WINNIPEG, MB., December 7, 2016 – The Canadian Football League today announced the 2016 CFL All-Star team, and five Winnipeg Blue Bombers were named, including three CFL rookies.
The voting was conducted by The Football Reporters of Canada and the nine CFL head coaches.
At running back, Winnipegger Andrew Harris rushed for 974 yards on 195 carries while scoring four touchdowns in 15 games. Harris was also a major threat out of the backfield, catching 67 receptions for 631 yards and one touchdown, the most by any running back this season and the most by a Bomber since Robert Mimbs finished with 71 in 1990. This is Harris’s third time being named a CFL All-Star (B.C. in 2012 and 2015), and second consecutive year earning the honour.
First-year offensive lineman Travis Bond stepped into the lineup in Week 6 against Edmonton and didn’t look back. The 6-7, 355-pound offensive guard needed only 13 games to be named the club’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, and now a CFL All-Star. Bond has worked with a unit that has allowed just 35 sacks this season and has found a balance both rushing and passing the ball.
Rookie Taylor Loffler took over starting duties in Week 6 in Edmonton and morphed into the club’s Most Outstanding Rookie, and today was named a CFL All-Star. Selected 19th overall in the 2016 CFL Draft, Loffler has recorded 58 defensive tackles, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, one quarterback sack and eight special teams tackles. Two of his picks came against B.C. on October 14th, a game where he continued to deliver crushing hits and also recorded a forced fumble.
Acquired in a trade that also brought over the first overall selection in the 2017 CFL Draft, defensive back T.J. Heath finished his first CFL season playing in 16 games and tying the league lead in interceptions with seven (tied with Maurice Leggett). Heath’s first league All-Star honour also saw him rack up 51 defensive tackles and five special teams tackles.
Justin Medlock, the most accurate kicker in CFL history, capped a spectacular 2016 during Grey Cup week by being named the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams player and has now been named a CFL All-Star for the first time in his career. Medlock connected on 60 of 68 attempts (88.2%), breaking a CFL record for field goals in a season set in 1990. He set a new club record for points in a season with 227, tied the team record for the longest field goal (58 yards), and twice tied the mark of seven field goals in a single game. Medlock went seven for eight in the Bombers’ win over Saskatchewan on Labour Day, including the game winner with no time remaining, and followed that up by going seven for seven in the win over B.C. in Vancouver on October 14th. He went 40 for 40 in convert attempts this season, hit 16 field goals from 40-49 yards out, and nailed five from over 50 yards.
“Although this is the ultimate team game, I would very much like to congratulate these men on a great season,” said General Manager Kyle Walters. “It’s a great mix of veteran and newcomers to our league, which I believe shows the direction of our team. I’m very happy for these guys, and I know their teammates are as well.
In the last 23 CFL seasons, the Blue Bombers have had as many as five CFL All-Stars just six times including 2016. The last time the club achieved as many as five was in 2011 led by four players on the defensive side of the ball that year. Since 1994, the Blue Bombers have had five or more CFL All-Stars in 2001 (8), 2002 (5), 2006 (5), 2007 (6), 2011 (5) and 2016 (5).
