It’s Bowl time south of the border.
Beginning Saturday, December 17, 41 NCAA FBS Bowl games will be played. 20 Canadians play for teams that will be competing in these games. 10 are from Ontario, 5 are from British Columbia, 2 are from Alberta, and 2 are from Quebec.
Below you will find a guide of which games Canadian players will be involved in during the Bowl period as well as their performance for 2016 and their football career history.
Las Vegas Bowl: Dec. 17 – San Diego State vs. Houston
Alex Fontana – The 6’3, 310 offensive lineman is originally from Toronto, Ontario. He played his high school ball at Kent Prep and went on to New Mexico Military Institute before suiting up for the Cougars. A junior, Fontana has started 5 times in 10 games this season and has 32 knockdown blocks and is 75% on 537 snaps. He helped Houston to 28 rushing touchdowns and 1887 yards on 520 carries, 4 rushing touchdowns and 268 yards on the ground over Tulsa and 6 rushing touchdowns and 381 yards rushing against Lamar.
Miami Beach Bowl: Dec. 19 – Central Michigan vs. Tulsa
Keegan Markgraf – This freshman long snapper is originally from Hamilton, Ontario. The 6’0, 220lbs player went to high school at Canada Prep.
Idaho Potato Bowl: Dec. 22 – Idaho vs. Colorado State
Mason Woods – The Terry Fox Raven from Port Coquitlam, BC is in his senior year with the Vandals. At 6’9, 320lbs, Woods redshirted in 2012. In 2013 he was injured, but was able to play in the final 3 games of the season. In 2014, he started in 9 games before he was injured again and did not play in his final 2. 2015 saw him play in all 12 games as a guard and helped his team have one of the most productive offenses in their conference and placed them in the top 20% of FBS football.
Dollar General Bowl: Dec. 23 – Ohio vs. Troy
CFC100 Matt Seymour – The 6’1, 167lbs receiver from the New Westminster Hyacks was a freshman this year for the Bobcats. He was a #CFC100 top prospect in 2015 and was also ranked as the number one wide receiver and the number one cornerback in British Columbia. Was named to the AAA Western Conference All-Star Team and the Provincial All-Star team in 2014. During his career he had 769 yards on 45 receptions that lead to 9 touchdowns and rushed 280 yards on 15 carries for 2 touchdowns. Defensively he had 60 tackles and 9 interceptions during his career.
CFC100 Maleek Irons – The 6’0, 224lbs redshirt sophomore is originally from Chilliwack, BC. As a runningback for WJ Mouat high school, Irons earned Provincial Most Valuable Player honors following the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He finished his high school career with 7,944 yards rushing and 98 rushing touchdowns, tallied 120 career tackles and 10 interceptions on the defensive side of the ball, rushed for a Provincial single-season record 3,204 yards and 45 touchdowns in 2012, and also rushed for a single game school record 498 yards. He was a member on Team BC in the 2012 and 2013 International Bowl in Texas, and played on the Team Canada squad that defeated Team USA in the International Bowl. In 2014, he played in 2 games for the Bobcats and recorded his first assisted tackle against Miami. 2015 saw Irons play in 7 games where he rushed for 198 yards and four touchdowns on 33 carries, caught three passes for 33 yards, ran for 58 yards on four carries at Bowling Green (Nov.4), caught two passes for a season-long 13 yards against Miami (Oct.10), and had two solo tackles.
St. Petersburg Bowl: Dec. 26 – Miami (OH) vs. Mississippi State
Justin Senior – MSU’s most experienced offensive lineman who enters his fifth year with the program. Expected to start at one of the tackle positions for the third straight year. Played in 36 games, owns 26 career starts (25 at right tackle and one at left tackle). He has manned the right tackle position the last two seasons. One of the few FBS players hailing from Canada and the only one in the SEC, he grew up in Montreal. Graduated in political science in the summer of 2015 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree. He is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Holiday Bowl: Dec. 27 – Minnesota vs. Washington State
CFC100 Julien Kafo – The 6’4, 265lbs redshirt sophomore is originally from Mont-Tremblant, QC. As a major in Agricultural and Food Business management, the D-lineman played in one game this season against Indiana State. In 2015, he played in two games, and made his debut and tallied one tackle-for-loss at Purdue, and registered a tackle at Iowa. 2014 he redshirted. He attended Vanier College and helped lead the team to a 7-4 record where he recorded 35 tackles, which included 11 tackles-for-loss, notched five sacks, broke up two passes and made one interception. He named defensive lineman of the year.
CFC 100 Jonathan Femi-Cole – The 6’0, 225lbs redshirt freshman did not play in a game this year. In 2015, the runningback redshirted. He Attended St. Andrew’s College where he played in eight games as a senior and rushed for 1,648 yards (137.3 yards-per-game) and 12 touchdowns, rushed 23 times for 137 yards and was named MVP in the 2014 National Underclassmen Combine All-American game in Myrtle Beach, S.C. He was a 2015 #CFC100 ranked player.
Military Bowl: Dec. 27 – Temple vs. Wake Forest
Sam Beckerman – The 5’10, 170lbs punter / kicker hails from North Toronto College Institute. He redshirted his junior year in 2015 when joined the football team in the fall of 2015 after previously being a member of the Wake Forest track & field squad.
Pinstripe Bowl: Dec. 28 – Northwestern vs. Pitt
CFC100 Jesse Meyler – Originally from Toronto, Ontario, this 6’5, 290lbs freshman played his high school football at Episcopal where he led the team to the IAC Championship. He was a first team All-State, All-Met, All-Conference. He also played basketball and track & field (discus). He is expected to major in Psychology.
Alamo Bowl: Dec. 29 – Oklahoma State vs. Colorado
CFC100 Amen Ogbongbemiga – This 6’0, 207 linebacker from Calgary, AB, went to high school at Notre Dame. As a senior there, he had 110 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. His junior year stats included 104 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three sacks. He was named first team all-district and his team’s MVP as a senior, three-time academic honor roll selection, and competed in track and field. He was a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, Scout.com, and 247sports.com.
Shane Richards – This three-star junior college prospect by Rivals.com and 247sports.com, is originally from Calgary, AB. Standing at 6’8 and 330lbs, the offensive lineman was a key contributor on an offense that ranked 11th nationally with 4,759 yards during his sophomore season at Junior College. In high school, he played at Crescent Heights where he was a three-time Calgary HS All-Star at offensive line. In 2012, he was Crescent Height’s Lineman of the Year.
Music City Bowl: Dec. 30 – Nebraska vs. Tennessee
David Knevel – The offensive tackle entered the 2016 season as a player to be counted on to take on a larger role on the line for the Huskers. Knevel provided depth the past two years, serving as the top backup to two-year starter Alex Lewis at left tackle. The 6-9, 315-pound Knevel is one of the tallest players in Husker football history. Knevel is the only player on the 2016 roster from outside the United States, hailing from Brantford, Ontario. In 2015, he played in nine games as a reserve offensive tackle and on the Huskers’ kicking units. Knevel missed four games late in the season because of injury, but returned for the final two games. For 2014, Knevel played in four games as a reserve offensive tackle, seeing action against Florida Atlantic, Fresno State, Northwestern and Rutgers. 2013, he joined the Nebraska program in January after completing high school early, then sat out his first season as a redshirt.
CFC100 Jonathan Kongbo – This redshirt sophomore, originally hails from Surrey, BC where he went to Holy Cross Secondary. The 6’6, 270lbs d-lineman, played in 12 games and started in 1 for 2016 for Tennessee. He made first start of career at defensive tackle against Vanderbilt (11/26), finishing with one tackle and two QB hurries. He returned an interception off QB Drew Lock for a 59-yard touchdown in win vs. Missouri (11/19) and had one tackle for loss, recorded one tackle and one QB hurry against Tennessee Tech (11/5), had one QB hurry vs. Alabama (10/15), saw action off the bench at Texas A&M (10/8), played in wins vs. Florida (9/24), at Georgia (10/1), with veteran DE LaTroy Lewis sidelined due to injury, saw extended playing time vs. Ohio (9/17), posting career-high three tackles (two solo), made first tackle and first QB hurry of Tennessee career vs. Virginia Tech (9/10), and made Tennessee debut vs. Appalachian State (9/1).
Sun Bowl: Dec. 30 – North Carolina vs. Stanford
CFC100 Wesley Annan – The 6’4, 285lbs defensive tackle from Toronto, Ontario was on the 2015 #CFC100 top prospects list and previously attended Lake Forest Academy in Illinois. He did not see action in 2015 as a freshman for Stanford. In his high school senior year he registered 50 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. As a junior, he had 53 tackles (24.0 tackles for loss).
CFC100 Patrice Rene – Patrice was considered a four-star prospect by Rivals and rated the No. 7 player in the state of Virginia and the No. 22 safety in the country. He was also ranked the No. 9 player in Virginia and the No. 25 cornerback nationally by ESPN, considered the No. 2 safety in the East and the No. 31 safety in the country by Scout.com, named first-team VISAA Division I all-state as a senior at Episcopal where he was Team MVP and captain. Rene is originally from Ottawa, Canada.
Peach Bowl: Dec. 31 – Alabama vs. Washington
CFC100 Brayden Lenius – Originally from North Vancouver, BC, this 6’5, 220lbs wide receiver did not see any game action for the 2016 regular season. In 2015, he played in all 13 games, starting six. He set new career highs with three receptions for 37 yards in the opener at Boise State, had a 16-yard catch vs. Sacramento State, four catches for 54 yards in a start vs. Utah State, started against California and USC, made a circus catch vs. the Trojans that made the SportsCenter Top 10 plays that night, had two catches for 29 yards at USC, had two catches for 27 yards vs. Oregon, started at Stanford, catching one pass for five yards, scored first career TD in the win over Arizona, a five-yard reception from Jake Browning, three receptions for 36 in the Utah game, career-high six receptions for 59 yards at Arizona State, scored a pair of touchdowns in the victory at Oregon State, catching three passes for 29 yards. In 2014, he played in all 14 games during his true freshman year, seeing action both on offense and special teams, made first reception, a seven-yarder, vs. Georgia State, started in Washington’s win at Cal, had two receptions for nine yards at Oregon, had a 28-yard reception vs. UCLA, our-yard catch in the win over Oregon State, two receptions for eight yards in the Apple Cup victory at Washington State, and started vs. Oklahoma State in the Cactus Bowl. Lenius was a 2014 #CFC100 ranked player.
Rose Bowl: Jan. 2 – Penn State vs. USC
CFC100 Daniel Joseph – This 6’3, 255lbs defensive lineman played at Lake Forest Academy where he was selected as captain his senior year. He was invited to the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. He was selected as Team MVP as a senior and had 72 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 25 tackles for loss and two interceptions as a defensive lineman and had 10 receiving touchdowns as as tight end. He caught 26 pass for 498 yards and eight touchdowns as a tight end during his junior season. He was rated a four-star prospect by ESPN and 247Sports and a three-star prospect by 247Sports and Scout, was ranked by ESPN as the No. 1 player in Illinois, No. 6 regional player and No. 11 defensive end in the country, and rated as a the third-ranked player in Illinois and 11th-ranked strong-side defensive end in the country by 247Sports, and was ranked as the No. 13 recruit in Illinois by Rivals and the No. 7 defensive end in the Midwest by Scout.
Outback Bowl: Jan. 2 – Iowa vs. Florida
Faith Ekakitie – The 6’3, 290lbs defensive lineman is originally from Brampton, Ontario, but played his high school football at Lake Forest, Ill. Academy. His career includes three varsity letters as defensive lineman, team captain as a senior, collected 62 tackles as a senior, with 12 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception, recorded 58 tackles as a junior, including 15 sacks, while scoring one touchdown, and also lettered in basketball and track.
Sugar Bowl: Jan. 2 – Oklahoma vs. Auburn
CFC100 Neville Gallimore – The 6’3, 310 defensive lineman went to Canada Prep and is originally from St. Catharine’s, Ontario. In 2016 Gallimore had 11-5 GP-GS, 18 UT, 18 AT, 36 total tackles, 4-11 TFL’s, 1-7 Sacks, and 1 FF. He redshirted 2015. Neville had more then 30 offers and chose Oklahoma over Florida State and Ohio State.
| BOWL | DATE | LOCATION | MATCHUP |
| Peach Bowl | Dec. 31 | Atlanta, Ga. | Alabama vs. Washington |
| Fiesta Bowl | Dec. 31 | Glendale, Ariz. | Clemson vs. Ohio State |
| Championship Bowl | Jan. 9 | Tampa, Fla. | Peach winner vs. Fiesta winner |
| SELECTION COMMITTEE BOWL GAMES | |||
| BOWL | DATE | LOCATION | MATCHUP |
| Orange Bowl | Dec. 30 | Miami, Fla. | Florida State vs. Michigan |
| Sugar Bowl | Jan. 2 | New Orleans, La. | Oklahoma vs. Auburn |
| Rose Bowl | Jan. 2 | Pasadena, Calif. | Penn State vs. USC |
| Cotton Bowl | Jan. 2 | Arlington, Tex. | W. Michigan vs. Wisconsin |
| OTHER BOWL GAMES | |||
| BOWL | DATE | LOCATION | MATCHUP |
| New Orleans Bowl | Dec. 17 | New Orleans, La. | UL Lafayette vs So. Miss |
| Cure Bowl | Dec. 17 | Orlando, Fla. | UCF vs. Arkansas State |
| Camellia Bowl | Dec. 17 | Montgomery, Ala. | Toledo vs. App. St. |
| Las Vegas Bowl | Dec. 17 | Las Vegas, Nev. | San Diego St. vs. Houston |
| New Mexico Bowl | Dec. 17 | Albuquerque, N.M. | New Mexico vs. UTSA |
| Miami Beach Bowl | Dec. 19 | Miami, Fla. | Central Michigan vs. Tulsa |
| Boca Raton Bowl | Dec. 20 | Boca Raton, Fla. | Memphis vs. W. Kentucky |
| Poinsettia Bowl | Dec. 21 | San Diego, Calif. | BYU vs. Wyoming |
| Idaho Potato Bowl | Dec. 22 | Boise, Idaho | Idaho vs. Colorado State |
| Dollar General Bowl | Dec. 23 | Mobile, Ala. | Ohio vs. Troy |
| Armed Forces Bowl | Dec. 23 | Fort Worth, Tex. | La. Tech vs. Navy |
| Bahamas Bowl | Dec. 23 | Nassau, Bahamas | Eastern Mich vs. Old Dominion |
| Hawaii Bowl | Dec. 24 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Hawaii vs. Middle Tennessee |
| Independence Bowl | Dec. 26 | Shreveport, La. | NC State vs. Vanderbilt |
| Quick Lane Bowl | Dec. 26 | Detroit, Mich. | Boston College vs. Maryland |
| St. Petersburg Bowl | Dec. 26 | St. Petersburg, Fla. | Miami (OH) vs. Mississippi St. |
| Cactus Bowl | Dec. 27 | Tempe, Ariz. | Baylor vs. Boise St. |
| Holiday Bowl | Dec. 27 | San Diego, Calif. | Minnesota vs. Wash. St. |
| Military Bowl | Dec. 27 | Annapolis, Md. | Temple vs. Wake Forest |
| Heart of Dallas Bowl | Dec. 27 | Dallas, Tex. | Army vs. North Texas |
| Texas Bowl | Dec. 28 | Houston, Tex. | Kansas St. vs. Texas A&M |
| Foster Farms Bowl | Dec. 28 | Santa Clara, Calif. | Indiana vs. Utah |
| Russell Athletic Bowl | Dec. 28 | Orlando, Fla. | Miami (Fla.) vs. W. Virginia |
| Pinstripe Bowl | Dec. 28 | New York, N.Y. | Northwestern vs. Pitt |
| Alamo Bowl | Dec. 29 | San Antonio, Tex. | Oklahoma St. vs. Colorado |
| Belk Bowl | Dec. 29 | Charlotte, N.C. | Virginia Tech. vs. Arkansas |
| Birmingham Bowl | Dec. 29 | Birmingham, Ala. | South Fla. vs. South Carolina |
| Arizona Bowl | Dec. 30 | Tucson, Ariz. | Air Force vs. S. Alabama |
| Music City Bowl | Dec. 30 | Nashville, Tenn. | Nebraska vs. Tennessee |
| Sun Bowl | Dec. 30 | El Paso, Tex. | North Carolina vs. Stanford |
| Liberty Bowl | Dec. 30 | Memphis, Tenn. | Georgia vs. TCU |
| TaxSlayer Bowl | Dec. 31 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Georgia Tech vs. Kentucky |
| Citrus Bowl | Dec. 31 | Orlando, Fla. | LSU vs. Louisville |
| Outback Bowl | Jan. 2 | Tampa, Fla. | Iowa vs. Florida |
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