Mark Chapman- WR
The CFL’s nine teams are set to restock the shelves.
The league’s Canadian draft is slated to begin Thursday at 6 p.m., Saskatchewan time and will continue until the names of 69 players have been called. Three other draft picks were surrendered so that teams could make selections in supplemental drafts in 2017.
Barring a trade, the Montreal Alouettes will kick off Thursday’s proceedings. The Als are to be followed in order by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, B.C. Lions, Ottawa Redblacks, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Eskimos, Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts.
The complete draft order can be found here.
The CFL’s Scouting Bureau releases rankings of the top 20 prospects three times before every year’s draft — in September, December and April — and players move in and out of the rankings as the year goes on. Some who appear in the final rankings also fall out due to NFL aspirations.
Here are the CFL’s final pre-draft rankings, with some information on each player:
1. Ryan Hunter, OL, Bowling Green: Hometown is North Bay, Ont. … 6-foot-4, 308 pounds … Held the No. 3 spot in both the fall and winter draft rankings before taking the top spot in the spring … Played in 51 games with the Falcons over four seasons … Former Canadian junior weightlifting champion had a stint as a fullback as a redshirt freshman in 2014 … Played guard and tackle during collegiate career … Wasn’t at the national combine in Winnipeg in March … Signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs immediately after the NFL draft.
Ryan Hunter- OL
2. Mark Chapman, WR, Central Michigan: Product of Port Huron, Mich., but is considered a national by the CFL because his mother was born in Canada … 6-foot-0, 180 pounds … Went from unranked in the fall to 10th in the winter to second in the spring … Made 142 receptions for 1,965 yards and 10 TDs in 45 games with the Chippewas … Was among the leaders in every testing category at the national combine and arguably was the best receiver in the one-on-ones … Has accepted a rookie mini-camp invitation from the NFL’s New York Giants.
3. Dakoda Shepley, OL, UBC: Hails from Windsor, Ont. … 6-foot-4, 306 pounds … Was 11th in the winter rankings, up three spots from the fall rankings. Moved to third in the spring after a stellar showing at the national combine … Was named a Canada West all-star in 2017 after playing right tackle for the Thunderbirds … Also spent time at centre and guard during his four seasons at UBC … Led all combine participants in the bench press with 27 reps and was among the leaders among the offensive linemen in every test … Signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL’s New York Jets.
4. Trey Rutherford, OL, Connecticut: Hails from Markham, Ont. … 6-foot-5, 312 pounds … Was ranked No. 2 in both the fall and winter draft rankings before falling to fourth in the spring … Appeared in 44 games over four seasons with the Huskies … Spent time at fullback during the 2015 season, but has been on the offensive line since … Didn’t attend the national combine.
5. David Knevel, OL. Nebraska: Product of Brantford, Ont. … 6-foot-9, 315 pounds … Was ranked first in both the fall and winter before dropping four spots in the spring … Played 31 games during his college career, with 13 starts … Had stints at both guard and tackle with the Cornhuskers … Didn’t attend the national combine … Has accepted invitations to rookie mini-camps of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints.
David Knevel- OL
6. Mark Korte, OL, Alberta: Product of Spruce Grove, Alta. … 6-foot-3, 295 pounds … After being unranked in the fall, Golden Bears standout appeared at No. 12 in the winter before jumping to No. 6 … Was named a Canada West all-star and first-team U Sports All-Canadian in 2017 … Was the Canada West nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy as the top lineman in U Sports football last season … Played in the NCAA’s East-West Shrine Game in 2017 … Performed well at the national combine, but then improved on his testing results during a pro day in Edmonton … Has accepted rookie mini-camp invitations from the Giants and Jets.
7. Peter Godber, OL, Rice: Hails from Toronto … 6-foot-4, 305 pounds … Was sixth in the fall rankings and fourth in the winter rankings before landing at No. 7 … Started 35 of the 48 games he played over four college seasons with the Owls … Went to the national combine, but was asked to leave after declining to take part in the testing due to illness … Put up impressive testing numbers during Rice’s Pro Day four days after the combine … Is to attend the Houston Texans’ rookie mini-camp.
8. Julien Laurent, DL, Georgia State: Product of Toronto … 6-foot-3, 295 pounds … Moved from 10thin the fall rankings to fifth in the winter rankings before sliding back to eighth … Played 33 games over three college seasons with the Panthers … Was a two-year starter at nose guard … Recorded 35 tackles, 28 assists, 8.5 tackles for losses and one sack in his collegiate career … Attended the national combine, but didn’t participate in the testing.
9. Rashaun Simonise, WR, Okanagan juniors: Product of Vancouver … 6-foot-5, 202 pounds … Went from 12th in the fall rankings to seventh in the winter before dropping to ninth … Had 11 catches for 127 yards and two TDs in four games during the 2017 BCFC season … Played three seasons at the University of Calgary before being deemed academically ineligible in 2016 … Had pro stints with the Chicago Eagles of Champions Indoor Football and the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals before being declared eligible for the CFL draft.
10. Godfrey Onyeka, DB, Wilfrid Laurier: Is from Brampton, Ont. … 6-foot-2, 210 pounds … Was fourth in the fall rankings before falling to sixth in the winter and 10th in the spring … Was named a first-team U Sports All-Canadian in each of the past three seasons … Played in 32 games for the Golden Hawks, registering 107 solo tackles, 36 assists, two sacks, seven interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … Also played on special teams … Stood out in one-on-ones during the national combine.
Godfrey Onyeka-DB
11. Jackson Bennett, DB, Ottawa: Hometown is Ottawa … 6-foot-0, 214 pounds … Went from 19th in the fall rankings to 13th in the winter and 11th in the spring … Was the OUA nominee for the President’s Trophy as the top defensive player in U Sports in 2017 … Was named a first-team OUA all-star and second-team U Sports All-Canadian last season … Had 89 tackles, 39 assists, one sack, two forced fumbles and three interceptions in 23 games with the Gee-Gees … Also recorded 40 kickoff returns for 1,050 yards and two TDs as a collegian … Has accepted a mini-camp offer from the Giants.
12. Andrew Pickett, OL, Guelph: Hails from Kitchener, Ont. … 6-foot-3, 313 pounds … Was 13th in the fall rankings and 15th in the winter rankings before settling in at 12th in the spring … Was named a first-team OUA all-star in 2017 after being a second-teamer in each of the previous two seasons … Was a starter for three straight seasons with the Gryphons … Finished second to Shepley in the bench press at the national combine, posting 25 reps.
13. Ryan Sceviour, OL, Calgary: Hometown is Calgary … 6-foot-3, 303 pounds … Dropped from 16th in the fall rankings to 18th in the winter before jumping up to 13th … Was a Canada West all-star and second-team U Sports All-Canadian at right guard in 2017 … Didn’t miss a game during his Dinos career … Tied for third in the bench press at the national combine with 22 reps.
14. Darius Ciraco, OL, Calgary: Hails from Burlington, Ont. … 6-foot-4, 295 pounds … Dropped from fifth in the fall rankings to ninth in the winter to 14th in the spring … Got playing time at centre, guard and tackle during his four seasons at the U of C … Was a Canada West all-star and second-team U Sports All-Canadian in 2015 … Participated in the national combine but still had a pro day in Calgary following the CFL event.
15. Regis Cibasu, WR, Montreal: Originally from Kinshasa, Congo … 6-foot-3, 232 pounds … Was ninth in the fall rankings and eighth in the winter before falling to 15th in the final rankings … Recorded 145 catches for 1,765 yards and seven TDs and 37 punt returns for 302 yards and a TD in 31 career games with the Carabins … Joined Korte as the only U Sports athletes to play in the 2017 East-West Shrine Game … Did not attend the CFL’s national combine due to school obligations, but held a pro day at Montreal beforehand … Is to attend the Chicago Bears’ rookie mini-camp.
16. Bo Banner, DL, Central Washington: Hails from Bellingham, Wash., but is considered a national because his mom was born in Canada … 6-foot-2, 225 pounds … Didn’t appear in either of the fall or winter rankings before coming in at No. 16 in the spring … Played 43 games over four seasons with the Wildcats, recording 54 solo tackles, 50 assists and 19.5 sacks … Had 12 sacks and 16.5 tackles for losses during the 2017 campaign … Was one of the more consistent edge pass-rushers during the national combine.
Bo Banner- DL
17. Daniel Petermann, WR, McMaster: Product of Stoney Creek, Ont. … 5-foot-11, 205 pounds … Wasn’t ranked in either the fall or winter before vaulting into 17th with a solid showing at the national combine … Posted the top time in the 40-yard dash among all of the combine’s participants with an electronically timed pass of 4.54 seconds … Recorded 181 receptions for 2,320 yards and 16 TDs in 32 career games with the Marauders … Was named a second-team OUA all-star in each of the past three seasons.
18. David Mackie, RB, Western: Hometown is Jackson’s Point, Ont. … 6-foot-2, 239 pounds … Makes his first appearance in the top 20 after not being ranked in either of the fall or winter rankings … Was named OUA’s first-team all-star fullback in 2017 … Had his best statistical season in 2017, recording 14 receptions for 200 yards and six solo tackles for the Mustangs … Also served as the team’s long-snapper … Led the running backs in the bench press, vertical jump and broad jump at the national combine.
19. Micah Teitz, LB, Calgary: Hails from Calgary … 6-foot-1, 229 pounds … Makes his debut in the spring rankings after not appearing in either of the fall or winter rankings … Was named a Canada West all-star in 2015 and 2017 and a U Sports All-Canadian in 2015 … Recorded 111 solo tackles, 64 assists and seven sacks in 30 career regular-season games with the Dinos … Was among the leaders in every test during the national combine.
20. Isaiah Guzylak-Messam, DB, Wilfrid Laurier: Product of Hamilton … 6-foot-1, 207 pounds … Didn’t appear in the fall or winter rankings before showing up at No. 20 in the spring … Earned a spot on the OUA second-team all-star squad in 2017 … Recorded 65 solo tackles, 17 assists, 11 pass breakups, five tackles for losses and two interceptions in 24 games with the Golden Hawks … His time of 4.60 seconds in the 40 led all defensive players at the combine.
