
