Jon Cornish Trophy finalists unveiled; awarded to the top Canadian in NCAA football

The selection committee for the Jon Cornish Trophy have identified the five finalists for the top Canadian in NCAA football in the 2019 season.

The list features a two-time winner of the award, an All-American, the Most Valuable Player on college football’s most storied programs, a top three NFL Draft prospect in his position and a breakout linebacker in his junior season.

Chase Claypool,
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Senior, Wide Receiver – Abbotsford, BC

The graduate of Abbotsford Secondary School became a rare starter in his freshman season at Notre Dame and he didn’t look back. The 2019 season established Claypool as Notre Dame’s MVP, in addition to his MVP award in the Camping World Bowl win over Iowa State.

He led the Irish with 66 receptions for 1,037 yards and 13 TDs, playing in all 13 games. He graduates from the Notre Dame program seventh in career receptions with 150. His 13 TDs rank as sixth best in a season by an Irish player.  He earned the game ball against Navy with four TD receptions.

Neville Gallimore,
Oklahoma Sooners
Senior, Defensive Lineman – Ottawa, Ontario

The Canada Prep Academy grad is the top ranked Canadian headed into the 2020 NFL Draft. Gallimore is the third-ranked defensive lineman with the potential to be selected in the low first round or second round based on his play in Oklahoma, and post-season testing.

The first-team All-Big 12 pick by the media Gallimore started all 14 games at defensive tackle making 30 tackles, with a career-best 7.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, while forcing two fumbles. All of this was achieved while being one of the most double-teamed linemen in the nation.

Chuba Hubbard,
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Sophomore, Running Back – Sherwood Park, Alberta

he Bev Facey grad and former Football Alberta team member the led the FBS in rushing with 2,094 yards, rushing yards per game at 161.1, 200-yard rushing games and all-purpose yards per game. Hubbard was a unanimous All-American, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and one of three national finalists for the Doak Walker Award presented to the nation’s top running back. Hubbard finished eighth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, the third best finish for a Canadian.

Hubbard tied for third in the FBS and first among all players from Power Five conferences in rushing touchdowns. He led the Big 12 in both points scored and total touchdowns. He was the only player in the Big 12 to average more than 100 rushing yards per game, Hubbard’s 161.1 yards per game were 64.6 yards per game more than anyone else in the league. His season total of 2,094 rushing yards ranks 16th in FBS history and third in Big 12 Conference history. He rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his last 11 games, which was the longest active streak in the nation. His 2,094 rushing yards set the second-highest single-season total in school history, trailing only Barry Sanders’ Heisman Trophy season of 1988.

Amen Ogbongbemiga,
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Junior, Linebacker – Calgary, Alberta

The 2019 season was a breakout year for the Notre Dame Pride grad out of Calgary. Ogbongbemiga has developed as a top sideline-to-sideline linebacker with outstanding speed with the ability to pursue in the open field. He is a three-time first team Big 12 academic team selection, including the 2019 season.

As a defensive team captain, Ogbongbemiga was the recipient of OSU’s Leslie O’Neal Award as Ok State’s Defensive MVP.  He was a second second-team All-Big 12 selection by the coaches, a first-team academic All-Big 12 honouree.  He ranked second on the team and sixth in the Big 12 with 100 tackles and ranked fifth in the Big 12 with 15.5 tackles for loss. He led the team and ranked 13th in the Big 12 with 5.0 sacks He set a career high with 12 tackles against Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl and added a sack and a fumble recovery.

Nathan Rourke,
Ohio Bobcats
Senior, Quarterback – Oakville, Ontario

Nathan Rourke is looking to a three-peat for the Cornish Trophy, having won the first two awards in 2017-18 and 2018-19. In 2019, Rourke earned All-MAC First Team honors after being named All-MAC Second Team each of the previous two seasons. Rourke was also named to the Academic All-MAC Team, and in addition earned MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete recognition for the second year in a row as a student with a 3.20 GPA and participation in at least 50 percent of the contests.

Rourke was named Most Valuable Player in his final game as a Bobcat. He completed nine of his 17 passing attempts for 144 yards and added 87 yards and a touchdown. Rourke finished his career with a 24-13 record as a starting quarterback and was under center for three-straight bowl victories.

He finished the season completing 61% of his passes for 2,820 yards, with 20 TD to only five interceptions. He added 867 yards rushing with 13 TD.

The Cornish Trophy will be awarded at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton.

The Cornish Trophy is selected annually by a panel of 20 journalists, CFL front office staff and panelists.

Past Cornish Trophy results: