Beauchemin named top U SPORTS defender, joined by Reid as All-Canadian – University of Calgary Athletics

KINGSTON, Ont. – It was a special night for both Nate Beauchemin and Liam Reid at the annual U SPORTS banquet leading into this weekend’s Vanier Cup.

The 21-year-old Beauchemin has been named winner of the prestigious Presidents’ Award which goes to the top Defensive Player in U SPORTS football that is not a defensive lineman. The award is voted on by a committee of eight coaches from the four U SPORTS conferences. Winning the award means Beauchemin is also a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian. Nate becomes the first Dinos football player to win a national award since 2018 when both quarterback Adam Sinagra won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player in U SPORTS football and Tyson Philpot won the Peter Gorman Trophy as Freshman of the Year. 

Beauchemin becomes the first Calgary player to win the award in 39 years, when defensive halfback Darcy Kopp was honoured in 1985. Kopp later played for the Calgary Stampeders from 1986 through 1992. 

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Kelowna, B.C., joined the Dinos from Kelowna Secondary School in 2021 after playing for head coach Chris Cartwright. At KSS, he played linebacker as well as quarterback. Beauchemin played special teams as a true freshman for the Dinos and gained a starting spot in the secondary in his sophomore season. 

He has had a superb 2024 season, leading Canada West with four interceptions, including returning two for touchdowns. He also has been a solid player on special teams. He was named Canada West Defensive Player of the Week in Week 2 when he returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a road win over the University of Alberta. His four interceptions were the second most in the nation.

Beauchemin was a unanimous Canada West All-Star free safety, recording 41 tackles, one forced fumble and one blocked field goal in addition to his four interceptions. 

Beauchemin recognizes many of the coaches that helped him along the way such as Kendall Groves, Cartwright, Trent Schumland (former University of Calgary All-Canadian), and position coaches Marcello Rapini and Mike Edem (former Presidents’ Award finalist with Dinos, and former Canadian Football League free safety). 

“This is biggest honor I have ever received,” Beauchemin said. “My goal at the start of the year was to be an All-Canadian, but getting the Presidents’ Award is an incredible high honour,” stated the fourth-year Kinesiology student who has been a U SPORTS Academic all-Canadian for the past two years. “To do this for the Dinos program is an incredible honour and I take pride in being a Dino.” 

“I am ecstatic for Nate,” Calgary head coach Ryan Sheahan said. “It’s a well-deserved award for a very talented football player and an extremely hard worker. Winning this award is a culmination of a lot of hard work. He was easily the best player on the field every time he was out there.”

Nate is the son of Paul and Jane Beauchemin of Kelowna, B.C. 

The selection of defensive safety Nate Beauchemin and defensive end Liam Reid marks the first time Calgary has had two first team All-Canadian defensive players since 2015 when linebacker Doc Cassama and defensive backs Robbie Woodson and Adam Laurensse were selected. 2024 also marks the first time Calgary has had two first all-Canadians since the Philpot twins (Jalen and Tyson) were selected in the shortened 2021 season.

The 21-year-old Beauchemin had a remarkable Canada West season leading the Conference with four interceptions which placed him second nationally. Two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns. He was also a force on special teams with numerous tackles and a blocked a field goal. Nate finished the season with 54 tackles of which 28 were solo tackles and one forced fumble. 

The 6’2″, 200 lbs. fourth year Kinesiology student was earlier named Canada West Defensive Player of the Year and recognized as President’s Award winner as U Sports Defensive Player of the Year. 

Nate is the first Dinos defensive back to earn all-Canadian status since Deane Leonard, now with the National Football League Los Angeles Chargers, in 2019 and the first President’s Award winner since Darcy Kopp earned the honor in 1985. 

Nate joined the Dinos from Kelowna Secondary School in 2021 seeing action on special team before gaining a starting spot at inside halfback in his sophomore season and was moved to safety last year. He played his High School football for Chris Cartwright at KSS. Everett and Easton Schmuland also attended KSS along with former Dino player Isaac Athans. 

Beauchemin also excels in the classroom having been a U Sports Academic All-Canadian. 

Beauchemin paid tribute to former U of C safety Matt Lucyshyn as a mentor. “Matt showed me the way to play as a student of the game,” Nate stated. 

“I am very proud of Nate. From the moment he walked into the defensive back room he was extremely studious, respectful and focussed. Nate had the opportunity to learn from a highly respected group of defensive backs and utilized every moment to get better,” stated former defensive back coach Marcello Rapini who coached Beauchemin for his first two years at the U of C. 

Nate is the son of Paul and Jane Beauchemin of Kelowna, B.C.

Joining Beauchemin as an All-Canadian is Liam Reid. The 22-year-old started the season impressively, recording a fumble recovery on the first possession of the year against the University Regina Rams and never looked back. Reid was a unanimous Conference All-Star at defensive end. This past year, Reid recorded 20 solo tackles along with nine assisted tackles, four quarterback sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in eight conference contests.

He joined the Dinos from Vernon Secondary School in 2020, having played for coach Sean Smith. In 2021 Liam gained a starting spot in the second regular season game at outside linebacker and has been a mainstay on the defensive unit ever since. 

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Reid is in his fourth year in the Haskayne School of Business and is the nephew of former Canadian Football League players Angus, Bruce, and Mark Reid who both played varsity football at Simon Fraser University. 

Liam becomes first defensive lineman to be named an All-Canadian since 2019 when J-Min Pelly, now with the Edmonton Elks, earned the recognition.

For Reid being an All-Canadian, it means achieving a personal goal he set out at the beginning of the season.

“Being an All-Canadian means a lot. It was a personal goal I set at the beginning of the year. It is cool to be recognized at the national level,” stated Reid.

Liam was quick to pay tribute to former players who were all drafted in the Canadian Football League Draft recently and were starters on the 2019 national championship team. 

“Charlie Moore, Grant McDonald, and Josh Hyer showed me the effort it takes to get to where they got when I joined the program,” Reid stated. 

Calgary defensive line coach Chris Anstey worked with Reid for two years and feels Reid is well deserving of the recognition. 

“Liam is a as tough as leather. He has a really diverse skill set with zero intimidation factor on the football field and is ultra-prepared,” stated Anstey. 

Reid is from the same high school that produced former Dino defensive lineman Josh Hyer, current centre Brady Szeman as well as Liam’s younger brother, receiver Roan Reid. 

Liam is the son of Malcolm and Kari Reid of Vernon, B.C. 

-UC-