Heenan Ranked Top Prospect for 2012 CFL Canadian Draft

University of Saskatchewan offensive lineman Ben Heenan continues to be the top ranked prospect for this year’s Canadian Draft, the Canadian Football League Scouting Bureau announced today.

But despite Heenan’s hold on top of the ranking, there was plenty of movement below him, including the biggest change, the addition of Boise State defensive end Tyrone Crawford at the number two spot. Crawford was not included in the first scouting bureau ranking because he had not yet been declared eligible for the upcoming Canadian draft.

Four other players cracked the ranking for the first time, including Wofford defensive end Ameet Pall (7), McMaster offensive lineman and Vanier Cup champion Jason Medeiros (10), Laval defensive end Arnaud Gascon-Nadon (13) and Queen’s receiver Johnny Aprile (14).

The ranking includes five offensive lineman, four receivers, four defensive ends, a linebacker and a defensive back.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders currently hold the top pick in the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft. For the full draft order click here.

The CFL’s Scouting Bureau is comprised of CFL scouts, player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s eight teams.

Here is the full list:

1 (1) Ben Heenan, OL, Saskatchewan

2 (-) Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State

3 (3) Austin Pasztor, OL, Virgina

4 (2) Shamawd Chambers, R, Wilfrid Laurier

5 (5) Kirby Fabien, OL, Calgary

6 (4) Frederic Plesius, LB, Laval

7 (-) Ameet Pall, DE, Wofford

8 (7) Bryce McCall, DB, Saskatchewan

9 (8) Simon Charbonneau-Campeau, R, Sherbrooke

10 (-) Jason Medeiros, OL, McMaster

11 (6) Ismael Bamba, R, Sherbrooke

12 (13) Christo Bilukidi, DE, Georgia State

13 (-) Arnaud Gascon-Nadon, DE, Laval

14 (-) Johnny Aprile, R, Queen’s

15 (11) Matt Norman, OL, Western Ontario

Laval photos: Yan Droulet

CIS – University of Saskatchewan tackle Ben Heenan is still the number one prospect for the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft.

The CFL’s Scouting Bureau published Tuesday its second Top 15 list of the season. Heenan, who was also No. 1 on the initial list back on September 19, heads a group of 11 CIS players to make the cut, two more than in the fall ranking.

Heenan, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound senior who hails from Grand Coulee, Sask., was named a CIS all-Canadian for the second straight year in 2011 despite switching positions from guard to tackle in his fourth campaign with the Huskies. The former Canada West rookie of the year is one of three CIS players who will showcase their talent in the prestigious East-West Shrine Game this Saturday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Other CIS standouts included on the new Scouting Bureau list are Wilfrid Laurier wide receiver Shamawd Chambers, who drops two positions to No. 4; Calgary offensive lineman Kirby Fabien, who remains at No. 5; Laval linebacker Frédéric Plesius, down two spots to No. 6; Saskatchewan defensive back Bryce McCall, down one to No. 8; Sherbrooke wideout Simon Charbonneau-Campeau, down one to No. 9; previously unranked offensive lineman Jason Medeiros from McMaster, at No. 10; Sherbrooke wide receiver Ismaël Bamba, down five spots to No. 11; previously unranked defensive end Arnaud Gascon-Nadon from Laval, at No. 13; previously unranked receiver Giovanni Aprile from Queen’s, at No. 14; and Western Ontario guard Matt Norman, down four positions to No. 15.

Medeiros helped McMaster claim the first Vanier Cup in school history last fall, while Gascon-Nadon won a second consecutive J.P. Metras Trophy as the top down lineman in CIS football. Gascon-Nadon will also compete in Saturday’s East-West Shrine Game.

McGill kicker Austin Anderson was the lone CIS player to drop off the CFL’s prospects list. The son of NFL legend Gary Anderson was ranked 12th in September.

The CFL’s Scouting Bureau is comprised of CFL scouts, player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s eight teams.

A year ago, St. Francis Xavier linebacker Henoc Muamba became the fifth straight CIS player – and the ninth in 12 years – to be selected first overall in the CFL Canadian Draft.

CFL SCOUTING BUREAU JANUARY 17, 2012 LIST:
Rank Name University Hometown Pos. Ht. Wt. Previous Rank

1. Ben Heenan Saskatchewan Grand Coulee, Sask. OT 6-4 310 (1)
2. Tyrone Crawford Boise State Windsor, Ont. DE 6-4 273 (NR) *
3. Austin Pasztor Virginia Langton, Ont. OG 6-7 305 (3)
4. Shamawd Chambers Laurier Markham, Ont. WR 6-3 219 (2)
5. Kirby Fabien Calgary Calgary, Alta. OL 6-6 295 (5)
6. Frédéric Plesius Laval Laval, Que. LB 6-1 245 (4)
7. Ameet Pall Wofford Montreal, Que. DE 6-0 245 (NR)
8. Bryce McCall Saskatchewan Regina, Sask. DB 6-0 200 (7)
9. Simon Charbonneau-Campeau Sherbrooke Saint-Jean, Que. WR 6-4 195 (8)
10. Jason Medeiros McMaster Hamilton, Ont. OL 6-4 315 (NR)
11. Ismaël Bamba Sherbrooke Laval, Que. WR 6-1 195 (6)
12. Christo Bilukidi Georgia State Ottawa, Ont. DE 6-5 290 (13)
13. Arnaud G.-Nadon Laval Montreal, Que. DE 6-3 250 (NR)
14. Giovanni Aprile Queen’s Toronto, Ont. REC 6-2 208 (NR)
15. Matt Norman Western Châteauguay, Que. OG 6-4 329 (11)

* Crawford was not included in the first Scouting Bureau ranking (September) because he had not yet been declared eligible for the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft.