After missing out on major individual awards, Andrew Harris named West all-star

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

Testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug cost Andrew Harris a shot at the major individual CFL awards, but it didn’t preclude him from being selected as a West Division all-star.

Harris led the league in rushing for a third straight season, producing 1,380 yards on 225 carries — 6.1 yards per carry — while scoring four touchdowns on the ground. Through the air, Harris caught 70 passes for 529 yards and four majors. He missed two games due to the suspension handed down for his doping violation.

Each CFL city has four media members who vote for the major awards plus the team’s head coach. It’s clear who Mike O’Shea supported.

“Absolutely, Andrew Harris deserves to be top Canadian, not only from leaving our team, but in the West and in the league overall,” O’Shea said on CJOB’s Coach’s Show with Bob Irving.

Harris swears contamination caused the positive test. Irving stated he voted for Harris, however, Winnipeg Sun reporter Ted Wyman, Winnipeg Free Press reporter Jeff Hamilton and TSN reporter Darrin Bauming did not as well.

“He’s very deserving. There was a test that he tested positive for, he served his suspension, he’s come back, he’s absolutely dynamic,” O’Shea said.

“All the other facts have been put out there. Everybody knows where I stand, I have complete faith and trust in him that he wasn’t purposely taking anything known to be banned.”

The Winnipeg native earned the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian award in 2017 and been named a league all-star five times. Harris could be a CFL all-star once again in 2019.