Wednesday, August 5, 2015 — Drew Willy, Pat Watkins and Marquay McDaniel were named the Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Week for Week 6 of the CFL’s 2015 season.
The three players were chosen by a panel of judges who independently send their selections to the CFL head office. The panel includes former Canadian Football League players Matt Dunigan and Duane Forde of TSN and Pierre Vercheval of RDS.
SHAW CFL TOP PERFORMERS
QB | Drew Willy | Winnipeg Blue Bombers
This marks the second time this season that Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Drew Willy has been named a Shaw Top Performer. His first came in Week 1 of the CFL season.
In his Week 6 matchup versus the B.C. Lions, Willy completed 17 of 25 passes (68 percent) while throwing for 269 yards; including a pair of touchdowns in the Bombers 23-13 victory at Investors Group Field.
The 6’4” 221 lbs. pivot displayed his athleticism during the game, running for a career-high 72 yards on five rushes (14.4 yards per carry) including a 30-yard scamper in the second quarter.
The Randolph, New Jersey native found Justin Veltung for an eight-yard major in the second quarter. He then found Darvin Adams for a 56-yard touchdown in the third quarter to give the home side a 13-10 advantage.
The former University of Buffalo player still holds career records in passing yards (8,748), completions (849) and completion percentage (64.2 percent).
Willy jumps into third place in the Shaw CFL Top Performers leaderboard after six weeks of play.
DB | Patrick Watkins | Edmonton Eskimos
After recording a pair of interceptions, one touchdown, a sack and five tackles against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Patrick Watkins earned his first Shaw CFL Top Performer accolade this season.
Watkins notched his second interception of the season in the third quarter when he jumped a Brett Smith pass intended to Ryan Smith. Watkins was able to return the interception 47 yards for the major, giving the Eskimos a 19-5 lead.
On the final play of the game, with Tino Sunseri under centre, Watkins intercepted his second pass of the night.
The product of Florida State notched his third career sack in the fourth quarter, resulting in an eight-yard loss.
Watkins, a 6’5” 205 lbs. corner back from Tallahassee, Florida is tied for the league lead with 3 interceptions on the season. He now has 13 career interceptions and three total touchdowns.
Watkins becomes the third defensive player to be named a Shaw CFL Top Performer of the Week this season.
SB | Marquay McDaniel | Calgary Stampeders
Marquay McDaniel recorded seven receptions for 126 yards and scored two touchdowns during the Calgary Stampeders’ 25-22 comeback victory over the Montreal Alouettes at McMahon stadium on August 1st.
After the Alouettes stormed out to a 17-0 lead, McDaniel began the Stampeders’ comeback early in the second quarter when he caught a one-yard pass from Drew Tate to cut the deficit to 17-6.
Not only did the Virginia Beach, Virginia native turn the tide of the game, he also capped it off after catching a 42-yard major from Bo Levi Mitchell two and a half minutes into the third quarter to give the Stampeders a 23-20 lead.
The seven-year CFL veteran has 29 catches (tied for second in the CFL) for 378 yards and a pair of touchdowns this season.
This is the second time a Calgary receiver has been named a Shaw CFL Top Performer of the Week (the first was Jeff Fuller in Week 1) and the third time a Calgary player has been a recipient of the weekly award this season.
Shaw Fans’ Choice of the Week!
Henry Burris won Week 5 of Shaw Fan’s Choice of the Week and collected 10 bonus points.
2015 Shaw CFL Player of the Week Points Leaderboard
| Rank | Player | 2015 Points Total | Points Breakdown | ||||
| 1stplace points | 2ndplace points | 3rdplace points | Fan vote points | Monthly points | |||
| 1 | Trevor Harris | 325 | 100 | – | 25 | – | 200 |
| 2 | Rakeem Cato | 200 | 150 | – | – | – | 50 |
| 3 | Drew Willy | 135 | 100 | – | 25 | 10 | – |
| 4 | Marcus Howard | 125 | – | – | 25 | – | 100 |
| T-5 | Shakir Bell | 110 | 100 | – | – | 10 | – |
| T-5 | Henry Burris | 110 | 100 | – | – | – | 10 |
| 7 | Travis Lulay | 100 | 100 | – | – | – | – |
| 8 | Ryan Smith | 60 | – | 50 | – | 10 | – |
| T-9 | Jon Cornish | 50 | – | 50 | – | – | – |
| T-9 | Jeff Fuller | 50 | – | 50 | – | – | – |
| T-9 | S.J. Green | 50 | – | 50 | – | – | – |
| T-9 | Patrick Watkins | 50 | – | 50 | – | – | – |
| T-9 | Aston Whiteside | 50 | – | 50 | – | – | – |
| 14 | Weston Dressler | 35 | – | – | 25 | 10 | – |
| T-15 | Marquay McDaniel | 25 | – | – | 25 | – | – |
| T-15 | Chris Williams | 25 | – | – | 25 | – | – |
2015 Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Week
| Week | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| 1 | Trevor Harris (TOR) | Jeff Fuller (CGY) | Drew Willy (WPG)* |
| 2 | Rakeem Cato (MTL) | Ryan Smith (SSK)* | Trevor Harris (TOR) |
| 3 | Travis Lulay (BC) | S.J. Green (MTL) | Weston Dressler (SSK)* |
| 4 | Shakir Bell (EDM)* | Jon Cornish (CGY) | Marcus Howard (EDM) |
| 5 | Henry Burris (OTT)* | Aston Whiteside (OTT) | Chris Williams (OTT) |
| 6 | Drew Willy (WPG) | Patrick Watkins (EDM) | Marquay McDaniel (CGY) |
*Indicates Shaw Fan’s Choice of the Week
2015 Shaw CFL Top Performers of the Month
| Month | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| July | Trevor Harris (TOR) | Marcus Howard (EDM) | Rakeem Cato (MTL) |
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.
