The RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) announced its major award winners for the 2022 RSEQ University Football season. Kevin Mital, from the Laval Rouge et Or, took top honours as Most Valuable Player.
OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR - JEFF RUSSEL TROPHY
KEVIN MITAL| RECEIVER
ROUGE ET OR DE L'UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL
Nominated for U SPORTS Hec Crighton Trophy
Kevin Mital had a historic season in 2022, his second in a Université Laval Rouge et Or uniform. The 23-year-old receiver scored 12 touchdowns through the air, breaking a team record and tying an RSEQ mark, which he shares with Rob Harrod (Ottawa, 1998) and Alexander Fox (Bishop's, 2013).
Among his many spectacular games, Kevin Mital had four receiving touchdowns on September 3rd at McGill, another team record. In addition, Mital has had two games with at least three scores this season. Kevin Mital alone has accounted for 72 of his team's 274 points this season, a Canadian record for a pass catcher.
With the addition of his seven in his rookie season, Kevin Mital now has 19 career receiving touchdowns, another Université Laval program record, in only his second campaign. After 16 regular season games in a Laval uniform, Mital already ranks fourth in the history of the RSEQ for receiving touchdowns, six shy of the record.
In addition to his 12 touchdowns, Kevin Mital has caught 58 passes for 751 yards, both national highs. He also added 25 rushing yards on four carries. His performances in 2022 contributed greatly to the Rouge et Or's RSEQ-leading seven wins and one loss record.
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
NICKY FARINACCIO| LINEBACKER
CARABINS DE L'UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL
En nomination pour le Trophée des Présidents de U SPORTS
Nicky Farinaccio was red hot in 2022. The second-year linebacker completed a stellar season with 10.5 sacks, just 2 short of the Quebec and Canadian record held by his coach Jean-Samuel Blanc. The Collège André-Grasset Phénix alumnus finished first in the conference and in all of U SPORTS for quarterback sacks. Farinaccio forced three fumbles while tackling the opposing quarterback, a conference high in the RSEQ. He also led the Carabins with 33.5 tackles.
OUTSTANDING LINESMAN OF THE YEAR
NATHANIEL DUMOULIN DUGUAY| OFFENSIVE TACKLE
ROUGE ET OR DE L'UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL
Nominated for U SPORTS J.P. Metras Trophy
A one-time starter in his rookie year in 2021, Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay has had an impressive breakout season, his second at the university level. On an offensive line masterfully led by Carl Brennan, Dumoulin-Duguay provided his quarterback with time and space to work effectively all season. The Rouge et Or has allowed only nine sacks this season, while allowing Arnaud Desjardins to complete 73% of his passes, a Canadian record. Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay has played in all eight games for the Rouge et Or this season, missing only a few plays here and there.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AND OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
ELOA LATENDRESSE REGIMBALD| QUARTERBACK
MCGILL UNIVERSITY REDBIRDS
Nominated for U SPORTS Peter Gorman Trophy
Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald of the McGill Redbirds is the RSEQ university football rookie of the year as well as the league's offensive rookie of the year. A 6-foot-4, 185-pound native of Montreal, he became the first McGill quarterback in history to lead the Quebec conference in rushing. He was the top rushing pivot in the country, with 602 yards on 67 carries for a lofty 9.0 yards per carry, 75.3 yards per game and an impressive six touchdowns in eight contests.
The 20-year-old physical education freshman ranked second among league leaders in total offence with a combined rushing and passing average of 325.8 yards per game. He passed for 2,004 yards, completing 121 of 237 attempts for eight TDs, nine interceptions and a completion percentage of 51.1 per cent, passing for an average of 250.5 yards per game.
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
NICOLAS ROY| HALFBACK
CARABINS DE L'UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL
Nicolas Roy wasted no time in making a name for himself as soon as he entered the university scene. Starting since the first game of the season as a member of the Carabins' defense, Roy finished the season with 24 solo tackles and 7 assisted tackles, including 2 for a loss, and 1 sack. The defensive back from the Collège Lionel-Groulx Nordiques program also broke up a pass.
OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
SANTINO SPARAGNA| KICK RETURNER
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY STINGERS
Santino Sparagna, a second-year returner with the Concordia Stingers, has been named the RSEQ Special Teams Player of the Year. In eight regular season games he returned 39 punts for 378 yards (9.7 average) and 16 kickoffs for 380 yards (23.8 average). The Montrealer is also a receiver and caught 23 passes for 325 yards. He has 1083 all-purpose yards for an average of 135.4 a game, which is the most in the conference. He has been RSEQ and U Sports Special Teams Player of the Week on two occasions this season.
VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
LUC SYLVAIN
VERT ET OR DE L'UNIVERSITÉ DE SHERBROOKE
Nominated for U SPORTS Gino Fracas Award
Luc is a passionate, dedicated, and experienced coach who has been with the Vert & Or since 2016. During the 2022 season, the quarterback coach had to share his experience with 5 different quarterbacks when the Vert & Or had several injuries at the key position. In any situation, Luc knows how to talk to athletes to help them develop on and off the field. His experience gives him tremendous respect on the sidelines of the Vert & Or football field and across the league.
COACH OF THE YEAR
GLEN CONSTANTIN
ROUGE ET OR DE L'UNIVERSITÉ LAVAL
Nominated for U SPORTS Frank Tindall Trophy
In his 21st season at the helm of the Rouge et Or, Glen Constantin reached a historic milestone on October 16th with his 197th career victory. In doing so, Constantin became the winningest head coach in Canadian university football history, surpassing Brian Towriss. Glen Constantin, who is seeking his 10th Vanier Cup and 15th Dunsmore Cup as head coach of the Rouge et Or, led his team to a RSEQ-best seven wins and one loss in 2022.
For more information
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