Let’s take a closer look at the top 20 CFL prospects as listed in the league’s fall scouting bureau rankings.
1) Justin Senior, OL, Mississippi State
The Montreal, Quebec native has manned the right tackle position for two seasons with the Bulldogs and that’s exactly what he’s doing in his senior year. Senior had 26 starts at Mississippi State entering the 2016 campaign. An NFL calibre talent, six-foot-five, 300-pounder is on the Senior Bowl watch list.
2) Kwaku Boateng, DL, Wilfrid Laurier
2015 OUA J.P Metras award winner, Boateng recorded 18 tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks last year. The Milton, Ontario product is a tough defensive end with athleticism that projects to the pro game. He’s a major part of a stout Laurier defence.
3) Akeel Lynch, RB, Nevada
After rushing for 1,318 yards and seven touchdowns on 262 carries during three seasons at Penn State, Lynch graduated and transferred to Nevada for his final year of NCAA eligibility in 2016. He’s far and away the best Canadian running back available in the 2017 CFL Draft class.
4) Dan Vandervoort, REC, McMaster
Broke onto the CIS scene by posting 31 receptions for 594 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman in 2013. That campaign earned him the CIS Rookie of the Year award. The six-foot-one, 190-pound receiver has shown steady improvement and developed his frame ever year since landing at Mac.
5) Eli Ankou, DL, UCLA
Started 11 games for the Bruins as a redshirt junior one year ago and wreaked havoc on the inside, making 47 tackles and five for loss. At six-foot-three, 325 pounds, Ankou possess size, skills and quickness needed to thrive at the professional level.
6) Christophe Mulumba, LB, Maine
Named CAA and ECAC Defensive Rookie of the Year after making 118 tackles, four tackles for loss, two interceptions, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. Mulumba has caught the attention of scouts north and south of the border, a strong senior season could vault him into legitimate NFL consideration.
7) Rashaun Simonise, REC, Okanagan Sun
The rangy receiver has intriguing potential which caught the attention of NFL scouts and in particular Cincinnati. Based on pure talent, Simonise is the best pass catcher available.
8) Nathaniel Behar, REC, Carleton
Fast (4.67 40), strong (22 reps of 225 pounds) and explosive (10-foot, one-inch broad jump), Behar packs a punch at six-foot, 190-pounds. No. 11 has been the face of Carleton’s rising program since committing to the Ravens. Scouts love Behar the young man – great attitude.
9) Qadr Spooner, OL, McGill
When NFL scouts came to see Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft and currently starts at guard for the Chiefs, they discovered Spooner. He’s agile for a six-foot-four, 303-pounder and that ability to move smoothly with his stature will garner lots of interest from three-down talent evaluators.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPMticrsAxI
10) Antony Auclair, REC/TE, Laval
Big, physical athlete who can win with quickness. Auclair looks like a classic Canadian slotback in the CFL – six-foot-five, 246 pounds. NFL personnel men could be interested in him as a tight end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOtXtIIU5kQ
11) Geoff Gray, OL, Manitoba
Competitive weight lifting gives Gray a sleek and strong body. He’s got a low amount of body fat percentage and that means high interest from pro scouts.
12) Robert Woodson, DB, Calgary
CFL bloodlines run strong in the Woodson family. Robert’s father Tony was a stout linebacker for the Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Rough Riders in the 1980s. Brother Anthony has been a standout specials teams player and running back for six seasons and counting in the CFL. The next in line from the Woodson clan is an ultra-athletic defensive back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c5x9zyjzeM
13) Junior Luke, DL, Montreal
Playmaking defensive tackle, that’s how best to describe Luke. He’s a load in the middle, quick off the ball and disrupts play in the backfield. Better football player than a tester, based-off 2016 CIS East West Bowl results.
14) Faith Ekakitie, DL, Iowa
Played in a career-high 12 games as a junior. If Ekakitie can make a push and start some games in his senior season he could climb the rankings. CFL personnel men would like to see him more committed to football.
15) Mason Woods, OL, Idaho
By the time the full CFL Draft process has played out, Woods could be in contention for the No. 1 overall pick. A mountain of a man – six-foot-nine, 320 pounds – who would even stand out size-wise with pro offensive lineman.
16) Nakas Onyeka, DB/LB, Laurier
Nasty edge, that’s how Onyeka plays every time he steps on the football field. He’ll come downhill and put a stick on a receiver or running back. CFL teams really like his toughness and compete level.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aFaXsTJT20
17) Kay Okafor, DL, St. Francis Xavier
An interior defensive lineman with the arrow pointing up. 262 pounds is light to play inside in the pros, but Okafor has the ability to add weight. He’s got rare explosion – 36-inch vertical leap.
18) Jean-Simon Roy, OL, Laval
Roy continues the flow of Laval offensive lineman to the CFL. He’s not as highly regarded as Philippe Gagnon, Charles Vaillancourt and Jason Lauzon-Seguin, who were 2016 first-round picks and have all started games as rookies in the CFL. Roy can raise his stock by bulking up from the 281 pounds he checked in at the 2016 CIS East West Bowl.
19) Kwabena Asare, OL, Carleton
Needs to improve one-on-one blocking ability. Projects as a guard in the CFL. Asare has a lean body needs to be beefed up and developed in a proper way, not just loading on pounds.
20) Corey Williams, LB, Toronto
Playing out of position with the Blues at defensive end this season. He projects as a corps special teamer in the CFL. Solid athleticism. Teams always need Canadian linebackers.
