The Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy is a Canadian football award recognizing the most outstanding football player of the Quebec Student Sport Federation (RESQ)

The trophy was originally donated to the Canadian Rugby Union in 1928 to honour former Montreal player Jeff Russel, who was killed in an accident in 1926 while repairing damaged electrical lines for the Montreal Power Company. The trophy was presented to the player who best exemplified skill, sportsmanship, and courage in the Interprovincial Rugby Football Union. In 1973, it became the award given to the Most Outstanding Player of the Canadian Football League's East Division; either the winner of this trophy or the winner of the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy from the CFL’s West Division would go on to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award.

The trophy was officially retired in 1994 at the request of the Russel family, with the Terry Evanshen Trophy replacing the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy as the official trophy to be awarded to the Most Outstanding Player of the East Division that same year. In 2003, it was re-established for recognizing players in the Quebec conference of U Sports football, with the winner being nominated for the national Hec Crighton Trophy.

Quebec University Football League / Ontario-Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference The Most Outstanding Player in the Quebec University Football League (QUFL). Beginning in 2003, the winner is awarded the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy.

2024 – Arnaud Desjardins (QB), Laval Rouge et Or 2023 – Jonathan Sénécal (QB), Montreal Carabins 2022 – Kevin Mital (WR), Laval Rouge et Or 2021 – Olivier Roy (QB), Concordia StingersConcordia QB Olivier Roy claims RSEQ's top football award 2020 – season cancelled – covid 19 2019 – Adam Vance (QB), Concordia StingersFootball universitaire du RSEQ | Adam Vance est choisi joueur par excellence 2019 2018 – Hugh Richard (QB), Laval Rouge et OrFootball universitaire : Hugo Richard est choisi joueur par excellence 2018 2017 – Hugh Richard (QB), Laval Rouge et Or 2016 – Samuel Caron (QB), Montreal Carabins 2015 – Trenton Miller (QB), Concordia Stingers2015 RSEQ Awards: Miller named MVP, Constantin top coach 2014 – Hugh Richard (QB), Laval Rouge et Or2014 RSEQ Awards: CFC 100 Laval QB Richard Player of the Year; Stingers Donovan Coach of the Year 2013 – Jordan Heather (QB), Bishop's Gaiters 2012 – Rotrand Sené (RB), Montreal Carabins 2011 – Simon Charbonneau-Campeau (WR), Sherbrooke Vert et Or 2010 – Simon Charbonneau-Campeau (WR), Sherbrooke Vert et Or 2009 – Benoit Groulx (QB), Laval Rouge et Or 2008 – Benoit Groulx (QB), Laval Rouge et Or 2007 – Jamall Lee (RB), Bishop's Gaiters 2006 – Benoit Groulx (QB), Laval Rouge et Or 2005 – Scott Syvret (QB), Concordia Stingers 2004 – Jeronimo Huerta-Flores (RB), Laval Rouge et Or 2003 – Mathieu Bertrand (QB), Laval Rouge et Or

CFL East Division / IRFU Awarded to the player best exemplifying skill, sportsmanship, and courage until 1972, then to The Most Outstanding Player in the East Conference/Division from 1973 until 1993.

1993 – Matt Dunigan (QB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1992 – Angelo Snipes (LB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1991 – Robert Mimbs (RB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1990 – Mike "Pinball" Clemons (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1989 – Tony Champion (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1988 – Earl Winfield (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1987 – Tom Clements (QB), Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1986 – James Hood (WR), Montreal Alouettes 1985 – Ken Hobart (QB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1984 – Rufus Crawford (RB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1983 – Terry Greer (WR), Toronto Argonauts 1982 – Condredge Holloway (QB), Toronto Argonauts 1981 – Tom Clements (QB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1980 – Gerry Dattilio (QB), Montreal Alouettes 1979 – David Green (RB), Montreal Alouettes 1978 – Tony Gabriel (TE), Ottawa Rough Riders 1977 – Jimmy Edwards (RB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1976 – Jimmy Edwards (RB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1975 – Johnny Rodgers (RB), Montreal Alouettes 1974 – Johnny Rodgers (RB), Montreal Alouettes 1973 – John Harvey (RB), Montreal Alouettes 1972 – Garney Henley (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1971 – Mel Profit (TE), Toronto Argonauts 1970 – Bill Symons (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1969 – Russ Jackson (QB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1968 – Larry Fairholm (DB), Montreal Alouettes 1967 – Ron Stewart (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1966 – Gene Gaines (DB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1965 – Bernie Faloney (QB), Montreal Alouettes 1964 – Dick Shatto (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1963 – Garney Henley (DB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1962 – George Dixon (RB), Montreal Alouettes 1961 – Bobby Jack Oliver (DT), Montreal Alouettes 1960 – Ron Stewart (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1959 – Russ Jackson (QB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1958 – Sam Etcheverry (QB), Montreal Alouettes 1957 – Dick Shatto (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1956 – Hal Patterson (DB/OE), Montreal Alouettes 1955 – Avatus Stone (DB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1954 – Sam Etcheverry (QB), Montreal Alouettes 1953 – Bob Cunningham (FB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1952 – Vince Mazza (OT), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1951 – Bruce Cummings (FW), Ottawa Rough Riders 1950 – Don Loney (C), Ottawa Rough Riders 1949 – Royal Copeland (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1948 – Eric Chipper (OT), Ottawa Rough Riders 1947 – Virgil Wagner (RB), Montreal Alouettes 1946 – Joe Krol (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1945 – George Fraser (OG), Ottawa Rough Riders 1944 – no award given due to World War II 1943 – no award given due to World War II 1942 – no award given due to World War II 1941 – Tony Golab (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1940 – Andy Tommy (FW), Ottawa Rough Riders 1939 – Bill Davies (FW), Montreal Royals 1938 – Wes Cutler (DE), Toronto Argonauts 1937 – Teddy Morris (FW), Toronto Argonauts 1936 – Arnie Morrison (QB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1935 – Abe Eliowitz (RB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1934 – Ab Box (QB), Toronto Argonauts 1933 – Huck Welch (RB), Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers 1932 – Alex Denman (G/FW), Hamilton Tigers 1931 – Gordie Perry (RB), Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers 1930 – Frank Turville (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1929 – D. "Red" Wilson (T), Toronto Argonauts 1928 – Ernie Cox (C), Hamilton Tigers

Most Outstanding Player in the CFL's East Division prior to 1973 Note: Prior to 1973 the Canadian Football League East Division's Most Outstanding Player was not the winner of the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy, which was a separate award.

1972 – Garney Henley (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1971 – Leon McQuay (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1970 – Tommy Joe Coffey (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1969 – Russ Jackson (QB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1968 – Bill Symons (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1967 – Tommy Joe Coffey (WR), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1966 – Russ Jackson (QB), Ottawa Rough Riders 1965 – Garney Henley (DB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1964 – Dick Shatto (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1963 – Russ Jackson (QB), Ottawa Rough Riders

1962 – George Dixon (RB), Montreal Alouettes 1961 – Bernie Faloney (QB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1960 – Cookie Gilchrist (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1959 – Bernie Faloney (QB), Hamilton Tiger-Cats 1958 – Dick Shatto (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1957 – Hal Patterson (DB/OE), Montreal Alouettes 1956 – Hal Patterson (DB/OE), Montreal Alouettes 1955 – Dick Shatto (RB), Toronto Argonauts 1954 – Alex Webster (RB), Montreal Alouettes 1953 – Tex Coulter, Montreal & Gene Roberts, Ottawa

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