Brady Oliveira has never run away from his low moments as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. They’ve been difficult, no doubt, and the emotional and physical stresses can certainly age a man, too.
There was the leg injury he suffered in the home opener of his rookie season in 2019 and the long rehab that, though healthy months later, kept him out of the lineup for the Grey Cup win that November.
The global pandemic cost him a season in 2020 and when he struggled early last season after earning the starting running back chores after the departure of an icon like Andrew Harris, well, he wore the public criticism and hatred like an anchor.
All that can be fuel, too, and the Oliveira we’ve seen this year – freshly minted today as the club’s Most Outstanding Player AND Most Outstanding Canadian Player – is the concrete evidence of his want-to, his dedication and, naturally, his skills.
“It’s a dream. Obviously, there are a lot of guys in this locker room it could have gone to, so the fact that it went to me is quite the honour,” said Oliveira on Wednesday, not long after the team’s Most Outstanding Player Award winners were announced. “I’m super proud and grateful to get that nod.”
“I never in a million years thought that this day would come. Obviously, being a Canadian there’s aspirations of ‘go get that Most Outstanding Canadian nod’ and that was what I was aiming for this season – have a good season and if it all works out maybe I’ll get that MOC nod for the team. Obviously, that would mean going against a guy like (Nic) Demski. That guy’s a stud and he could have easily got the honour as well. But Most Outstanding Player, especially on a team like this, it could have easily gone to a group of guys who truly deserve it, who come in and work hard and put on great performances every single week. I never thought this was going to happen.
“I’m still shocked and mind blown that I was selected on a team where it could have went to so many other people.”
Oliveira’s 2023 campaign – with one game remaining – has been simply sensational. He has rushed for almost 1,500 yards, the second highest total by a Canadian in CFL history, and has been a dangerous dual threat as a receiver, too. He’s also morphed into a leader and, at age 26, there’s still a very real sense he’s just getting started here.
“He’s been tremendous,” said head coach Mike O’Shea. “He’s been on a historic pace, he does it all for us in terms of not only running with the style we enjoy here, but his (pass) protection has been excellent and he’s great out of the backfield catching the football and generating yards after the catch. There isn’t anything we can’t ask him to do.”
THE ENVELOPE PLEASE…
A look at the Blue Bombers nominees for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Awards, as voted on by four members of the local chapter of The Football Reporters of Canada – Derek Taylor of CJOB, Taylor Allen of The Free Press, The Sun’s Ted Wyman, Darrin Bauming of Bonfire Sports, along with head coach Mike O’Shea. (Jeff Hamilton of The Free Press is the FRC President and only votes as a potential tiebreaker).
The East/West nominees will be announced next week following the next round of voting, with the league winners unveiled during Grey Cup week.
*Indicates unanimous vote
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER & MOST OUTSTANDING CANADIAN PLAYER: Brady Oliveira
Position: Running back
His 2023 numbers: Oliveira leads the CFL in rushing with 1,498 yards and nine touchdowns, adding another 482 receiving yards on 38 catches – all of which are career highs.
Oliveira has 1,980 yards from scrimmage – rushing and passing – leads the CFL, and his 1,498 total along the ground is the second most by a Canadian in league history (Jon Cornish of Calgary had 1,813 yards rushing in 2013). His rushing total, with one game remaining, is also the 8th highest in club history.
There’s more: Oliveira has averaged 88.1 rushing yards per game and has seven 100-yard rushing games this year, both league highs.
FYI: Oliveira is the first running back to be named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Player since Chad Simpson in 2012. Since then, the nod has gone to a quarterback five times – Zach Collaros in 2021, 2022; Matt Nichols in 2016, 2017 and Drew Willy in 2014 – with a defensive player being selected on four other occasions in Jefferson (2019), Adam Bighill (2018), Jamaal Westerman (2015), and Henoc Muamba (2013).
MOST OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Willie Jefferson*
Position: Defensive end
His 2023 numbers: Jefferson has a team-best 11 sacks – the second highest in his career to the 12 he had in 2019 – and has 13 pass knockdowns, most in the CFL, and three forced fumbles, which is tied for second in the league, while adding 21 tackles.
FYI: Jefferson and Adam Bighill have owned this award over the last five years – Jefferson winning in 2019, 2022, 2023 and Bighill in 2018 and 2021. Bighill won league honours in ’18 and ’21; Jefferson in ’19.
Willie says: “It’s always an honour to be nominated by the team and especially the accolades at the end of the year like Most Outstanding Defensive Player. I was down about the sacks because I got off to a hot start – I had eight in the first seven games, and then went on a drought. But I got over that hump these last two games. In between that time I was still getting knockdowns, still making tackles, still making plays, still putting my stamp on the game in helping my team win.”
MOST OUTSTANDING OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Jermarcus Hardrick
Position: Right tackle
His 2023 numbers: Hardrick anchors the right side of the Blue Bombers offensive line and is part of an attack that leads the league in points (31.5), net offence (411.8 yards per game) and ranks first in rushing yards (137.1 per game), second in passing yards (291.6 per game) and has the league’s leading rusher in Oliveira and the top-rated passer in quarterback Zach Collaros. Winnipeg’s 32 sacks allowed is tied for second in the CFL with Calgary, with Toronto first at 17.
FYI: Hardrick ends a run by Stanley Bryant, who has owned this award at the team and league level. Bryant was named the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman from 2017-22 (he also won in 2015, with Travis Bond winning in 2016). Bryant won league honours a record four times, in 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022 and was the runner up in 2019.
Jermarcus says: “I was speechless. I didn’t know what to do… I was texting Darren (Senior Director of Public and Player Relations) and making sure. It was like, ‘Are you sure?’ This is more for my teammates and my wife and kids for the sacrifices they’ve made.
“It isn’t about the awards, but usually when this comes up, I’m already typing my three-page message up to Stan. Stan is my favourite player. I love Stan. This is the Stanley Bryant Award. I even told him that when he told me congrats, ‘This is your award.’ I’m just used to him winning it.”
MOST OUTSTANDING ROOKIE: Jamieson Sheahan
Position: punter/holder
His 2023 numbers: The Blue Bombers first pick in the 2023 CFL Draft, 8th overall, Sheahan has posted a 46.3-yard punting average this season and has dropped nine kicks inside the opponents’ 10-yard line – tied for second most in the CFL and accomplished by punting 30-40 times less than the league leaders. Sheahan is also the team’s holder on placekicks.
FYI: Sheahan and Saskatchewan punter Adam Korsak are the first two Global players to earn a team MOP nomination. Sheahan and Korsak are both Australian and took similar routes to the CFL. They are also both products of the Prokick Australia camp, both played Aussie Rules Football and found their first success kicking in the North American version of the game in the NCAA – Sheahan at the University of California and Korsak at Rutgers.
Jamieson says: “It’s a great locker room with support and I couldn’t win the award without the guys in the room. The special teamers, (Mike) Benson and Sergio (Castillo). It’s a great honour. It’s been a learning experience. When I first got in I know I spoke to you guys about understanding the game and learning the rules. It was about settling in and being comfortable at this level and I’ve definitely achieved that now. It’s been a year of growth, and this is a really great honour to receive because of that.”
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER: Sergio Castillo
Position: placekicker
His 2023 numbers: Castillo is third in the CFL with 50 field goals and third in percentage at 89.1, hitting on 41 of 46 attempts. He has also connected on 54 of 59 convert attempts. His 89.1 field goal percentage heading into the final game of the regular season ranks second highest in team history, behind only Justin Medlock’s 89.4 mark, set in 2018.
FYI: This award was first instituted by the CFL in 1999. Since then, a kicker has been the Blue Bombers nominee eight times – Castillo (2023), Justin Medlock (2016-19), Lirim Hajrullahu (2014), Justin Palardy (2012), Jon Ryan (2005), Troy Westwood (2003).
Sergio says: “I’ve been very blessed, very fortunate. I’m grateful for (Mike) Benson (long-snapper) and Jams (Jamieson Sheahan, holder) for making my job easy on the field. Props to them, too. I’m just grateful, and there’s a lot more to achieve as well.”
For a look at the team-by-team nominees for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player Awards, click here.
