Andrew Harris (33) of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the CFL game against the Montreal Alouettes at Percival Molson Stadium in Montreal, QC, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
WINNIPEG, MB., November 6, 2018 – The Canadian Football League today unveiled its 2019 divisional all-star teams, with six members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers named to the West squad.
Honoured as West Division All-Stars are running back Andrew Harris, offensive tackle Stanley Bryant, defensive end Willie Jefferson, cornerback Winston Rose, defensive back Marcus Sayles and fullback Mike Miller for his work on special teams.
The voting was conducted by The Football Reporters of Canada and the league’s head coaches.
Andrew Harris earned divisional all-star honours for the sixth time in his career and for a fourth straight year since joining the Bombers in 2016. Harris led the league in rushing for the third consecutive season – a first in the history of the Bombers – with 1,380 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. He also pulled in 70 passes for an additional 529 yards and four more TDs.
Stanley Bryant, the two-time reigning CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, earned his fifth divisional all-star award as he continues to anchor the left side of a line that was again the engine for the top rushing team and an offence that finished tied for second in points scored. Bryant has not missed a single game since joining the Bombers in 2015.
Willie Jefferson had a superb first season with the Bombers, setting a new CFL record for pass knockdowns by a defensive lineman with 16 – best in the league. Jefferson also led the CFL with six forced fumbles, topped the Bombers with 12 sacks (ranking third overall), and added 24 tackles, an interception and two fumble recoveries. This is Jefferson’s third consecutive appearance on the West Division All-Star Team, after earning berths in 2017 and 2018 with Saskatchewan.
Winston Rose has earned his first divisional all-star honour after leading the CFL with nine interceptions, the highest total by a Bomber since Less Browne had 10 in 1991. Rose, who tied for the CFL lead with five interceptions a year ago, also had 58 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Marcus Sayles is also making his first appearance on the divisional all-star team after a solid sophomore season. Named the Bombers’ top rookie a year ago, Sayles finished with 66 tackles and added three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2019. He chipped in with two blocked kicks, tied for the CFL lead.
Mike Miller has been perennially among the league leaders in special teams tackles during his nine-year CFL career, and has been recognized with his first divisional all-star team honour. Miller finished tied with teammate Kerfalla Exumé with 25 tackles on special teams, second in the CFL to Toronto’s Frank Beltre, who had 27. Miller is second on the CFL’s all-time special teams tackles list with 185, trailing only Jason Arakgi, who amassed 190 during his career.
