Alouetta wide receiver Tyler Sneed once again proved that size does not determine an athlete's greatness.
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At just 5-foot-7 and 172 pounds, Sneed has made his mark on the sport of giants and tough guys, and on Wednesday he was even named to the Canadian Football League All-Star team, along with teammate Tyrese Beverett.
“It means a lot to me. It's great to be recognized in the company of all these talented players,” he said at the end of a training session in the pouring rain at Hébert Stadium in Montreal. “My season and the team's season have been a real rollercoaster, and the fact that I was able to stay the course is impressive.”
Snead finished the regular season fifth in the standings with 1,129 yards and four touchdowns in 17 of 18 games on the schedule.
The 25-year-old has been targeted 119 times, ranking seventh in the CFL, and has helped him surpass the 100-yard mark five times this season. Three-time defenseman was Davis Alexander.
What's even more amazing is the 461 yards Snead rushed for after catching the ball. The freckled man is ranked fifth in the CFL in this column. He's also seventh with 84 receptions, including eight of more than 30 yards (8e).
“For his size, what he can do is impressive,” praised offensive lineman Cyril Hogan-Saindon. He plays more than he really is. He is physically strong and very passionate about his tasks. He's very fast and we use him to block as well, which is surprising because he's the smallest player on the team, but he moves people around.
Tyrese Beverett was very happy during a game against the Toronto Argonauts in July.
Photo Martin Alarie
Waiting for trim
For her part, Beverett received this honor for the second campaign in a row.
“He does it all. He's one of the top two or three defenders in the league, that's easy,” Hogan-Saindon said without hesitation.
The midfielder made 83 defensive tackles, ranking eighth in the standings. This is also his third straight season in which he has made at least 80 tackles. He added seven special teams players and also had seven sacks and four interceptions.
He also forced four fumbles, a 2025 CFL record.
The 30-year-old American, one of seven players in the league with 90 tackles this season, credited defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe for putting him in situations that allowed him to stop the enemy.
“This honor is an added accomplishment toward the Gray Cup. We do this as a team. Without my teammates, I couldn't do my job. It's because of them. I represent not only myself, but the Alouettes and the city of Montreal,” said a humble Beverett, who will reunite with his former Tiger-Cats team on Saturday in the Eastern final in Hamilton.
Cyril Hogan-Saindon (number 59) against the Edmonton Elks in August.
Photo Martin Alarie
Quebecois
The Tigercats also feature five all-star players, including dangerous wide receiver Kenny Lawler.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders dominate with nine players.
The sack leader with 15, Quebec's Mathieu Betts, was elected as he was in 2023. His British Columbia Lions centerpiece Nathan Rourke leads a stellar attack.
These players were selected by 45 members of the Soccer Writers Association of Canada, nine head coaches and fans.
Matthew Betts in a BC Lions uniform.
Photo courtesy of CFL, KEVIN SOUSA.
