The Manitoba Bisons football team completed their 2015 season with a 5-3 conference regular season record and qualifying for the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. The team was recognized with three Bisons named to the conference All-Star team and now has two players selected as a 2015 CIS Football All-Canadians plus one player earning a major national football award.
Bison fourth year defensive lineman David Onyemata has been selected as 2015 J.P. Metras Trophy award winner, presented since 1974, which is for the Outstanding Down Lineman of the Year in CIS Football.
In addition, Onyemata was named 2015 CIS First Team All-Canadian at the defensive tackle position while first year running back/kick returner Jamel Lyles is 2015 CIS Second Team All-Canadian at the kick returner position.
Onyemata, 23, is the first Manitoba Bisons player to be selected for the J.P. Metras since NFL star (played 11 years in NFL) Israel "Izzy" Idonije earned the award in 2002 and just the fourth Bison overall for this prestigious CIS major national award (Bart Evans: 1974; Jason Rauhaus 1991).
David Onyemata finished his fourth playing season at Manitoba (red shirted for one season) and is a national award winner for the first time in his university career after also being a two-time conference all-star (2014-15). At the nose tackle position, the 6'4", 295 lbs. player was a force in the 2015 season as he was double-teamed and created room for the other Manitoba defensive lineman. In starting all eight conference game, the Lagos, Nigeria native was tied for ninth in CIS (second in Canada West) with five sacks and tied for ninth in CIS (tied for second in conference) for sack yards with 34. He was also tied for 18th in the CIS (second in Canada West) with 7.5 tackles for losses and tied for 44th overall in CIS (12th in Canada West) with 38.5 total tackles. The Arts student-athlete was also named Canada West Defence Football Athlete of the Week for the week ending October 25, 2015 after registering 9.5 tackles (two for losses) with 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery plus one break-up in a road win at Alberta.
Onyemata was also the top ranked CIS player in the CFL Scouting Bureau's initial draft rankings released in September 2015, placing at number two on the list.
"David Onyemata winning the J.P. Metras is one of the great individual accomplishment over the many years of CIS national football awards," said Bison Football Head Coach Brian Dobie, in his 20th season at Manitoba. "This is a young man from Lagos, Nigeria who came to Canada to study as an International student at University of Manitoba and not only never played football but had not actually never seen a practice or the game of football in his entire life! He came into this program as raw as possible but with tremendous potential. It says everything about David's character, perseverance and commitment to excellence that he would continually move forward through the last five years with the Bisons to achieve this tremendous accomplishment. We are proud and recognize the significance of David being selected for the Metras and he is a great representative for this prestigious national award."
In his four year Bison career, Onyemata played in 31 of 32 conference regular season games while he cracked the century mark in total tackles with 102 (78 solo and 54 assisted) since the 2012 season. In addition, the defensive interior lineman has accumulated eight sacks for 54 sack yards along with 20.5 tackles for losses. Onyemata played in all seven Bison playoff contests over the last four seasons and notched 32 tackles (22 solo and 20 assisted) with 2.5 tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks. He has been a Canada West All-Star in consecutive years (2014 and 2015) and part of the 2014 Canada West championship squad.
Lyles, 19, was a multiple winner for conference all-star (running back and kick returner) before earning CIS Second Team All-Canadian selection as a kick returner in his rookie season at Manitoba. In year one with the Bisons, all Lyles did was lead the conference and second in CIS in all-purpose yards with 1,564. The Surrey, BC native was ninth in the country (third in Canada West) with 691 rushing yards while playing in all eight conference games. In kick returns, the 6'0", 205 lbs. multi-purpose player was tied for tied for ninth in CIS (third in conference) with 407 kickoff return yards and tied for first in CIS and conference with one kickoff return TD plus Lyles was tenth in CIS (second in conference) for punt return yards at 344 and tied for first in CIS (tied for first in Canada West) with one punt return TD.
"Jamel has had an amazing season in both facets as a running back and kick returner in his rookie season with the Bisons," Dobie said. "He was a dynamic force all season and pleased his efforts have been recognized at the CIS level and this is why he was a sought after national recruit."
Bison Notes: This is the first time a Manitoba Bisons has earned CIS First Team All-Canadian since the 2013 season (Anthony Coombs) and first time a defensive player since 2012 (Teague Sherman). The last time two Bisons were named as All-Canadians, in a single season, was also 2013 (Coombs; Nic Demski).
