QUEBEC CITY, QC - Capping off one of the most dominant seasons in Bears Football history, fourth-year linebacker Josiah Schakel has been named the 2021 President's Trophy recipient as the U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year. 

Schakel, the Canada West Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year, beat out other nominees Daniel Bell (Mount Allison), AJ Allen (Guelph) and Alex Poirier (Laval), earning all but one first place vote for the U SPORTS Award. He is the first Bear to be named the U SPORTS Defensive Player of the Year since Mark Singer in 1989. 

"I think this award shows the Bears are coming back. This program has struggled a bit in years past, but I think this shows how much this program has developed, and that you can come to the UofA and succeed as a football player," said Schakel. "I can't take all the credit for this either. A good portion of that is on the coaches, and coach Morris. They were able to develop me, and bring me along as a player and as a person." 

The Sherwood Park, Alta. product was also the Canada West nominee for the Russ Jackson Student-Athlete Community Service Award, which was won posthumously by Ottawa Gee-Gee Francis Perron.

Schakel led Canada West with 51.5 tackles in 6 contests for the 3-3 Bears, with his 8.6 tackles per game leading the entire nation. Schakel's four sacks were the second most in the conference, with the SAM linebacker also adding eight tackles for a loss, and three forced fumbles. 

"Josiah was the most dominant defensive player in the nation this season. His unique combination of strength and speed make him a player that is equally effective in both coverage and around the line of scrimmage," said Bears head coach Chris Morris. "His strength and explosiveness have combined to produce some of the most physical and game changing tackles in 2021."

Additionally, four Bears were named U SPORTS All-Canadians at the Vanier Cup Gala in Quebec City, with Schakel, Tyshon Blackburn (Halfback) and Rodeem Brown (Guard) named first team All-Canadians, with Jayden Dalke (Safety) earning a second team All-Canadian honour. 

U SPORTS All-Canadians

First team All-Canadians
Offence
Center: Elliot Beamer - Western University (OUA)
Guard:  Rodeem Brown - University of Alberta (CW)
Guard:  Nicolas Guay - Université Laval (RSEQ)
Receiver: Tyson Philpot - University of Calgary (CW)
Receiver: Jalen Philpot - University of Calgary (CW)
Receiver: Savaughn Magnaye-Jones - Western University (OUA)
Receiver: Jaylan Greaves - Concordia University (RSEQ)
Quarterback: Tre Ford - University of Waterloo (OUA)
Running Back: Adam Machart - University of Saskatchewan (CW)
Running Back: Rasheed Tucker - Queen's University (OUA)
Tackle:  Noah Zerr - University of Saskatchewan (CW)
Tackle: Andy Genois - Université Laval (RSEQ)
 
Defence
Corner: Marcel Arruda-Welch - University of Manitoba (CW)
Corner: Siriman-Harrison Bagayogo - University of Guelph (OUA)
Defensive End: Deionte Knight - Western University (OUA)
Defensive End: Philippe Lemieux-Cardinal - Université de Montréal (RSEQ)
Half Back: Daniel Bell - Mount Allison University (AUS)
Half Back: Tyshon Blackburn - University of Alberta (CW)
Line Backer: Nick Thomas - University of Manitoba (CW)
Line Backer: Josiah Schakel - University of Alberta (CW)
Line Backer: A.J. Allen - University of Guelph (OUA)
Free Safety: Daniel Valente - Western University (OUA)
Defensive Tackle: Reece Martin - Mount Allison University (AUS)
Defensive Tackle: Nathan Cherry - University of Saskatchewan (CW)
 
Special Teams
Kick Returner: Kiondre Smith - University of Guelph (OUA)
Place Kicker: Eric Stranz - University of Guelph (OUA)
Punter: David Solie - University of Saskatchewan (CW)
 
Second team All-Canadians
 
Offence
Center: Connor Berglof - University of Saskatchewan (CW)
Guard:  Che Morales - St. Francis Xavier University (AUS)
Garde:  Phillip Grohovac - Western University (OUA)
Receiver: Kiondre Smith - University of Guelph (OUA)
Receveur: Kevin Mital - Université Laval (RSEQ)
Receiver: Darius Simmons - McGill University (RSEQ)
Receveur: Hassane Dosso - Université de Montréal (RSEQ)
Quarterback: Olivier Roy - Concordia University (RSEQ)
Running Back: Malcolm Bussey - St. Francis Xavier University (AUS)
Running Back: Keon Edwards - Western University (OUA)
Tackle:  Gregor MacKellar - St. Francis Xavier University (AUS)
Tackle: Zach Fry - Western University (OUA)
 
Defence
Corner: Tyrell Ford - University of Waterloo (OUA)
Demi de coin: Ahmadou Boubacar - Concordia University (RSEQ)
Defensive End: Brock Gowanlock - University of Manitoba (CW)
Defensive End: Anthony Federico - Queen's University (OUA)
Half Back: Devynn Cromwell - University of Guelph (OUA)
Demi-défensif: Bruno Lagacé - Université de Montréal (RSEQ)
Secondeur: Alec Poirier - Université Laval (RSEQ)
Secondeur: Michael Brodrique - Université de Montréal (RSEQ)
Secondeur de Couverature: Benjamin Carré - McGill University (RSEQ)
Free Safety: Jayden Dalke - University of Alberta (CW)
Defensive Tackle: Malcolm Hinds - Western University (OUA)
Plaqueur: Jean William Rouleau - Université Laval (RSEQ)
 
Special Teams
Kick Returner: Justin Julien - Saint Mary's University (AUS)
Place Kicker: Michael Arpin - Université de Montréal (RSEQ)
Punter: Cole Crossett - University of Waterloo (OUA)