Finalists Announced for the 2025 Jon Cornish Trophy Recognizing the Top Canadian Player in NCAA Football
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December 10, 2025 – The selection panel for the Jon Cornish Trophy is pleased to announce the five finalists for the 2025 award, presented annually to the most outstanding Canadian player in NCAA football. Now in its eighth year, the award, supported by NFL Canada and Krown Produce, celebrates Canadian excellence in U.S. college football and continues to spotlight athletes who excel at the highest levels of collegiate competition.The 2025 finalists demonstrate exceptional performance across premier NCAA conferences and reflect the depth of Canadian talent currently impacting the collegiate game:
Ty Benefield – S, Boise State (Vancouver, BC)
Benefield delivered one of the most productive seasons of any Canadian defender in 2025, emerging as the leader of Boise State’s secondary. A junior, wearing number zero at 6’2”, 205 pounds, he posted 98 tackles - 65 of them solo - along with 7.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two fumble takeaways. He earned First-Team All-Mountain West honours and was named Defensive MVP of the conference championship game. Multiple 11-tackle performances and a 23-yard interception return reinforced his status as an elite closing defender.
Akheem Mesidor – DL, Miami (Ottawa, ON)
The sixth-year senior continued his career of high-impact play, earning First-Team All-ACC recognition. Mesidor registered 46 total tackles, seven sacks and four forced fumbles while lining up across the defensive front. His versatile ability—impacting edge and interior alignments—made him one of the most disruptive linemen in the ACC. His 2025 highlights included multi-sack performances against Notre Dame and Syracuse, adding to an already dominant collegiate résumé.
Antwan Raymond – RB, Rutgers (Montreal, QC)
Raymond emerged as one of the most productive running backs in the nation in just his second collegiate season. Carrying 244 times for 1,241 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, plus 225 receiving yards and two additional scores, he ranked among national statistical leaders and was a Doak Walker Award semi-finalist. His 240-yard rushing performance against Maryland stands as one of the top individual efforts of the NCAA season, complemented by multiple multi-touchdown outings.
Jett Elad – S, Rutgers (Mississauga, ON)
A finalist for the third-straight year, Elad served as Rutgers’ defensive anchor in 2025. He led the Scarlet Knights with 80 total tackles, including 51 solo stops, while adding two interceptions, a forced fumble, a recovery and a blocked-punt touchdown. The six-foot, 202-pound senior played across multiple secondary assignments and produced double-digit tackle games, including 11 stops in the season finale. His career spans multiple levels and conferences, making him one of the most experienced Canadian defenders in college football.
Nuer Gatkuoth – DL, Wake Forest (Edmonton, AB)
Gatkuoth delivered a breakout campaign in the ACC, producing eight tackles-for-loss, seven solo tackles, a sack, and a rare interception at defensive line. His takeaway came in a road win, dropping into the passing lane and turning the game's momentum. Beyond measurable production, Gatkuoth was a consistent interior disruptor and a member of a defensive unit that held opponents to under 200 rushing yards on six occasions. His developmental trajectory places him among Canada’s top emerging linemen.
The winner of the 2025 Jon Cornish Trophy will be announced on December 17, broadcast on Gridiron Nation online and on Game+ TV in Canada.
Past Winners
2017 – Nathan Rourke, QB, Ohio
2018 – Nathan Rourke, QB, Ohio
2019 – Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
2020 – John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
2021 – John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
2022 – Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
2023 – Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
2024 – Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana
About the Jon Cornish Trophy
The Jon Cornish Trophy is presented annually to the top Canadian player in NCAA football. Named after Canadian Football Hall of Famer Jon Cornish, the award was established in 2017 by trustees L. David Dube and Jim Mullin to celebrate Canadian achievement on U.S. collegiate fields. The trophy is supported by NFL Canada and Krown Produce, with a panel comprising Canadian football media, professional scouting representatives, and program evaluators.The perpetual trophy is housed at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario, with each winner receiving an individual award.
For more information:Jim Mullin,Chair,
Cornish Trophy Committee