Brannagan was named the recipient of the inaugural Outstanding Performer of the Year Award. The Gaels quarterback guided the football team to a 7-1 regular season record, eventually capturing the Yates Cup and Vanier Cup championships. On top of those incredible honours, Brannagan became the first OUA quarterback to throw for 10,000 yards in a career, was named the OUA Athlete of the Week four times, the CIS Offensive Player of the Week six times and was nominated for the Lou Marsh Award as Canada’s top male athlete for 2009. To cap it all off, he became the first CIS quarterback since former Gael Tom Denison (Beamsville, Ont.) to sign a professional contract, signing with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in March.