Rutgers safety Elad named Jon Cornish Trophy finalist for third straight year

VANCOUVER — Another year, another Jon Cornish Trophy nomination for Jett Elad.

The Rutgers safety was named a finalist for the award Wednesday for a third straight year. The Jon Cornish Trophy is presented annually to the top Canadian playing American college football.

Cornish, of New Westminster, B.C., enjoyed a stellar career as a running back at Kansas before helping the Calgary Stampeders win two Grey Cup titles. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Joining Elad for consideration this year are Boise State safety Ty Benefield, Miami defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor, Rutgers running back Antwan Raymond and Nuer Gatkuoth, a defensive lineman at Wake Forest. The ’25 recipient will be announced next Wednesday.

Elad, of Mississauga, Ont., posted a team-high 80 tackles (51 solo) for Rutgers. The six-foot, 202-pound senior added two interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked-punt touchdown.

The six-foot-two, 205-pound Benefield, of Vancouver, posted 98 tackles (65 solo, 7.5 for loss) at Boise State. Benefield, whose father Daved played in the CFL, also had two interceptions and two fumble takeaways while earning First Team All-Mountain West honours and the defensive MVP in the conference championship game.

Mesidor, of Ottawa, was a first First-Team All-ACC recipient after registering 46 tackles, seven sacks and four forced fumbles at Miami. Among his ’25 highlights include multi-sack performances against Notre Dame and Syracuse.

Raymond, of Montreal, ran 244 times for 1,241 yards (5.09-yard average), 13 TDs, while adding 225 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Raymond was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the NCAA’s top running back, and had 240 yards rushing versus Maryland.

Gatkuoth, a six-foot-three, 237-pound Edmonton native, had 37 tackles (17 solo, eight for loss), six sacks, a forced fumble and an interception this season. Wake Forest caps its season facing Mississippi State on Jan. 2 in the Mayo Bowl.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2025.