Calgary Stampeders rookie Brett Jones named CFL’s top rookie performer

REGINA – Centre Brett Jones of the Calgary Stampeders is the CFL’s top rookie.

Jones received the honour Thursday night at the CFL’s awards banquet.

Running back C.J. Gable of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was the other finalist in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada and eight CFL head coaches.

Calgary selected Jones in the second round of the 2013 CFL draft and the former Regina Rams star paid immediate dividends. The six-foot-two, 319-pound Jones cracked the Stampeders’ starting lineup and was the club’s only offensive lineman to dress for every game.

The 22-year-old native of Weyburn, Sask., was a member of a Stampeders offence that led the CFL in net offensive yards (383.4 per game), TDs (51), scoring (30.5 points per game) and rushing (141.5 yards per game).

Gable led the East Division in rushing (782 yards) and averaged a solid six yards per carry while running for seven TDs. The former USC star also had 55 catches for 600 yards and five touchdowns and was fourth in yards from scrimmage (1,382) and eighth in all-purpose yards (1,630).

On Sunday, Gable and the Ticats face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium.