COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Boise State’s Ty Benefield and UNLV’s Jett Elad are among five finalists for the Cornish Trophy, given annually to the top Canadian player in NCAA football. Elad is a finalist for the second straight year.
Benefield (Vancouver) and Elad (Mississauga, Ontario) are joined by Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor (Medicine Hat, Alberta), Rutgers linebacker Dariel Djaborne (Longueuil, Quebec) and Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke (Oakville, Ontario) as finalists. The winner will be announced Monday, Dec. 23.
Benefield leads the Broncos with 73 total tackles and 5.62 per game, while his 53 solo tackles also pace the squad. The sophomore safety also leads Boise State with a pair of interceptions and shares the MW lead with two fumbles recovered. Benefield, who has also forced a fumble and broken up three passes this season, has recorded 5.0 tackles for loss. He earned All-Mountain West honorable mention in 2024.
A former player at Ohio, Elad returned to the FBS level last fall with the Rebels after a stint at Garden City Community College in Kansas. As a senior this season, the defensive back earned All-Mountain West honorable mention after ranking third on the team with 85 total tackles. His stat line included 6.0 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery for the nationally ranked Rebels.
