Guelph, Ont. – On Wednesday (Nov. 12) the OUA announced its list of All-Stars for the 2014 football season.  The Gryphons were well represented with a combined total of 13 players being named to the First and Second-Teams, tying them with Western for the highest total number of selections. 

On the defensive side of the ball the Gryphons had three players receive recognition as First-Team All-Stars.  Leading that group is standout defensive end Cameron Walker (London, Ont.) who has caused headaches for opposing offenses all season long in both the run and pass game.  At 6-4, 245 pounds, Walker possesses both the size and strength to exceed at the CIS level and finished with a team-high five sacks during the regular season.  As a former linebacker and All-Star cover man on special teams, Walker also possesses great speed and pursuit, all of which have combined to make him one of the top defensive ends in the country. 

Despite suffering a dislocated elbow early in the season, third year free safety Tristan Doughlin (Toronto, Ont.) was able to recover quickly and have a strong season as the quarterback of the Gryphon defence.  Doughlin recorded two interceptions to go with 44 tackles and receives his first OUA All-Star nod.  Linebacker Curtis Newton (London, Ont.) also receives his first OUA All-Star nod after following up a strong sophomore season with an impressive 2014 campaign.  The third year man led the Gryphons with 66 tackles on the season and also added an interception.  One of Newton's fellow linebackers also was named to the OUA's First-Team as Fraser Speakman (Sault Ste Marie, Ont.) was the OUA's top rush/cover man on special teams.  Speakman has played a huge role in helping the Gryphons' special teams unit develop into one of the strongest in the country. 

The big guys up front on the Guelph offensive line were shown some much-deserved acknowledgement on Wednesday with three of the five Gryphon starters receiving All-Star recognition.  A pair of fourth year players in centre Matthew Nesbitt (London, Ont.) and tackle Matthew Toppan (Oakville, Ont.) both received first-team selections for the first time in their careers.  Toppan even found the endzone in 2014 with a touchdown reception at the goaline against Western in their regular season meeting (after Toppan had been declared an eligible receiver).  Rounding out the Gryphons' First-Team selections is return specialist Ryan Nieuwesteeg (Niagara Falls, Ont.) who has made a huge impact all season long for the Gryphon.  The illusive third year man led the OUA in both punt and kick return yards (1,247) and took two punts all the way back for touchdowns. 

After a record-setting 2014 season, punter/kicker Daniel Ferraro (Mississauga, Ont.) has been awarded a Second-Team All-Star nod (McMaster kicker Tyler Crapigna took home First-Team honours after setting the OUA and CIS career field goal record).  But from the standpoint of a single-season – no kicker in CIS history has been as good as Ferraro was in 2014.  The fourth year man set the CIS single-season record with 26 made field goals.   Also among the Gryphons' Second-Team selections is third year offensive linemen Cameron Wilhelm (Kitchener, Ont.) who was a key part of an offence that ranked second in the OUA. The lone Gryphon the OUA's Second-Team defence is cornerback Colin Mandich (London, Ont.).  He recorded two interceptions to go with a team-high 10 pass breakups.
 
Fifth year workhorse running back Robert Farquharson (Niagara Falls, Ont.) lands on the OUA's list of Second-Team All-Stars after finishing fifth in the country in rushing with 108.8 yards per game.  This is Rob's second All-Star award after also being named to the OUA's Second-Team in 2012. 

The Gryphons also had a pair of stellar performances from their receiving core this year from A'dre Fraser (Halifax, NS) and Alexander Charette (St. Catherine's, Ont.).  Both regularly made highlight reel catches and against Western on Oct. 18, the two combined for 398 yards receiving and two touchdowns.  Fraser finished the year fifth in the OUA with just over 100 yards receiving per game, while Charette hauled in 49 receptions for 568 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season – all team-highs.

The 2014 OUA football major award winners will be announced at 11 a.m. ET on Nov. 13 at a press conference in Hamilton, Ont.

(Pictured above #59 Fraser Speakman & #19 Ryan Nieuwesteeg)

FIRST-TEAM OFFENCE

Quarterback: Austin Kennedy – Windsor
Centre: Matthew Nesbitt – Guelph
Guard: Sean Jamieson – Western
Guard: Tommy Griffiths – Laurier
Offensive Tackle: Eddie Meredith – Western
Offensive Tackle: Matthew Toppan – Guelph
Inside Receiver: Daniel Vandervoort – McMaster
Inside Receiver: Evan Pszczonak – Windsor
Wide Receiver: Nathaniel Behar – Carleton
Wide Receiver: Llevi Noel – Toronto
Running Back: Dillon Campbell – Laurier
Running Back: Yannick Harou – Western
Punter: Ronnie Pfeffer – Laurier
Place Kicker: Tyler Crapigna – McMaster
Kick Returner: Ryan Nieuwesteeg - Guelph
 
FIRST-TEAM DEFENCE
 
Defensive Tackle: Daryl Waud – Western
Defensive Tackle: Ettore Lattanzio – Ottawa
Defensive End: Ricky Osei-Kusi – Western
Defensive End: Cameron Walker – Guelph
Linebacker: Curtis Newton – Guelph
Linebacker: Preston Huggins – Western
SAM Linebacker: Nick Shortill – McMaster
Cornerback: Joey Cupido – McMaster
Cornerback: Josh Woodman – Western
Defensive Halfback: Chris Ackie – Laurier
Defensive Halfback: Nathaniel Hamlin – Carleton
Free Safety: Tristan Doughlin – Guelph
Rush/Cover: Fraser Speakman – Guelph
 
SECOND-TEAM OFFENCE
 
Quarterback: Will Finch – Western
Centre: Matt Van Praet – Western
Guard: Zach Intzandt – McMaster
Guard: Cam Wilhelm – Guelph
Offensive Tackle: Sean Smith – McMaster
Offensive Tackle: Adam Valchuk – Ottawa
Inside Receiver: Alex Carroll – Queen's
Inside Receiver: Alex Charette – Guelph
Wide Receiver: A'Dre Fraser – Guelph
Wide Receiver: Doug Corby – Queen's
Running Back: Rob Farquharson – Guelph
Running Back: Jesse Andrews – Queen's
Punter: Zach Medeiros – Western
Place Kicker: Daniel Ferraro – Guelph
Kick Returner: Alex Carroll – Queen's
 
SECOND-TEAM DEFENCE
 
Defensive Tackle: Derek Wiggan – Queen's
Defensive Tackle: Tai Pham – Windsor
Defensive End: Ese Marbure-Ajufo – Laurier
Defensive End: Mike Kashak – McMaster
Linebacker: Frank Renaud – Windsor
Linebacker: Nick Lecour – Ottawa
SAM Linebacker: Phil N'Djore – Western
Cornerback: Colin Mandich – Guelph
Cornerback: Tunde Adeleke – Carleton
Defensive Halfback: Scott Martin – McMaster
Defensive Halfback: Kalvin Johnson – Western
Free Safety: Ben Millar – Laurier
Rush/Cover: Alex Maj - Western