Kid Canada: B.C. Lions’ quarterback Nathan Rourke named CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian

B.C. Lions’ quarterback Nathan Rourke has been named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian for the 2022 season, becoming the first passer to win the award since Gerry Dattilio in 1980.

The 24-year-old entered the season as a first-time starter and took the league by storm through nine weeks, establishing a record-setting statistical pace while leading the Lions to an 8-1 record. He finished the year having completed 255-of-324 passes for 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 games played, adding 39 carries for 304 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

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Rourke’s season-long trajectory was derailed in Week 11 when he suffered a Lisfranc sprain to his right foot, which required surgery. The six-foot-two, 209-pound pivot returned to the field in record time, playing a quarter in the team’s regular-season finale before starting both of B.C.’s playoff appearances.

Born in Victoria, B.C. and raised in Oakville, Ontario, the Ohio product set a CFL record with a 78.7 percent completion percentage and posted the second-highest passer rating of all time, a mark of 123.6. He tossed for over 400 yards on three occasions, setting a new single-game passing record for a Canadian with a 488-yard performance in Week 10

Rourke has two NFL workouts scheduled for next week, with more than two-thirds of teams expressing interest in his services for next season. He is expected to sign a contract south of the border.

He received 41 first-place votes for this award to beat out Toronto Argonauts’ receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr., the East Division’s nominee.