Andy Fantuz: Hec Crighton Winner

Just how good is Andy Fantuz? Well, the Indianapolis Colts and Montreal Alouettes think he's pretty damn good.

And I'm not one to argue.

The London Free Press reports that both teams sent scouts to Western's game against Ottawa on November 5th. Although Fantuz was injured early in the game, he was a dominant force on defense, picking off the Ottawa quarterback three times for a few yards each.

The star reciever of the University of Western Ontario won the Hec Crighton award as the CIS football player of the year.

Fantuz is only the fifth receiver in history to receive the honour and the first since Calgary's Don Blair in 1995, and is the sixth consecutive winner from the OUA.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Mustang wideout led the nation in the regular season with 12 touchdown receptions, was tied atop the CIS leaderboard with 44 catches, and finished second in receiving yards (825).

A former rookie of the year, Fantuz holds the CIS reciever records for most catches with 189, most total yards with 4123 yards, and for most touchdowns with 41. He has been named an All Canadian in each of his four seasons, including three times on the first team in 2002, 2004, and 2005.

Oh yeah, Fantuz was also the OUA MVP.

And he's in the OVFL Hall of Fame.

Oh, and he's going to be drafted in the first round of the CFL draft. Probably the #1 pick, too.

"It's a dream I've always had, to get drafted in the first round and to go No. 1 would just be incredible," Fantuz said Thursday, shortly after being presented with his award. "I'm trying not to think about that too much, I'm just trying to get myself in the best situation to be drafted No. 1."

Congratulations to Andy and to the Essex Raven's organization.