By Stampeders.com Staff

Five first-time candidates highlight the list of Calgary Stampeders nominees for the 2015 Canadian Football League player awards.

Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell is the Stamps’ nominee for Most Outstanding Player. He is joined by fellow first-time nominees Deron Mayo (Most Outstanding Defensive Player), Junior Turner (Most Outstanding Canadian), Spencer Wilson (Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman) and Tory Harrison (Most Outstanding Rookie).

The other team finalist for a league award is Rene Paredes, who is Calgary’s nominee for Most Outstanding Special Teams Player for the third time in his career.

Calgary’s nominees were determined by voting members of the Football Reporters of Canada (FRC) as well as one vote from the Stampeders coaching staff.

Here is a closer look at the Stampeders’ nominees:

Bo Levi Mitchell (Most Outstanding Player): Mitchell has started 17 games and led the Stamps to 13 victories so far this season, the highest win total of any CFL quarterback. He leads the West Division in completions (364), passing yards (4,551), touchdowns (26) and QB rating (96.8). Mitchell has six 300-yard passing games in 2015 and eight games with multiple touchdown passes. In addition to his passing accomplishments, Mitchell has rushed 19 times for 88 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

Deron Mayo (Most Outstanding Defensive Player): The fourth-year linebacker has started all 17 games to date for the Stamps — the first 13 at weak-side linebacker and the four most recent games at middle linebacker as he took over for the injured Juwan Simpson. Mayo leads the team with 69 tackles and he’s also first among Calgary’s linebackers with five sacks. He’s added one tackle for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Mayo has played an integral role in a defence that has allowed a league-low average of 16.6 points per game to opposing offences and has given up just four rushing touchdowns all season.

Junior Turner (Most Outstanding Canadian): Turner has started all 17 games to date at defensive tackle and recorded 28 tackles, including a team-best four tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass knockdowns and one fumble recovery that he returned 46 yards. The Brampton, Ont., product has been a steady presence in the middle of a defensive line that has helped the Stamps rank among the league leaders in numerous categories including scoring defence, rushing defence and sacks.

Spencer Wilson (Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman): The Calgary product is one of just two offensive linemen who has played all 17 games for the Stamps this season and his versatility has been invaluable in helping the team plug holes in an injury-ravaged unit. Wilson has made 16 starts this season including eight at right guard, six at right tackle and two at left tackle. Wilson has been part of a line that has allowed a league-low 31 sacks and paved the way for three different tailbacks — Jon Cornish, Matt Walter and Jerome Messam – to record 100-yard games.

Rene Paredes (Most Outstanding Special Teams Player): Paredes leads the West Division with 152 points and is first in the CFL with 41 field goals. His average distance on successful field goals is a league-best 33.2 yards and his kicks are highlighted by three game-winning field goals including two, both against Hamilton, on the final play of the contest. Paredes is 41 of 46 on field goals (89.1 per cent) including 13 of 15 from 40 yards out or longer. The Concordia alum leads the West Division with a 65.1-yard average on kickoffs and has four kickoff singles as well as 22 converts.

Tory Harrison (Most Outstanding Rookie): The Southern Mississippi product has contributed as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield and is second on the team with five touchdowns. All five majors came through the air and he also has a two-point convert reception. Harrison has 541 all-purpose yards including 273 rushing, 172 receiving, 83 on kickoff returns and 13 on punt returns. He also has two special-teams tackles and one fumble recovery.

The West and East and Division finalists for the 2015 CFL awards will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 12 and the awards will be handed out on Thursday, Nov. 26 during Grey Cup week festivities in Winnipeg.

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