CFL announces September Scouting Bureau: Smith leads the list

Iowa receiver Tevaun Smith tops the list in the first installment of Scouting Bureau rankings

Friday, September 4, 2015 — (TORONTO) The Canadian Football League Scouting Bureau has released its September (and first of three) rankings of the top-20 eligible prospects for the 2016 CFL Canadian Draft.

Top 5 Prospects

The number one ranked prospect is wide receiver and Toronto, Ontario native Tevaun Smith. The 6’2” 205 pound receiver led the Iowa Hawkeyes in receiving yards during the 2014 campaign with 596 and was second on the team with 43 receptions. After his career season as a junior, he was an honourable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches.

Manitoba Bisons defensive lineman David Onyemata is the highest ranked CIS and defensive player on the list. Last season, Onyemata started all eight conference games in 2014; the Lagos, Nigeria native was tied for 13th with 3.5 tackles for losses while registering 1.5 sacks and recording 28 total tackles.

In the third position is Michigan State Spartans CB Arjen Colquhoun. The fifth-year senior from Windsor, Ontario enters the 2015 season listed as the co-starter at field corner. Last season Colquhoun played in 11 games registering 12 tackles, two pass break-ups and an interception.

Calgary Dinos defensive back Elie Bouka and running back Mercer Timmis round out the top-prospects. Bouka, a Laval, Quebec native notched 20 total tackles, four pass break-ups and three interceptions. Timmis scored 10 touchdowns and led the Dinos in 953 rushing yards averaging 7.9 yards per rush.

Rounding out the top 10 are Oklahoma offensive lineman Josiah St. John, Buffalo offensive lineman Dillion Guy, Miami (Ohio) defensive lineman Mitchell Winters, Boston College defensive lineman Mehdi Abdesmad and Laval offensive lineman Charles Vaillancourt.

By the Numbers

The September rankings include six receivers, five offensive linemen, four defensive backs, four defensive linemen, and one running back.

There are 15 universities represented on the list featuring two schools with multiple selections: Laval (4) and Calgary (3).

Alex Mateas, the 2015 CFL Draft first overall selection, was ranked sixth in the 2014 September rankings.

18 of 20 players from last season’s September’s CFL Scouting Bureau rankings were selected in the 2015 CFL Draft including all nine first round selections.

About the Central Scouting Bureau

The CFL Scouting Bureau releases its rankings three times each year: in September, December and April.

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