Toronto Argos Chad Owens Named East Divison Most Outstanding Special Teams Player

The Canadian Football League announced today that WR/KR Chad Owens has been named the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in the East Division in 2010. Owens adds to an ever expanding trophy case that now includes 2010 East Division All-Star at kick returner, two-time CFL Special Teams Player of the Month in 2010 and six-time CFL Player of the Week.

WR/KR Chad Owens was arguably the most exciting player in the 2010 CFL regular season and now has officially been recognized as the East Division’s top special teams talent. Owens was busy re-writing team and league record books all year and was recently recognized by his peers as being the biggest threat to score from anywhere on the field. The Fly’n Hawaiian led the CFL in combined yards (3288), punt return yards (1,060), punt return average (12.6), kickoff return yards (1,216), kickoff return average (22.9), missed field goal return yards (425) and tied for league lead with four (4) kick return touchdowns (4). He also became the fifth player in league history to accumulate 1,000 punt and kickoff return yards in a season. All of Owens’ highlights are listed below because they’re too numerous to include here. This is the first time that Owens has been named a division nominee for this award.

* Set new club record for total kick return yards (PR+KR+MFG) in a season (2,701).
* Second in club history in single-season punt return yards (1,060) and kickoff return yards (1,216).
* Second-best single-season all-purpose yards total in club history (3,288).
* Fifth player in CFL history to record 1,000 punt & kickoff return yards in a season.
* Four kick return touchdowns in a season is the second-most in team history.
* Team-record six-time CFL Player of the Week (five on special teams and once on offence). He was a unanimous choice for three of the special teams awards.
* Special Teams Player of the Month for September and October.
* Argos’ Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.
* East Division All-Star as a kick returner.
* East Division Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.

Owens joins a list of Argos greats who have been nominated as East Division Most Outstanding Special Teams Players. The list includes: RB/KR Dominique Dorsey in 2007 & 2008, teammate K/P Noel Prefontaine in 2005 & 2006, and Bashir Levingston in 2003. Levingston (2003) and Dorsey (2008) went on to be crowned the league’s best.

Owens will be up against West Division nominee, B.C. Lions’ returner Yonus Davis, for 2010 CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. The winner will be announced during Grey Cup week at the Gibson’s Finest CFL Player Awards on Thursday, November 25 at the Winspear Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.