By Donnovan Bennett - Sportsnet TV Personality
Follow Donnovan on Twitter: @donnovanbennett
** Click here to vote for your OUA nominee for CIS most outstanding player **
An amazing 9 of the last 16 Hec Crighton award winners have come from the OUA. So if you're interested in handicapping which conference might take home CIS football's most prestigious award, history suggests you can narrow it down to the largest of the 4 conferences. As the OUA season gets under way a week before the rest of the country kicks off we're breaking down the likely OUA MVP and Hec Crighton candidates coming out of Ontario.
Carleton Ravens - Nate Behar
The best yards after catch player in the CIS might be Nate Behar. A running back at the second level after he catches the ball; Behar with more consistent quarterback play could have a couple of highlight reel plays that make him and the Ravens trending on Saturdays. His Panda Bowl heroic Hail Mary last year put him in the national consciousness and with some penciling in Carleton for a playoff spot for the first time since the rebirth of the narrative will be alive for their first blue chip recruit to christen their program revitalization with some hardware. VOTE
Guelph Gryphons - A'dre Fraser
Fraser is clearly the number 1 option in Guelph now that Alex Charette is plying his trade in the CFL with the Alouettes. Fraser provides value in both the receiving and return game. With the loss of rushing threats Rob Farquharson and Jazz Lindsey, the Gryphons offence will now be much more pass happy in 2015. With increased targets should come increased production from a guy who was already one of the most explosive playmakers in the CIS. VOTE
Laurier Golden Hawks- Dillon Campbell
One of the last every down backs in the CIS, Campbell will get lots of touches in the Golden Hawk backfield. An accomplished route runner already, his receiving skills will be showcased to prove the Toronto Argonauts draft pick can play at the CFL level. He was a strong candidate to win the Hec last year and if he gets close to 200 yards rushing a game the award is his to lose. VOTE
McMaster Marauders - Asher Hastings
Hastings is a first year starter but far from an inexperienced player and has been named a league MVP before during his time playing junior for the Regina Thunder. Hastings has a year under his belt in the Marauders offence and his receiving core returns intact. The depth McMaster has at receiver is unmatched so no injury plight will curtail his campaign. He's not a runner so he won't provide any rushing stats to bolster his claim but is incredibly smart with the football and could put up a Quinlan like TD to interception ratio. The man taking over at the helm for the defending conference champs is always a story-line so Hastings will be under the microscope from the opening kickoff. VOTE
Ottawa Gee-Gees - Derek Wendel
With the graduation of Billy McPhee, Jazz Lindsey, Austin Kennedy, and Marshall Ferguson there has been an exodus of elite passers in the OUA. Besides Finch, the best pure thrower of the football might be Derek Wendel who under the tutelage of Jamie Baressi is in prime position to put up fantasy numbers in 2015. Wendel gets his number one target Ian Stewart back at receiver and the two have a great on field chemistry. If Ottawa gets hot and gets a home playoff date the comparison to former Gee-Gee Brad Sinopili will commence. Wendel isn't a household name now but with a couple big Saturday's early in the year he'll be a dark-horse contender. VOTE
Queen's Gaels - Jesse Andrews
The Tricolour has had a history of power backs in recent years and Jesse Andrews is the latest to come through the program. Andrews turns every line of scrimmage altercation into a rugby scrum dragging multiple tacklers for positive yards. With Billy McPhee graduating, the run game in Kingston will be stressed to give first time starter at QB Nate Hobbs a chance to succeed. If Queen's makes a return to the playoffs it will be on the back of the pride of Arnprior carrying the ball. VOTE
Toronto Varsity Blues - Simon Nassar
Last year Nassar went off for a CIS record 49 completions in a loss against Carleton. The 547 yards that came with it sat 9th on the all-time CIS list. His play down the stretch last year showed just what he could do when he's comfortable in his offence. His completion percentage has gone up every year jumping to 62% year ago. Now back in the same offense for the second consecutive year for the first time in his career, the Lawrence park grad is poised to replicate last season where he lead the OUA with 285 passing yards per game. VOTE
Waterloo Warriors - Lucas McConnell
If McConnell wins it, it would be the ultimate team award. Chris Bertoia takes over as head coach and has instituted a culture of accountability and attention to detail. His young QB thus far has been his greatest pupil. McConnell has a knack for making something out of nothing on broken plays. His underdog mentality and exciting style of play has him in line to be a player that can re-energize the fan-base. If the Norfolk county native is in the conversation it means the Warriors rebuild has gone faster than expected and they've shocked the CIS with some upset victories. VOTE
Western Mustangs - Will Finch
Finch probably won't throw for as many yards as Hugo Richard of Laval or complete as high a percentage as Gabriel Cousineau of Montreal, but when you factor in TD passes and rushing yards Finch probably will have the most impressive QB stat line at the end of the year. The question with Will is health not ability. A scary concussion at the end of last year hopefully won't affect Finch's two attributes that separate him from other pivots in the league: hanging in the pocket and putting his head down and running over defenders. If he can finish the year as strong physically as he starts it he will have the opportunity to put up record breaking numbers as he did in 2013. With the addition of transfer Jamal Kett to the trio of Matt Uren, George Johnson, and Justin Sanvido this is probably the most physically gifted receiving core Finch will have during his 4 years in London. VOTE
Windsor Lancer - Terrence Crawford
With the graduation of Austin Kennedy and a vastly improving offensive line the Lancers are going to maul people in the running game and Crawford's big play potential means he might be the biggest beneficiary in the backfield. A threat both as a runner and receiver Crawford will be the chess piece Joe D'Amore moves all over the field to create favourable match-ups. The younger brother of Dallas Cowboy star Tyrone, Terrance is the best bet in the family to win personal hardware this fall. VOTE
York Lions - Josh Small
Chances are few and far between a defender takes home the distinction of being called the league's Most Outstanding player but of the 2015 Lions he is the best bet. Small is equally comfortable covering receivers in the slot and on the perimeter. The Pickering native is a ball hawk who could use his explosive athleticism to convert QB mistakes to six points. With a strong defensive recruiting class around him Small will be freed up to make more plays at the line of scrimmage as well as using his range in the secondary. VOTE
Follow Donnovan on Twitter: @donnovanbennett