Concordia Stinger middle linebacker Max Caron was presented the Presidents Trophy as the outstanding defensive player in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) at the Gibson’s Finest awards celebration in Vancouver on Thursday night.
He accepted the award from Montreal Alouettes legend Jock Climie before a crowd of 700 people, including his family and the best players in CIS and CFL football.
In nine university games Caron, a second-year Political Science student from Kingston, Ont., collected 67 solo tackles and 23 assists for 78.5 total tackles to lead the CIS. He also led the nation in solo tackles, average tackles per game (8.7) and interceptions returned for touchdowns (3).
Caron had five interceptions overall which was tops in Quebec and the second best total in the CIS. He collected 3.5 sacks, 11 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
The 22 year old has stepped up as a team leader in just his second season of university football. Concordia head coach Gerry McGrath considers him an extra coach on the field. He admires Caron’s knowledge of the game and his communication skills.
“Max has tremendous functional intelligence for his position,” McGrath says. “He knows what’s going to happen before it happens. He’s so good at anticipating what is going to happen, sometimes you’d swear he was in the offensive huddle.
“His work ethic is exceptional. He watches more film than anyone. He knows what everyone else’s job is, not just his own.”
Concordia has an excellent record for attracting and showcasing elite linebackers. In the last eight years, Stingers have won the Presidents Trophy five times. Caron is the 11th Stinger nominated for the Presidents Trophy.
The elite linebackers include: Ross Reeves (1982), CFLer Greg Miller (’85), Luc Pelland (’94), Dwayne Bromfield (’98), Jason Casey (’99), Mickey Donovan (2003 and ’04), Patrick Donovan (’05 and ’06) and in 2009 Cory Greenwood who is currently a member of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs.
Casey, who was on hand to see the ceremony, was Caron’s coach with the Okanagan Sun in the Canadian junior ranks in 2008 and 2009. Pelland is the linebacker coach with Stingers, and Caron has developed under his tutelage.
Concordia CIS Major Award Winners:
- 1993 Paul Chesser (DE) Metras Trophy
- 2004 Mickey Donovan (LB) Presidents Trophy
- 2004 Troy Cunningham (DE) Metras Trophy
- 2005 Patrick Donovan (LB) Presidents Trophy
- 2006 Patrick Donovan (LB) Presidents Trophy
- 2007 Liam Mahoney (QB) Gorman Trophy
- 2009 Cory Greenwood (LB) Presidents Trophy
- 2011 Max Caron (LB) Presidents Trophy
