Boatmen Lead the CFL with 16 Division All-Stars in 2022
November 2, 2022 – Canadian Football League (CFL) – Toronto Argonauts News Release
TORONTO – The Canadian Football League announced today that the Toronto Argonauts pace the entire Canadian Football League with 16 division All-Stars. This is the first time a team has had at least 16 division All-Stars since Montreal had 17 in 2009. The Argos have seven East All-Stars on offence, six on defence and a clean sweep with three on special teams.
The Division All-Stars were selected by the local voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) in their respective division’s markets and the National Chapter, as well as head coaches. Fans also took part in this year’s selections through the All-Star Fan Vote.
The 2022 CFL All-Stars will be announced on Thursday, November 10.
Toronto’s East All-Stars include:
QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson*
RB Andrew Harris
C Justin Lawrence
G Dariusz Bladek
OT Philip Blake
OT Dejon Allen*
WR Kurleigh Gittens Jr.
DE Ja’Gared Davis*
DT Shawn Oakman*
LB Wynton McManis*
CLB Chris Edwards*
CB Jamal Peters*
HB DaShaun Amos*
K Boris Bede*
P John Haggerty**
ST Dan Adeboboye#
*American
** Global
#2022 CFL Draft Pick
QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson – This is MBT’s second consecutive East All-Star nod after posting the best season of his career. The pivot led the league in passing yards with 4,731, which was 548 more than the next closest QB and sits first in completions with 387 and third in touchdown passes with 23. His 26 passing plays of 30+ yards also paces the CFL. He started 17-of-18 games for the Double Blue and led the team to back-to-back East Division crowns for the first time since 1996-1997. Bethel-Thompson was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Player.
RB Andrew Harris – The Canadian Football League’s all-time leading rusher by a Canadian running back has six West All-Star nominations in his career to go along with his first East All-Star award. Harris played in only eight games after a regular-season ending injury but carried the ball 114 times for 490 yards, while catching 23 passes for 180 yards through the air.
C Justin Lawrence – Offseason acquisition Justin Lawrence started 17 games at center for the Argos, helping anchor the middle of an offensive line that has four Division All-Stars and makes his first trip to an All-Star team. The Alberta native spent 2018-2021 with the Calgary Stampeders after being drafted by the club in the fifth-round of the 2018 CFL Draft.
OG Dariusz Bladek – Second-year Argonaut Dariusz Bladek gets his first Division All-Star nod after five seasons in the CFL. The Bethune-Cookman alum started 17 games for Toronto this season. Bladek spent the first three years of his career in Saskatchewan.
OT Philip Blake – The oldest member of the Argos at 36 showed no signs of slowing down by being nominated to his first Division All-Star team. The Toronto native started 17 games in his second season in Toronto after four seasons in Montreal and two playing for the ‘Riders.
OT Dejon Allen – Second-year pro Dejon Allen started 16 games for the first-place Argonauts and solidified the right side of the offensive line all season long. Allen was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Lineman this year.
WR Kurleigh Gittens Jr – The East nominee for Most Outstanding Canadian, Gittens Jr. also becomes an East All-Star for the first time in 2022. The Wilfrid Laurier alum hauled in 81 catches for 1,101 yards and five touchdowns, all career highs by a wide margin. The third-year Argo is fifth in receptions league-wide, sixth in receiving yards, first in yards after the catch and tied for seventh in touchdown receptions. Gittens Jr. also leads the Argos in every major statistical receiving category. The Ottawa native is the fourth Canadian receiver to have at least 1,000 receiving yards in a season in the last decade.
DE Ja’Gared Davis – Six-year CFLer and first-year Argonaut Ja’Gared Davis grabs his third consecutive East All-Star nod, after two in Hamilton (2019, 2021). The Texas native had 36 defensive tackles and seven sacks in 14 games played. Davis has the unique distinction of appearing in the Grey Cup every season of his career.
DT Shawn Oakman – Make it two-for-two for big Shawn Oakman who becomes an East All-Star for the second time after coming into the league last season. This season Oakman had six sacks from the interior of the defensive line, 28 defensive tackles and one forced fumble. The Philly native was also a CFL All-Star in 2021.
LB Wynton McManis – McManis’ first season in Toronto was outstanding amassing 88 defensive tackles, seven special teams tackles, three sacks, two interceptions including one for a touchdown and one forced fumble in only 14 games played after a knee injury cut his regular-season short. The Memphis native’s 88 tackles rank sixth in the league and were a career high, as were his three sacks and two picks. McManis was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
CLB Chris Edwards – A 2021 CFL All-Star, Edwards nabs his second East All-Star in a row after a campaign that saw the cover linebacker make 36 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble in just 13 games. The five-year CFL veteran led all defensive players with two touchdowns, housing both of his picks for a combined 129 yards.
CB Jamal Peters – Another second-year Argo making his first appearance on a Division All-Star team. Peters led the CFL with six interceptions as well as interception returns yards with 137, while returning one for a touchdown and making 57 defensive tackles and one sack in 15 games. The Mississippi native had a hat-trick of interceptions during a week 12 matchup against Hamilton.
HB DaShaun Amos – A 2019 West All-Star while in Calgary, Amos started 17 games in 2022 and tallied a career-high 49 defensive tackles to go along with four interceptions (third-best in the league) and two fumble recoveries. The Virginia native signed with the Argos in February of this year after three years playing for the Stampeders.
K Boris Bede – The strong-legged kicker becomes an East All-Star for the third time (2015, 2021) after converting 43 field goals, fourth best in the CFL, with three coming from 50 or more yards. The Laval product also added a league-high eight singles and the CFL’s all-time leader in kickoff average once again led the CFL in this category with a 68.7 yard average.
ST Dan Adeboboye – Toronto’s third pick in the 2022 CFL Draft (second round – 15th overall), has been a menace on special teams this season totaling 17 tackles on punts and kickoffs in 18 games played, good for fifth best in the CFL and first among CFL rookies.
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