Stanford receiver Ayomanor chasing second straight Cornish Trophy honour

By The Canadian Press on December 19, 2024.

Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor runs after a reception against Louisville during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. Ayomanor is looking to join a very select group. The Stanford Cardinal receiver is a finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy, presented annually to the top Canadian playing football in the NCAA. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Benjamin Fanjoy

Elic Ayomanor is looking to join a select group.

The Stanford Cardinal receiver is a finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy, presented annually to the top Canadian playing football in the NCAA. Ayomanor, of Medicine Hat, Alta., captured the award last year and is looking to join Victoria’s Nathan Rourke (2017-18) and John Metchie III, of Brampton, Ont., (2020-21) as two-time winners.

The other finalists, also announced Thursday, are Boise State safety Ty Benefield, Rutgers linebacker Dariel Djabome, UNLV defensive back Jett Elad and Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, the younger brother of Nathan Rourke.

The Jon Cornish Trophy winner will be announced Monday. Cornish, of New Westminster, B.C., was a standout running back at Kansas who went to have a decorated CFL career with the Calgary Stampeders (2007-15) before being inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

The six-foot-two, 210-pound Ayomanor, a redshirt junior, was one of the few bright spots this season for Stanford (3-9). He registered 63 catches for 831 yards and six TDs after recording 62 receptions for 1,013 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.

Benefield, a six-foot-two, 204-pound sophomore safety, led Boise State in tackles (73), solo tackles (53) and interceptions (two) while also registering five tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and two recoveries. The Broncos are the third seed in U.S. college football’s expanded playoff bracket and will face either Penn State or SMU in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.

The six-foot-two, 240-pound Djabome, of Montreal, recorded 102 tackles (48 solo), three sacks and two forced fumbles in his junior season at Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights face Kansas State in the Rate Bowl on Boxing Day.

Elad, a senior safety from Mississauga, Ont., registered 55 tackles, an interception and six pass knockdowns during the regular season. He added 12 tackles (nine solo) and a sack in the Runnin’ Rebels’ 24-13 win over Cal in the Art of Sport LA Bowl on Wednesday to finish with an 11-3 overall record.

Rourke made an immediate impact at Indiana after transferring from Ohio. The six-foot-five, 223-pound Oakville, Ont., native completed 202 of 287 passes (70.4 per cent) for 2,827 yards with 27 TDs and just four interceptions in 11 games and was named a finalist for the Manning Award, given annually to American college football’s top quarterback. He finished ninth in voting for the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the top player in NCAA football.

Rourke will lead Indiana (11-1) into South Bend, Ind., to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-1) on Friday night to open American university football’s expanded playoff bracket.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2024.