Calgary running back Jerome Messam named CFL’s top Canadian player

TORONTO — Running back Jerome Messam of the Calgary Stampeders is CFL’s top Canadian player.

Messam, a Toronto native who grew up in Brampton, Ont., was honoured at the league’s awards banquet Thursday night.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats slotback Andy Fantuz of Chatham, Ont., was the finalist.

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

The six-foot-three, 254-pound Messam was the CFL’s rushing leader with 1,198 yards. He averaged a solid 5.8 yards per attempt and also ran for 11 TDs.

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Messam helped Calgary post a CFL-best 15-2-1 record this season and will play in the Grey Cup game Sunday versus Ottawa.

It’s the second time Messam has won the award. He recorded 1,057 yards with Edmonton en route to taking the honour in 2011.

Fantuz, the CFL’s top Canadian in 2010 while with Saskatchewan, had a club-record 101 catches this season for 1,059 yards and five TDs before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

The Canadian Press