Burlington, Ont. – After missing out on the 2020 campaign, football players from across the 11 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) football programs were chomping at the bit to get back on the gridiron this year, and for several of them, including six from the McMaster Marauders, their return to play ended with a 2021 all-star selection.

McMaster's Nate Edwards (Ancaster, Ont.) took home first-team rush covers on special teams and also secured a linebacker spot on the second team. Edwards had a team-leading 35.5 total tackles on the year, registering 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble. 

"His hard work on special teams really stands out and is one of the many reasons he is a great leader on and off the field" said head coach Stefan Ptaszek. "He definitely played his best linebacker in his senior year. Nate was forced to play both MAC and WILL LB and did a great job in all roles assigned to him". 

Edwards is also joined by fellow Marauders Chinedu Ezeonwurie and guard Taylor Burns on the first-team slate. Much like his teammate, Ezeonwurie, a defensive tackle from Hamilton, Ont. was a master at backfield disruption. He finished with nearly half of his 9.5 tackles coming for a loss, including 3.5 sacks that sent teams back a combined 21 yards, and is considered to be one of the most dynamic linemen in the conference.

Burns rounded out the first-team selections at guard, and in his second season established himself as one of the best offensive linemen in the OUA according to Ptaszek.

Among the honourees is the team's potent pair in the passing game. Andreas Dueck (Winnipeg, Man.), the reigning Dalt White Award winner as the 112th Yates Cup Most Valuable Player, finished the 2021 season as the province's second-leading passer. His 232.3 yards per game came on 126 completions and with his school-record 70% success rate therein, he was able to top the OUA in accuracy. His eight touchdowns through the air also put him in a tie for second, with five of those point-producing passes finding his favourite target – Liam Putt. Ptaszek is confident that Dueck stands out as the best pocket-passer in the nation.

Putt, a native of Caledonia, Ont., had a knack for finding the end zone this season, with those five touchdown receptions tying him for the league lead. He registered three of those scores in one game, a dominant Week 6 display from the Hamilton squad. He added 70 yards receiving in that 48-0 win, but for the season as a whole, Putt reeled in 381 yards through the air (6th in OUA) on 32 receptions (4th in OUA).

Nolan Putt (Caledonia, Ont.), meanwhile, joins his brother as the third member of the maroon machine's second-team contingent, and while Liam was putting up points, the younger sibling was doing his best to prevent them. The senior defensive back proved adept at doing just that, filling up the stat sheet in a number of facets. His 27.5 tackles were second on the team and his two interceptions tied him for top spot on the Marauders' roster. Putt also added two pass breakups and a forced fumble to his final stat line this season.

Ptaszek had nothing but good things to say about the Putt brothers following their 2021 campaign.

"Nolan was the best lockdown defender in our program and one of the best in the province, while Liam's first year at receiver was one of the brightest spots of the year for us. Great athletes who had outstanding seasons."

The complete list of 2021 OUA football all-stars is as follows:

First-Team All-Stars

Offence
QB – Tre Ford, Waterloo
RB – Rasheed Tucker, Queen's
RB – Keon Edwards, Western
REC – Savaughn Magnaye-Jones, Western
REC – Kiondre Smith, Guelph
REC – Ente Eguavoen, Wilfrid Laurier
REC – Gordon Lam, Waterloo
C – Elliot Beamer, Western
T – Zack Fry, Western
T – Zachary Pelehos, Ottawa
G – Phil Grohovac, Western
G – Taylor Burns, McMaster

Defence
DT – Malcolm Hinds, Western
DT – Chinedu Ezeonwurie, McMaster
DE – Deionte Knight, Western
DE – Anthony Federico, Queen's
LB – A.J. Allen, Guelph
LB – Tommy Bringi, Wilfrid Laurier
SAM – Anthony Moretuzzo, Guelph
FS – Daniel Valente, Western
HB – Devynn Cromwell, Guelph
HB – Will Amoah, Wilfrid Laurier
CB – Siriman-Harrison Bagayogo, Guelph
CB – Tyrell Ford, Waterloo

Special Teams
P – Cole Crossett, Waterloo
K – Eric Stranz, Guelph
RET – Kiondre Smith, Guelph
RUSH – Nate Edwards, McMaster

Second-Team All-Stars

Offence
QB – Andreas Dueck, McMaster
RB – J-P Cimankinda, Ottawa
RB – David Adeniran, Windsor
REC – Clark Barnes, Guelph
REC – Will Corby, Toronto
REC – Liam Putt, McMaster
REC – James Basalyga, Waterloo
C – Greg Brand, Waterloo
T – Spencer Masterson, Guelph
T – Erik Andersen, Western
G – Troy Curtis, Waterloo
G – Josh Mosley, Queen's

Defence
DT – Brandon Omonuwa, Wilfrid Laurier
DT – Zach Benson, Windsor
DE – Kristian Stewart, Guelph
DE – Malcolm Campbell, Toronto
LB – Michael Reid, Waterloo
LB – Nate Edwards, McMaster
SAM – Zach Lindley, Western
FS – Ben Lack, Guelph
HB – Andrew Beatty, Windsor
HB – Ashton Miller-Melancon, Queen's
CB – Nolan Putt, McMaster
CB – Kojo Odoom, Western

Special Teams
P – Chris MacLean, Toronto
K – Brian Garrity, Western
RET – Ethan MacKinnon, Toronto
RUSH – Michael Reid, Waterloo