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Huskies Duncan Patterson wins U SPORTS Russ Jackson Student-Athlete Community Service Award
Posted: Nov 24, 2022

Huskies Duncan Patterson wins U SPORTS Russ Jackson Student-Athlete Community Service Award

Saint Mary's Huskies quarterback Duncan Patterson has been honoured with the prestigious Russ Jackson Award, presented to the U SPORTS Football player best exemplifying the attributes of academic achievement, football skill, and citizenship.

Russ Jackson Award (Athletics, Academics, Community Service) - Duncan Patterson, Saint Mary's

Duncan Patterson, a 6'0", 200lb veteran quarterback, played in all seven games for the Huskies and finished the regular season with the second-most completions (86), passing yards (1143), yards-per-game (163.3) and passing touchdowns (8) in the AUS. He also had five interceptions and a 137.8 pass rating.

A fourth-year player and first-year MBA student from Bedford, N.S., Patterson was the recipient of the 2022 Sobey MBA Scholarship Award, the highest scholarship offered within the Saint Mary's MBA program. A four-time Academic All-Canadian who graduated from Acadia in 2022 with a 4.0 GPA and honours, the veteran student-athlete is dedicated to his studies as well as giving back to the community around him.

"We are so proud of Duncan Patterson and everything he has accomplished on-and-off the field this year," says Huskies head coach Steve Sumarah. "The Russ Jackson Award is one of the most prestigious awards you can receive, and Duncan is certainly a deserved winner. Having received a Sobey's scholarship, his work in the community as a volunteer and a coach, and the fact that he had an excellent season as our starting quarterback."

Over the past year, Patterson has served as a volunteer offensive assistant coach and quarterback coach with the Nova Scotia U16 football team. He's also a past coach with the Valley Bulldogs minor football program. In addition to his coaching, Patterson dedicates his time to Special Olympics Canada's Marathon of Sport Motionball event, raising funds for the Special Olympics Canada Foundation. He's also given his time to the CIBC Run for the Cure, Nova Scotia Alzheimer Society and Relay for Life events for the Canadian Cancer Society. At school, he's a study hall mentor, overseeing weekly team study sessions or tutoring younger teammates as they navigate their first year as student-athletes.

Patterson is the third Saint Mary's player to win the prestigous award, joining Ted MacLean (1995), and David Sykes (1992 & 1993). He becomes the first Russ Jackson Award winner from the AUS since Dan Parker of Mount Allison in 2005.

"The history of Saint Mary's has had two previous Russ Jackson Award winners, both of them had post-university careers that have been exceptional and I think Duncan is in line for the same thing," says Sumarah. "Our program has three pillars: football, academics and community, and Duncan checks all three of those boxes. It is great for our program that we can exemplify Duncan Patterson, one of our own, as an example of those three pillars."

The Russ Jackson Award is presented annually to the U SPORTS Football player best exemplifying the attributes of academic achievement, football skill, and citizenship and is named in honour of Canadian Football League Hall of Famer and former Ottawa Rough Riders and McMaster University quarterback, Russ Jackson.

For a full list of 2022 U SPORTS Football Award winners and All-Canadians, click here.