TORONTO – The Canadian Football League Scouting Bureau has released its September rankings of the top-20 eligible prospects for the 2015 CFL Canadian Draft.
Last year, a new draft rule came into effect: players with national status playing in the CIS will be eligible to be selected in the CFL Draft three years after completing their first year of CIS eligibility.
In addition, the CFL also adjusted the eligibility rules for players with national status playing in the NCAA. They will now be eligible to be selected in the CFL Draft after their senior season of NCAA eligibility.
TOP-5 PROSPECTS
The number one ranked prospect is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native, Brett Boyko. The 6’7″, 310 pound offensive lineman from the University of Nevada Las Vegas has started every game in which he has played during his college career. Entering his senior season, Boyko was named to multiple preseason First Team All-Mountain West Conference teams.
Rounding out the top five are Yale University running back Tyler Varga, University of Manitoba wide receiver Nic Demski, Laval offensive lineman Danny Groulx and Western University defensive lineman Daryl Waud.
BY THE NUMBERS
The September rankings include: eight offensive linemen, five defensive linemen, three receivers, two defensive backs, one running back and one linebacker.
The Scouting Bureau list was expanded from 15 to 20 prospects this year and 14 CIS standouts found their way on the first ranking of the season. Not surprisingly, the Laval Rouge et Or and Calgary Dinos, who faced off in the 2013 Vanier Cup final, each placed three members on the September list.
There are 13 universities represented on the list with five schools featuring multiple selections; Laval (3), Calgary (3), Laurier (2), Regina (2) and Western (2).
Pierre Lavertu, the 2014 CFL Draft first overall selection, was ranked fourth in the 2013 September rankings. Lavertu became the eighth CIS player in as many years – and the 12th in the past 15 years – to be selected first overall in the CFL Canadian Draft when the Calgary Stampeders called his name at No. 1. He was ranked fourth, second and third, respectively, on the three Scouting Bureau lists published in 2013-14.
A record 59 CIS players (out of 65 total picks) were selected in the 2014 CFL Draft, including eight in the first round, also an all-time mark for CIS (tied with 1970 and 1972).
12-of-15 players from last September’s CFL Scouting Bureau rankings were selected in the 2014 CFL Draft, including five in the first round.
SEPTEMBER SCOUTING BUREAU RANKING | |||
Rank | Name | Position | School |
1 | Brett Boyko | OL | UNLV |
2 | Tyler Varga | RB | Yale |
3 | Nic Demski | REC | Manitoba |
4 | Danny Groulx | OL | Laval |
5 | Daryl Waud | DL | Western |
6 | Alex Mateas | OL | UCONN |
7 | Jacob Ruby | OL | Richmond |
8 | Sukh Chungh | OL | Calgary |
9 | Mehdi Abdesmad | DL | Boston College |
10 | Dillon Guy | OL | Buffalo |
11 | Addison Richards | REC | Regina |
12 | Chris Ackie | DB | Laurier |
13 | Brandon Tennant | DL | Laval |
14 | Sean McEwen | OL | Calgary |
15 | Nicholas Shortill | LB | McMaster |
16 | Karl Lavoie | OL | Laval |
17 | Ese Mrabure-Ajufo | DL | Laurier |
18 | Tevaughn Campbell | DB | Regina |
19 | Jake Harty | REC | Calgary |
20 | Rory Connop | DL | Western |
The 2015 CFL Combine will be held in Toronto from March 27 to 29. The date of the 2015 CFL Draft has yet to be confirmed.
The CFL Scouting Bureau releases its rankings three times each year: in September, January and April.
The CFL’s Scouting Bureau is comprised of CFL scouts, player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s nine teams.
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