Rutgers University running back Antwan Raymond has won the 2025 Jon Cornish Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top Canadian player in NCAA football.
The native of Montreal, Que. finished the season with 1,241 rushing yards, 18 receptions for 225 yards, and 15 total touchdowns. He finished second in the Big Ten in all-purpose yardage, recorded 100-yard rushing games against Minnesota, Purdue, and Penn State, and a 200-yard game against Maryland.
“It is an honour to be included with running backs like (Chase) Brown and Chuba (Hubbard) in winning this award,” Raymond said in a statement. “It means a lot, with the other Canadians on this team. We all support each other when it feels like we’re far away from home.”
Raymond was named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, second-team All-Big Ten, and Academic All-Big Ten. He is the first-ever Jon Cornish Trophy winner from Quebec.
“In a year where the dominant defensive players from Canada played on the defensive side of the ball, Antwan Raymond burst from the pack and convinced the selection committee with his performance that he was worthy of a unanimous selection as the top Canadian in NCAA football,” said Cornish Trophy trustee and chair Jim Mullin.
Raymond, who just completed his sophomore season, has two more seasons of collegiate eligibility remaining. He projects as a prospect for the 2028 CFL and NFL Drafts.
3DownNation reporter John Hodge served as one of the voters for this year’s award.
The five finalists ranked as follows.
Winner — Antwan Raymond, RB, Rutgers (Montréal, QC)
Second — Akheem Mesidor, DL, Miami (Ottawa, ON)
Third — Ty Benefield, S, Boise State (Vancouver, BC)
Fourth — Nuer Gatkuoth, DL, Wake Forest (Edmonton, AB)
Fifth — Jett Elad, S, Rutgers (Mississauga, ON)
Past winners of the Jon Cornish Trophy include quarterback Nathan Rourke, running back Chuba Hubbard, receiver John Metchie III, running back Chase Brown, receiver Elic Ayomanor, and quarterback Kurtis Rourke.
