Nelson Lokombo is the U-Sports football Canadian defensive player of the year.

The third-year defensive back received the award Thursday night in the run-up to Saturday’s Vanier Cup championship game between Calgary and Montreal.

The product of Abbotsford, B.C. recorded four interceptions, running two back for touchdowns, His 197 interception return yards set a new program record. Lokombo finished with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 23.5 total tackles.

Lokombo becomes the seventh player to win a major award in program history and the first Presidents’ Trophy recipient since current defensive coordinator Warren Muzika claimed the prize in 1998-99.

Lokombo was also named to the All-Canadian team along with fellow Huskies Connor Berglof, Adam Machart, Evan Machibroda and Mattland Riley.

Berglof and Reilly were on the offensive line that helped make running room for Machart to rush for a single-season Huskies record and nation leading 1,330 yards.

Machart was a finalist for most outstanding player as the Hec Creighton trophy went to Western Mustangs quarterback Chris Merchant.