KINGSTON, Ont. – The U SPORTS annual Vanier Cup award gala saw two major honours placed in purple and gold hands, along with five Golden Hawks named to the first and second All-Canadian teams.
 
FRANK TINDALL TROPHY – MICHAEL FAULDS
After receiving his third David "Tuffy" Knight award two weeks ago, Laurier's manager of football operations and head coach Michael Faulds was presented with his second  U SPORTS Frank Tindall Coach of the Year award.
 
Under Faulds, the Golden Hawks earned their first 8-0 season since 2005, had the best total offence in the OUA and U SPORTS, and the conference's second best defence. Faulds collected his first honour in 2016 following the team's Yates Cup championship.
 
Faulds became the fifth Laurier coach to receive the award, and only the second Golden Hawk to win twice, joining Tuffy Knight who won in 1972 and 1979.
 
Rich Newbrough (1991), Rick Zmich (1995), and Gary Jeffries (2003) are Laurier's previous winners.
 
HEC CRIGHTON AWARD – TAYLOR ELGERSMA
Elgersma added another award to his already decorated name, being selected the U SPORTS outstanding player of the year for the first time in his career. He became just the second player in the 63-year history of the program to win, the first being fellow pivot Bill Kubas 30 years ago in 1994.
 
He led the conference and country in touchdowns (20), yards per game (330.4), pass efficiency (187.5), and total passing yards (2,643), which broke the program record he set last season, thanks in part to the three games where he threw for over 400-yards.
 
Elgersma and Faulds made a new entry in the Laurier football record book as this marked the first time the Golden Hawks had the Hec Crighton and Frank Tindall awardees in the same season. They join elite company being the eighth duo from the same program to win.
 
U SPORTS ALL-CANADIAN FIRST TEAM
Elgersma, there was no doubt, received a nomination to the first team, gaining a promotion from the second team where he landed last season.
 
Ethan Jordan earned his third All-Canadian nod and was named to the first team in back-to-back years. Jordan finished the regular season as the nation's best receiver, sitting first in receptions (59), touchdowns (10), yards per game (125) and total yards (1,000). With those total yards, Jordan became the first receiver in Laurier football history to reach the 1,000-yard milestone.
 
On the special teams front, Tayshaun Jackson was selected to the first team in his rookie year. Jackson went from unknown to having opponents avoiding him, and for good reason. He recorded 449 punt return yards and 434 kickoff return yards, scoring two of his five touchdowns on massive returns, one of which broke a 50-year team record.
 
U SPORTS ALL-CANADIAN SECOND TEAM
Second year fullback Sebastian Parsalidis was presented with his first career All-Canadian nomination. Parsalidis played a key role in the success of the Golden Hawks run game providing critical blocks with Laurier placing fourth in the OUA in rushing.
 
Rounding off the 2024 class was veteran offensive lineman Josh Rietveld, who also received his first All-Canadian selection. Rietveld has been a staple in the trenches when it came to protecting Elgersma and paving paths for his running backs, helping his team score 14 rushing touchdowns.