It was one of the many Hamilton events shoved to the sidelines, postponed last month by more far-reaching concerns.

But the official presentation of the Cornish Trophy will now take place on May 6 — virtually, of course — the Canadian Football Hall of Fame said Friday, in announcing the five finalists for the Canadian NCAA football player of the year.

“We have to do it remotely this year but the plan going forward is to always have it in Hamilton in March or early April at the Hall of Fame,” said CFHOF executive-director Mark DeNobile. “The award is on permanent display in the hall at Tim Hortons Field.”

The trophy is named after Jon Cornish, the Calgary Stampeder running back who played for the University of Kansas, then unleashed a nine-year Hall of Fame career with the Calgary Stampeders that included three CFL Most Outstanding Canadian titles, and the league’s Most Outstanding Player award in 2013, the same year he won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s top athlete.

Oakville’s Nathan Rourke, the Ohio University quarterback who won the award in its first two years is nominated again this year, as he awaits the NFL and CFL drafts, but oddly he’s not a favourite to three-peat.

Even to himself.

“It’s a really, really strong field,” explains the 21-year-old Rourke, who’s been interviewed as a legitimate contender for a quarterbacking job by the drafting staffs of many CFL teams, including the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ co-manager Drew Allemang over Zoom.

“I’m fortunate to have won it twice but I think those guys Chuba or Chase, deserve it. Just look at the seasons they had. I’m more than happy to let one of them have it.”

Rourke won a tiebreaker (more first-place votes) last year over spectacular Oklahoma State Cowboys’ running back Chuba Hubbard. The native of Sherwood Park, Alta. is back on the final-five ballot this year as are 2019’s third and fourth place finishers, Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool from Abbotsford, B.C., and Ottawa native Neville Gallimore a senior defensive lineman for the Oklahoma Sooners. Hubbard’s OSU teammate, linebacker Ogbongbemiga of Calgary, is the fifth nominee.

“I have to really hand it to Chuba and Chase because they had really outstanding seasons,” said Rourke. “And they have represented Canada very well. Chase is going into the draft and Chuba is back for another year and I hope he wins the Heisman Trophy.”

Hubbard, an all-American who led the nation with 2094 rushing yards, was eighth in 2019 Heisman voting, the third-best finish ever for a Canadian. Claypool was Notre Dame’s MVP and the top player of the Camping World Bowl win over Iowa State; Gallimore is considered in some polls as the third-best defensive lineman available in the NFL draft and Ogbongbemiga was Oklahoma State’s defensive MVP with 100 tackles.

Rourke was no slouch either, as he threw for 2,820 yards, 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions and rushed for 867 yards and another 13 majors. Some CFL insiders who are high on his overall skill palette have mentioned that he needs to develop more arm strength but that his running ability and leadership skills would still make him an attractive addition, while his throwing power increases.

At Ohio, Rourke used to hand the ball off to Maleek Irons who was making an impact as a 2019 Ticat rookie before injury slowed his progress, and for two seasons threw to wide receiver Papi White, who signed with the Ticats earlier this month.

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“I was very happy to hear about Papi when Drew told me about it during our interview. He should be playing.”

The Cornish Trophy 30-minute award show will be available on the Hall’s website (chfof.ca) at 1 p.m., May 6.