Montreal native Antwan Raymond has made history by becoming the first Quebec-born player to win the 2025 Jon Cornish Trophy, awarded annually to the top Canadian athlete in NCAA football. Raymond, a standout running back for Rutgers University, had a remarkable season that showcased his versatility and elite skill set, further cementing his place among Canada’s top football talent.
Record-Breaking Season at Rutgers
Raymond’s 2025 campaign was nothing short of spectacular. He ran for 1,241 yards at an impressive 5.1-yard average per carry, scoring 13 rushing touchdowns along the way. Beyond his ground game, Raymond contributed significantly in the passing game, adding 18 receptions for 225 yards and two more touchdowns. One of his most notable performances came earlier this season against Maryland, where he rushed 41 times for 240 yards.
This season’s achievements earned Raymond a semifinalist spot for the prestigious Doak Walker Award, given annually to the NCAA’s top running back. With this accolade, Raymond joins an elite group of Canadian backs, including Chuba Hubbard (2019) and Chase Brown (2022), both of whom now compete in the NFL. Raymond expressed his pride in joining this lineage, saying, “It’s an honour to be included with running backs like [Chase] Brown and Chuba [Hubbard] in winning this award.”
Antwan Raymond is the winner of the Jon Cornish Trophy.
— Rutgers Football 🪓 (@RFootball) December 17, 2025
The award is given to the most outstanding Canadian player in NCAA football!
🇨🇦 | 🪓 pic.twitter.com/72tXA2PV2P
A Strong Canadian Presence at Rutgers
Raymond is part of a growing Canadian contingent making waves at Rutgers. His teammates include safety Jett Elad from Mississauga, linebacker Dariel Djabome, and defensive linemen Djbril Abudo-Rahman and Farrell Gnagno. Raymond highlighted the importance of camaraderie among the Canadians on the team, noting, “It means a lot, with the other Canadians on this team. We all support each other when it feels like we’re far away from home.”
The Cornish Trophy runner-up was Ottawa-born defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor of Miami, while other finalists included Vancouver’s Ty Benefield (Boise State), Edmonton’s Nuer Gatkuoth (Wake Forest), and Rutgers safety Jett Elad.
Legacy of the Jon Cornish Trophy
The award is named after Jon Cornish, a New Westminster, B.C., native who starred as a running back at Kansas before leading the Calgary Stampeders to two Grey Cup titles. Cornish was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2019. Jim Mullin, chair of the Cornish Trophy committee, praised Raymond’s season: “In a year where the dominant defensive players from Canada played on the defensive side of the ball, Antwan Raymond burst from the pack. He convinced the selection committee with his performance that he was worthy of a unanimous selection as the top Canadian in NCAA football.”
With this honor, Antwan Raymond has not only made history for Quebec but also continued the tradition of Canadian talent excelling on the biggest stages in NCAA football, inspiring future generations of players from across the country.
