Six Gee-Gees Selected to OUA Football All-Star Teams

The Major Award winners and All-Star teams for OUA football were announced on Thursday, and a total of six Gee-Gees were recognized as part of the all-star teams.

Linebacker Jaxxon Brashear was named to the OUA First All-Star team. Defensive tackle Riley Hildebrandt, halfback Patrick Cumberbatch, and cornerback Denny Ferdinand were the defensive members named to the OUA Second Team of All-Stars.

Ferdinand was also recognized as a second team all-star for his returning, totalling 505 yards on 32 punt returns. Ferdinand's 505 punt return yards ranked second in U SPORTS this season, and he scored one return touchdown – a 71-yard effort against Guelph.

Receiver Noah Avery represented the offence on the Second Team, with fellow receiver Emyl Gregoire named to the OUA All-Rookie Team.

Avery led Ottawa with an average of 81.3 receiving yards per game, establishing a career high. His 51 receptions hauled in ranked fourth in OUA, while his four receiving touchdowns was also a team high. His four games of over 100 yards helped him eclipse the 1000-yard mark in his three-year career in Garnet and Grey.

Brashear, fourth-year Gee-Gee from Neuville, Que., recorded 44 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in eight games during the regular season. His career-best tackle total ranked second on the Gee-Gees and fifth in OUA in total tackles, earning the first All-Star selection of his career.

Cumberbatch, a fourth-year from Cumberland, Ont., was first among the Garnet and Grey defensive backs in total tackles this season with 25.5, and he recorded one interception which he returned for 35 yards in the team's victory at Guelph. He had a season high of six tackles in the game against Laurier.

Hildebrandt led the Gee-Gees in sacks (5) and total tackles for loss (7), both career highs for the fifth-year veteran. He helped out offensively too, twice going over the top of the pile for touchdowns in short yard situations.

Cumberbatch and Ferdinand return as OUA All-Stars for the second straight season, while it is the first selections for Hildebrandt and Avery.

As a team, Ottawa's defence ranked fourth in points allowed (25.4 per game), third in yards allowed (389.8 per game), and tied for most fumbles recovered with nine.

Mikhail Nembard, a fourth-year student in his third year of eligibility, was selected as the recipient of the Bernie Custis Champion of EDI Award for 2025.