{
    "title": "MEDIA RELEASE | Fajardo, Blanchard named finalists for CFL Awards",
    "modified_at": "2026-10-28 16:00:02",
    "published_at": "2026-10-28 16:00:00",
    "url": "https://press.goelks.com/media-release-fajardo-blanchard-named-finalists-for-cfl-awards",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/Mmoe",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "Cody Fajardo becomes Edmonton's first Most Outstanding Player finalist since Michael Reilly won the award in 2017",
    "slug": "media-release-fajardo-blanchard-named-finalists-for-cfl-awards",
    "body": "\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/e6568ec8-cb4b-4a57-bb52-b814bb1c88d3/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\" \"\n                id=\"image-e6568ec8-cb4b-4a57-bb52-b814bb1c88d3\"\n                data-id=\"e6568ec8-cb4b-4a57-bb52-b814bb1c88d3\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/e6568ec8-cb4b-4a57-bb52-b814bb1c88d3/-/inline/no/EE-2026_CFL-Awards-Finalists+%28Website%29.png\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/e6568ec8-cb4b-4a57-bb52-b814bb1c88d3/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\" \"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"> </figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<p>EDMONTON - The Canadian Football League released the last round of 2026 CFL Awards finalists on Wednesday, and the Elks were strongly represented in the announcement.</p><p>Elks quarterback <strong>Cody Fajardo</strong> was named the Club&#039;s first finalist for the CFL&#039;s <strong>Most Outstanding Player</strong> since Michael Reilly won the award in 2017. He will go head-to-head against a pair of Montreal Alouettes in quarterback Davis Alexander and wide receiver Tyson Philpot for the honours.</p><p>Kicker <strong>Vincent Blanchard</strong> is the Elks first-ever finalist for the CFL&#039;s <strong>Most Outstanding Special Teams Player</strong> award, competing with Calgary returner Tyreik McAllister and Winnipeg returner Trey Vaval. </p><h4 id=\"cody-fajardo-cfls-most-outstanding-player\" >Cody Fajardo - CFL&#039;s Most Outstanding Player</h4><p>The Elks quarterback has continued to age like a fine wine, with the 2026 season representing the most prolific year of his Canadian Football League career. </p><p>Fajardo finished the season with a 13-4 record as a starter &mdash; leading the Elks to the West Division title and their best record since the 2015 season. The QB came through with the best statistical season of his Canadian Football League career, courtesy of a career-high 4,788 passing yards and 33 total touchdowns. The 34-year-old has turned back the clock on the ground as well, with his 517 rushing yards and eight touchdowns his most since his 2019 season in Saskatchewan &mdash; \u200b a season where he was also a finalist for the league&#039;s MOP honours. Fajardo&#039;s 13 regular season wins as a starting quarterback were the most by a member of the Green and Gold since Ricky Ray also won 13 games in his 2003 Grey Cup Championship campaign. </p><h4 id=\"vincent-blanchard-cfls-most-outstanding-special-teams-player\" >Vincent Blanchard - CFL&#039;s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player</h4><p>In his second full season in the CFL, Vincent Blanchard has emerged as one of the league&#039;s premier place kickers. </p><p>In 2026, Blanchard connected on a Double E franchise record and CFL best 55 field goals on 59 attempts (93.2 per cent), while also adding 42 converts and four singles. His 211 points finished the regular season as the second-highest scoring season in Double E history, just behind Jerry Kauric&#039;s 1989 campaign where he scored 224 points. Blanchard also set a new career long with a 57-yard game-winning field goal in Week 8 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. </p><p>The highlight of Blanchard&#039;s season was in the Elks Week 17 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Elks kicker went a perfect 9/9 on field goals, setting a new CFL record in the process. </p><hr /><p style=\"text-align: left\">In lieu of a traditional awards ceremony, the league will introduce a fresh new approach to recognizing the winners of CFL Awards. Recipients will be honoured through special surprise presentations as the season draws to a close and during the postseason, creating more personal and intimate moments to celebrate players&rsquo; outstanding seasons. The moments will be shared online, offering fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the people and stories behind the statistics and accomplishments. </p><p style=\"text-align: left\">In an effort to increase transparency, the complete ballots for each of the 56 voters will be disclosed.</p><hr /><p><strong>EDMONTON ELKS</strong></p><p>The Edmonton Elks are proud members of the Canadian Football League, playing their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.</p><p>The club, officially renamed the Elks in June of 2021, has a tradition of excellence having won 14 Grey Cup championships (1954-56, 1975, 1978-82, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2015). Since its founding, the club remains focused on providing outstanding football memories for Edmonton and all of Northern Alberta.</p><p><em><strong>Elks Football&hellip; Always Edmonton</strong></em></p>",
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