Calgary Stampeders’ Derek Dennis named the CFL’s outstanding lineman

TORONTO – Derek Dennis of the Calgary Stampeders was named the CFL’s outstanding lineman Thursday night.

Dennis was honoured at the CFL’s awards banquet.

Ottawa Redblacks centre Jon Gott was the other finalist.

Voting was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and nine CFL head coaches.

The six-foot-one, 341-pound Dennis was a versatile performer for Calgary, making 15 starts at left tackle, two at left guard and one at right guard. The second-year player was a big part of an offensive line that allowed a CFL-low 20 sacks and helped running back Jerome Messam run for a league-leading 1,198 yards.

Calgary also posted a CFL-best 15-2-1 record this season.

The six-foot-three, 294-pound Gott, an Edmonton native, has been at centre for all of Ottawa’s regular-season and playoff games since the franchise began play in 2014.

Gott and Dennis will finish their respective seasons Sunday at BMO Field as Ottawa and Calgary square off in the Grey Cup game. It will mark the Redblacks’ second straight appearance in the CFL title contest after losing 26-20 to Edmonton in the 2015 final.