Three of the York University Lions' most promising football players were honoured by the OUA on Tuesday for their outstanding rookie seasons, as defensive lineman Kwadwo Boahen, linebacker Matt Dean, and offensive lineman Caleb Palmateer were named the 2018 OUA all-rookie team.

Boahen, from Calgary, Alta., was an integral part of the Lions defensive line this season, playing in the first seven games of the year before missing the season finale against the Toronto Varsity Blues because of injury. On the season, Boahen recorded nine tackles and was credited with half a sack, which came against the number one-ranked Western Mustangs in Week 4.

Ajax, Ont., native Dean made one of the plays of the season for the Lions in a Week 6 34-32 win over the Waterloo Warriors, as he burst through the line of scrimmage to block a potential game-winning field goal from the Warriors with ten seconds left to preserve the Lions victory. Overall, Dean suited up in all eight games this season at linebacker, making 11 tackles, recording one sack, recovering a fumble and breaking up one pass. Dean was named York male athlete of the week for the period ending Oct. 1 thanks to his heroics against the Warriors.

Palmateer, from Nepean, Ont., stood tall for the Lions on the offensive line this season and showed he has a bright future in York red and white. The 6'2" 290-pound Palmateer stepped into a starting role in his first year with the team and was a big contributor to the Lions offense which ranked sixth in the OUA in yards per game (388). Palmateer appeared in seven games during a stellar rookie season and like Boahen missed the final game of the season with an injury. 

OUA all-rookie team:
Jack Hinsperger, Waterloo
Zack Fry, Western
Zachary Pelehos, Ottawa
Brendan Murphy, Guelph
Rasheed Tucker, Queen's
Cole Verlinde, Windsor
Caleb Palmateer, York
Jackson Mayer, Toronto
Tavius Robinson, Guelph
Kiondre Smith, Guelph
Nick Sine, Ottawa
Jean-Paul Cimankinda, Guelph
Daeshaun Jupiter-Deane, Waterloo
Dawlson Bourdages, McMaster
Matt Dean, York
Uriel Kalenga, Guelph
Spencer Nichols, Western
Kwadwo Boahen, York
Eryk Bujalski, McMaster
Tyler Eckert, Laurier
Jaden Lattamore, Ottawa
Louis Cavanagh, Carleton
Andy Melo, Waterloo
Juwan Jeffrey, Guelph

The OUA will be announcing the first and second-team all-star team tomorrow.