2017 CFL Draft - What Players Will Our Leos Choose

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WestCoastJoe
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http://3downnation.com/2017/03/20/2017- ... -rankings/

If we were to acquire via the draft one of these OL and two of these DL, this fan would be very happy. Our National talent would look much deeper and more competitive. Hope it goes our way. No deep gambles off the radar screen, please.
Justin Dunk’s CFL draft prospect rankings

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Justin Dunk // 5 Comments

Scouts have been working away in preparation for the national Canadian Football League combine set for March 23-25 in Regina. That means draft season is about to become the focus around the country. With that in mind, let’s unveil top five rankings for prospects position-by-position in advance of the annual talent assessment event as compiled from pro evaluators coast to coast.

FILE – Missippi State offensive lineman Justin Senior blocks out LSU defensive end Deondre Clark (98). (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Offensive linemen

1) Justin Senior, Mississippi State

Started three straight seasons primarily at right tackle for the Bulldogs.

2) Dariusz Bladek, Bethune-Cookman

Just missed out on qualifying for national status in time for last year’s draft.

3) Geoff Gray, Manitoba

Impressed scouts at the East-West Shrine Game and the Winnipeg native has a great physique.

4) Mason Woods, Idaho

34 starts in his final three seasons with the Vandals after redshirting his freshman year.

5) Jeremy Zver, Regina

Two-sport athlete – basketball and football – who missed all but one game during the 2016 football season due to injury.



Receivers

1) Mitchell Picton, Regina

11 receiving touchdowns led all USports pass catchers last season. He made 58 receptions for 834 yards, both totals ranked second in Canadian university football.

2) Nathaniel Behar, Carleton

Team captain and leader of the program since the Ravens returned to playing football in 2013.

3) Danny Vandervoort, McMaster

Three-time All-Canadian who has been productive from day one when he set foot on campus.

4) Malcolm Carter, Ottawa Sooners

29 receptions for 537 yards (18.5 average) and nine touchdowns in seven Canadian Junior Football League games last year.

5) Alex Morrison, UBC

Classic big, thick-bodied Canadian receiver.



Running backs

1) Ante Milanovic-Litre, Simon Fraser

Well put together and could play running back or fullback at the next level.

2) Johnny Augustine, Guelph

An ankle injury limited the shredded back in 2016, but he still managed 563 rushing yards in six games.

3) Anthony Gosselin, Sherbrooke

Physical fullback is rising up draft boards after a strong Montreal combine showing.

4) Sean Thomas Erlington, Montreal

Nine carries for 93 yards and one touchdown in the 14th annual CIS East-West Bowl.

5) Isaac Lauzon, Sherbrooke

Tough runner and solid in pass protection.



Defensive lineman

1) Eli Ankou, UCLA

19 starts up front for the Bruins over the last two years while recording 85 tackles.

2) Faith Ekakitie, Iowa

Coming off his most productive season at Iowa with 39 tackles and two tackles for loss.

3) Justin Vaughn, Fordham

Senior campaign: 10 games, 40 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks and one blocked kick.

4) Junior Luke, Montreal

Force in the middle of Montreal’s stingy defence.

5) Kwaku Boateng, Laurier

Golden Hawks all-time sacks leader (20.5). Special teams value too.





Linebacker

1) Christophe Mulumba, Maine

All-CAA (Colonial Athletic Conference) first-team selection three straight seasons.

2) Jordan Herdman, Simon Fraser

Holds Great Northwest Athletic Conference records for all-time tackles (428) and single games tackles (26).

3) Justin Herdman, Simon Fraser

Brother to Jordan who has made over 200 tackles with the Clan.

4) Frederic Chagnon, Montreal

2016 USports All-Canadian, one of the leaders on a defence that allowed the fewest points (72) and yards per game (267.4) in Canada.

5) Nakas Onyeka, Laurier

President’s Trophy winner as the outstanding standup defensive player in the OUA for the 2016 season.



Defensive backs

1) Dondre Wright, Henderson State

65 tackles, seven pass break-ups, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception for the Reddies last year.

2) Robert Woodson, Calgary

Younger brother of current Stampeders running back Anthony Woodson.

3) Nathaniel Hamlin, Carleton

Under the radar defensive back with intriguing size.

4) Harland Hastings, Acadia

Athletic prospect with a gymnastics background.

5) Tunde Adeleke, Carleton

Dynamic return man at the USports level, but he needs to be more physical in order to succeed in the pros.



Specialists

1) Adam Searl, UCLA

Mainly a punter who possesses a strong leg.

2) Felix Menard-Briere, Montreal

Handled all three kicking duties for the Carabins.

3) Lewis Ward, Ottawa

Primarily a kick-off and field goal prospect.

4) Michael Domagala, Carleton

Third in USports with 41.1-yard punting average in 2016.

5) Kain Anzovino, Kent State

Best long snapper in the class.
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IMO drafting a OT in the first round is mandatory as the Lions are only an injury to Steward or Foucalt away from then having to go the rest of the season without a NAT backup at OT.
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DanoT wrote:IMO drafting a OT in the first round is mandatory as the Lions are only an injury to Steward or Foucalt away from then having to go the rest of the season without a NAT backup at OT.

on a needs basis if we got SB Vandervoort at #3 and the Iowa NT Ekakitie at #7 is would be awesome first round.
OL draft is deep, we can take them in 16 and 24. Backup C would be nice. if we get one of the herdman's in later rounds for special teams, that would be good too.

Remember we are going to have a logjam at cdn T position next year if Boyko is released because he become like Foucault with no NFL PR eligiblity (its CFL or career over). I'm assuming next year, Steward with a good year leaves as FA or goes to NFL, with a bad year moves inside to G, Foucault becomes the starter with Boyko as his backup.
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DanoT
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Qman wrote:
DanoT wrote:IMO drafting a OT in the first round is mandatory as the Lions are only an injury to Steward or Foucalt away from then having to go the rest of the season without a NAT backup at OT.

on a needs basis if we got SB Vandervoort at #3 and the Iowa NT Ekakitie at #7 is would be awesome first round.
OL draft is deep, we can take them in 16 and 24. Backup C would be nice. if we get one of the herdman's in later rounds for special teams, that would be good too.

Remember we are going to have a logjam at cdn T position next year if Boyko is released because he become like Foucault with no NFL PR eligiblity (its CFL or career over). I'm assuming next year, Steward with a good year leaves as FA or goes to NFL, with a bad year moves inside to G, Foucault becomes the starter with Boyko as his backup.
Me thinks as Wally's retirement gets closer and closer he is loading up for a Grey Cup run in 2017. Also if Boyko becomes available wouldn't Wally want a stash of OTs so he can go 5 NATs on the Oline?

As far as Steward goes for next year, there could be a bit of a hometown discount as he is from Victoria. OTOH Wally/Dorazio getting Steward to play LG now makes him more versatile and more valuable and therefore a more expensive player who can start at LG or LT.
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DanoT wrote:
Qman wrote:
DanoT wrote:IMO drafting a OT in the first round is mandatory as the Lions are only an injury to Steward or Foucalt away from then having to go the rest of the season without a NAT backup at OT.

on a needs basis if we got SB Vandervoort at #3 and the Iowa NT Ekakitie at #7 is would be awesome first round.
OL draft is deep, we can take them in 16 and 24. Backup C would be nice. if we get one of the herdman's in later rounds for special teams, that would be good too.

Remember we are going to have a logjam at cdn T position next year if Boyko is released because he become like Foucault with no NFL PR eligiblity (its CFL or career over). I'm assuming next year, Steward with a good year leaves as FA or goes to NFL, with a bad year moves inside to G, Foucault becomes the starter with Boyko as his backup.
Me thinks as Wally's retirement gets closer and closer he is loading up for a Grey Cup run in 2017. Also if Boyko becomes available wouldn't Wally want a stash of OTs so he can go 5 NATs on the Oline?

As far as Steward goes for next year, there could be a bit of a hometown discount as he is from Victoria. OTOH Wally/Dorazio getting Steward to play LG now makes him more versatile and more valuable and therefore a more expensive player who can start at LG or LT.
Doubt we will every go 5 NATs on OLine again. Allstar cdn T is 250k, run-off the mill veteran cdn T is 175-225k. You could go with a cdn WR for 100k as your 7th cdn, or cdn DLinemen for 140k. cap savings of ~100k.

Plus the US tackle is only making 75k run-of-the-mill guy to $175k for Schenley contender.

Its all cap related, plus injury replacement is cheap and easy with US tackle.


As for Steward, he has not shown he can play outside and stay healthy. Long term he is a guard here. I don't know if he sees it that way, but he resigned here for 2017 anyway. If he wants to play tackle, he will likely have to go to saskatchewan or toronto in FA. Don't put much stock in NFL aspirations, but we did have a bunch of back-ups sign in NFL this year as FA.
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DanoT
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Qman, you may be right about Wally not going with 5 NAT Olinemen for SMS reasons but I find it hard to accept your view on Steward being injury prone at tackle with the inference that he is less injury prone at guard.

Any other Lionbackers have an opinion as to whether tackles are more injury prone than guards?
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No, offensive tackles are not more prone to injury than guard. In fact guards tend to get injured more often because its more of a mess inside than outside, the defensive tackles are bigger and more powerful, and its also easier to get rolled up on inside,which is always an offensive lineman's fear. On the outside, the offensive tackle usually only has one defender to content with, wheras inside there are bodies in both directions and linebackers also penetrating at times.

Focusing on Steward's injuries, when he played tackle, is misleading. Kirby Fabian has knee reconstruction surgery while playing guard. Matt Norman had three surgeries and an infection playing center/guard.

The CFL doesn't provide the injury stats that you are looking for but the NFL does and my guess is that the CFL game, in terms of injuries is pretty close.

These are the position groups, in order, that deal with the most injuries.

1. Receiver
2. Defensive Tackle
3. Defensive End
4. Linebacker
5. Running Back
6. Defensive Back
7. Offensive Center
8. Offensive Guard
9. Offensive Tackle
10. Quarterback

If you were insuring a position group, you would lose money on receives and make money on quarterbacks but then again teams focus on protecting their quarterback more than any other position.

Steward's injuries were not related to playing tackle. Twice, in two seasons, Steward had his fifth metatarsal bone go “pop” — the second occurring on just the second day of a training camp during a routine drill. His foot injury was known as a “Jones fracture” — its not a serious injury - its slow to heal - but there are no lingering effects, like most knee injuries.

A National who has the ability to be a starter is usually more expensive, contract wise, than an International. A star International receiver, like a Geroy or a Manny or a National staring tailback like a Harris or a Messam, or a star left tackle like an Olifioye or a Bryant or a stud linebacker like a Sol E. can get the bigger money but usually the players on a team who are the most highly paid, outside of a few International stars are the starting Nationals. Most Internationals are cheaper.
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Blitz wrote:No, offensive tackles are not more prone to injury than guard. In fact guards tend to get injured more often because its more of a mess inside than outside, the defensive tackles are bigger and more powerful, and its also easier to get rolled up on inside,which is always an offensive lineman's fear. On the outside, the offensive tackle usually only has one defender to content with, wheras inside there are bodies in both directions and linebackers also penetrating at times.

Focusing on Steward's injuries, when he played tackle, is misleading. Kirby Fabian has knee reconstruction surgery while playing guard. Matt Norman had three surgeries and an infection playing center/guard.

The CFL doesn't provide the injury stats that you are looking for but the NFL does and my guess is that the CFL game, in terms of injuries is pretty close.

These are the position groups, in order, that deal with the most injuries.

1. Receiver
2. Defensive Tackle
3. Defensive End
4. Linebacker
5. Running Back
6. Defensive Back
7. Offensive Center
8. Offensive Guard
9. Offensive Tackle
10. Quarterback

If you were insuring a position group, you would lose money on receives and make money on quarterbacks but then again teams focus on protecting their quarterback more than any other position.

Steward's injuries were not related to playing tackle. Twice, in two seasons, Steward had his fifth metatarsal bone go “pop” — the second occurring on just the second day of a training camp during a routine drill. His foot injury was known as a “Jones fracture” — its not a serious injury - its slow to heal - but there are no lingering effects, like most knee injuries.

A National who has the ability to be a starter is usually more expensive, contract wise, than an International. A star International receiver, like a Geroy or a Manny or a National staring tailback like a Harris or a Messam, or a star left tackle like an Olifioye or a Bryant or a stud linebacker like a Sol E. can get the bigger money but usually the players on a team who are the most highly paid, outside of a few International stars are the starting Nationals. Most Internationals are cheaper.
Took the words right out of my mouth. Tackles are generally required to be more athletic as they have to keep up with quick rush ends, whereas guards tend to be more powerful having to block 300lb+ defensive tackles, and deal with a 230lb linebacker running at you full speed. Although when I played I was lucky to avoid serious injuries where I would have had to miss playing time. Aside from the normal bumps and bruises the worst I had was spraining the same ankle three times during the season. That came when I was playing guard.
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Lionsfan65 wrote:
Blitz wrote:No, offensive tackles are not more prone to injury than guard. In fact guards tend to get injured more often because its more of a mess inside than outside, the defensive tackles are bigger and more powerful, and its also easier to get rolled up on inside,which is always an offensive lineman's fear. On the outside, the offensive tackle usually only has one defender to content with, wheras inside there are bodies in both directions and linebackers also penetrating at times.

Focusing on Steward's injuries, when he played tackle, is misleading. Kirby Fabian has knee reconstruction surgery while playing guard. Matt Norman had three surgeries and an infection playing center/guard.

The CFL doesn't provide the injury stats that you are looking for but the NFL does and my guess is that the CFL game, in terms of injuries is pretty close.

These are the position groups, in order, that deal with the most injuries.

1. Receiver
2. Defensive Tackle
3. Defensive End
4. Linebacker
5. Running Back
6. Defensive Back
7. Offensive Center
8. Offensive Guard
9. Offensive Tackle
10. Quarterback

If you were insuring a position group, you would lose money on receives and make money on quarterbacks but then again teams focus on protecting their quarterback more than any other position.

Steward's injuries were not related to playing tackle. Twice, in two seasons, Steward had his fifth metatarsal bone go “pop” — the second occurring on just the second day of a training camp during a routine drill. His foot injury was known as a “Jones fracture” — its not a serious injury - its slow to heal - but there are no lingering effects, like most knee injuries.

A National who has the ability to be a starter is usually more expensive, contract wise, than an International. A star International receiver, like a Geroy or a Manny or a National staring tailback like a Harris or a Messam, or a star left tackle like an Olifioye or a Bryant or a stud linebacker like a Sol E. can get the bigger money but usually the players on a team who are the most highly paid, outside of a few International stars are the starting Nationals. Most Internationals are cheaper.
Took the words right out of my mouth. Tackles are generally required to be more athletic as they have to keep up with quick rush ends, whereas guards tend to be more powerful having to block 300lb+ defensive tackles, and deal with a 230lb linebacker running at you full speed. Although when I played I was lucky to avoid serious injuries where I would have had to miss playing time. Aside from the normal bumps and bruises the worst I had was spraining the same ankle three times during the season. That came when I was playing guard.
Your post makes me relieved that I was playing free safety while you were in the trenches, dealing with all those bodies flying around in the mud, sweat, and occasional blood lionsfan65. But while some position groups experience a higher rate of injury than others, you can be injured playing any position on a football field.

I think a lot of people believe playing receiver is a less dangerous position than most but its not true. Recievers get hit at full speed coming across the field while focusing on the football. They get speared in the back often while catching footballs with their back to a defender. They get hit by linebackers as well as defensive backs on shorter routes. They get sandwiched and hit by two defenders at the same time. Takes courage to go high up for a football at high speed, knowing your are going to take a hit. They pay a price for the limelight. I started playing football as a guard, then a middle linebacker, then played a fair amount of slotback in my playing days before moving over to defense. I liked hitting more than being hit.

But anyone who played the game, whether in jr. high or high school or at any level, they realize that an injury is always one play away. You just see a lot of injuries up close when you are playing the game at any level. If heavy duty contact was not a part of your soul, it was wiser to play in the band.
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RB and DT are the big injury positions in NFL ... this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has played football. Those are two of the most punishing positions.

http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2010/7/7/1 ... ups-suffer


I was more referring to Steward was always getting hurt at T, and he moved to guard and he had a relatively injury free season. I was just player specific, not generic to the position.
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Qman wrote:I was more referring to Steward was always getting hurt at T, and he moved to guard and he had a relatively injury free season. I was just player specific, not generic to the position.
Fair enough, although injuries are hard to predict. S*** happens. One of my previously mentioned ankle injuries happened when I was running off the field to get water.
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Lionsfan65 wrote:
Qman wrote:I was more referring to Steward was always getting hurt at T, and he moved to guard and he had a relatively injury free season. I was just player specific, not generic to the position.
Fair enough, although injuries are hard to predict. S*** happens. One of my previously mentioned ankle injuries happened when I was running off the field to get water.
It often amazes me how pro athletes get injured. One often learns that a pro, playing a violent game injury free, throws his back out reaching down for his kids skateboard or taking out the garbage.

In pro baseball, Ken Griffey Jr. broke his hand while wrestlng with his young son, Cal Ripkin Jr. had to play with a broken nose, when he was accidentally elbowed by a teammate during the team photo session, Larry Walker separated his shoulder fishing, and Adam Eaton stabbed himself in the stomach with a knife while using it to take the cellophane off a DVD.

Hockey goalie Glenn Healy suffered a serious cut to his hand that required 40 stitches while cleaning his bagpipes. Gappler Randy Orton, suffered a dislocated shoulder while taking out the garbage and the great Michael Jorden lacerated his finger with a cigar cutter, vacationing in the Bahamas while Matt Bonner got tennis elbow from using his IPhone.

Not to ignore pro soccer or motor racing, West Ham forward Enner Valencia needed surgery on his toe after he accidentally stepped on a broken tea cup that he dropped because it was too hot, Milan Rapaic once missed the start of a season after sticking his boarding-pass in his eye at the airport, and NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson missed a good four weeks on the circuit after he injured his wris falling from a moving golf cart.

We expecailly expect tough pro football players not to get injured away from the practice field but they do. Jaguars punter Chris Hanson and his teamate Jaret Holmes were severely burned when a fondue pot overturned, Washington safety LaRon Landry missed time after he was shot in the groin while playing paintball, Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall severed an artery, a vein and a nerve in his right forearm and missed most of a season when he slipped while stepping on a misplaced McDonald's bag.

A fairly high number of football injuries happen in unexpected ways. A teammate misses a tackle and hits his own player, a tailback rolls up on his own offensive lineman's legs, a quarterback steps on the heel of his pulling guard or center, a tailback gets his hand stepped on in a pileup, etc. etc. Some players seem lucky, while others are not, in terms of injury.

Steward's injuries to his foot, known as a Jones fracture, is an injury to the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot. The fifth metatarsal bone lies at the base of the small toe, and the Jones fracture occurs in the midfoot area (the top of the bone), towards the ankle from the base of the small toe.

A Jones fracture results in pain over this middle/outside area of the foot, as well as swelling, and difficulty walking. Most often a Jones fracture is caused without significant injury or impact.

One would not think such a small injury would have such serious effects. Treatment of an acute Jones fracture consists of immobilization with a cast. No weight can be put on the foot.. Crutches will be used for the initial healing phase, which may be six to eight weeks. A Jones fractures can become chronic if the fracture fails to unite or heal. Surgery is usually recommended to secure the fracture in place with a screw, and bone graft may be used to stimulate a healing response. Steward eventually did the surgery with a bone graft.

But all was well last season and Steward had an excellent first season playing left guard, a new and very different offensive line positiion for him last year. International Bombers guard Travis Bond, along with National Spencer Wilson, were named to the CFL West All-Star team but as far as I am concerned Steward was as good as Bond or even better in the second half of last season.

I always respect the CFL Players Association All-Star team. I found it interesting last season that the players chose Jovan Olifioye and Stanley Bryant as their all-star tackles, even though Derrick Dennis won the CFL Best Lineman award. The players are not allowed to vote for anyone on their own team. Interesting that Dave Dickenson won the nod of the players as the CFL's top Head Coach, in only his first season in that role.

Getting back to Steward, he played 7 games at left tackle for our Leos in 2014 and never gave up a sack. Not too shabby for a rookie National tackle in his first 7 games of pro football.
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
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Nick Moore out for the season celebrating a touchdown with Purifoy
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This year's 2017 draft still has no clear favorites as we get closer to draft day. With our Leos at #3 and #7, this is a very important draft for us.


Stock Assessment: Who’s trending where in the trenches?

Marshall Ferguson
CFL.ca

TORONTO — While national offensive linemen are always coveted, the upcoming CFL Draft class is considered by some accounts quite rich in Canadian talent on the defensive line.

The O-line will be a focus for every general manager across the league this May because the old adage has been proven right time and time again: that you can never have too many Canadian offensive linemen.

One offensive lineman on the way up, CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson says, is McGill’s Qadr Spooner.“It doesn’t hurt that with one of the biggest wingspans of the entire combine, Spooner put up 31 reps on bench,” said Spooner. “It’s something that allows him to toss aside defenders with consistency on game tape.”

Canadian defensive linemen, on the other hand, can be ratio-breakers.

For Ferguson, Kay Okafor was impossible to ignore on the defensive side of the ball at the CFL Combine.“The combine for Okafor was like watching scouts sit in an empty Texas field they heard had oil somewhere but weren’t sure where to find it. Once in a while, a drop or two of oil would rise from the ground on a pass rush move as a hint to what is coming.“With the right coaching, whoever drafts Okafor is going to have oil exploding from the earth quickly.”

With the CFL Combine presented by adidas all wrapped up, CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson looks at who’s trending where heading towards the CFL Draft on May 7:
 
OL QADR SPOONER
McGILL UNIVERSITY
STOCK: UP ⬆
Spooner answered the bell admirably in almost every one-on-one at the combine. It’s hard to ignore his naturally gifted size and body composition. It’s not hard to imagine him in your favourite team’s uniform for 10 years as a consistent contributor to a sound pass attack and downhill running game.

 OL EVAN JOHNSON
UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN
STOCK: UP ⬆

Johnson tested out incredibly well and despite being undersized showed the ability to block as a fundamentally sound rotational offensive lineman — something every team needs to find in the mid to late rounds of the CFL draft.

 
OL BRADEN SCHRAM
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
STOCK: UP ⬆
Schram got lost in the shuffle a bit for me with the multitude of Dinos attending CFL combines. However, after the CFL combine I had to go back and watch his tape. It showed a really good, well-rounded offensive lineman with potential to grow.

 
OL MASON WOODS
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO
STOCK: DOWN ⬇
Woods might be a victim of expectations more than anything else and I believe he is still a viable first or second round lock. The concern is his ability to bend with tackles against the likes of Kwaku Boateng and Connor McGough. Both are diminutive next to Woods but height isn’t always a good thing when trying to block a power rushing end or tackle.

 
OL KWABENA ASARE
CARLETON UNIVERSITY
STOCK: DOWN ⬇
Asare is as naturally gifted an offensive lineman as there is in the 2017 draft. His athletic testing isn’t all that important as it’s already understood he is a raw prospect but with a better performance I really think he could have helped himself.

 
OL JORDAN FILIPPELLI
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
STOCK: DOWN ⬇
Filippelli came in a little heavy and struggled to bend athletically at times during one-on-ones. His game film shows he can play against some of USPORTS’ best pass rushers such as St.FX defensive end Kyle Forde and Laval’s Ed Godin but can he hold up against the CFL’s best in a moment of need?

 
OL DARIUSZ BLADEK
BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY
STOCK: STABLE
Bladek had a lot of hype coming into the combine and did just about everything he needed to in order to keep his name in high regard. Status quo for him, and that’s a good thing.

 
OL/DL EMMANUEL ADUSEI
CARLETON UNIVERSITY
STOCK: SLEEPER
Adusei has been a big-bodied defensive tackle for the Ravens but took several reps at offensive guard during the East regional combine and looked right at home.

 
DL KAY OKAFOR
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY
STOCK: UP ⬆
What’s not to love about this guy? He’s a mountain of a man with a skill set that has barely been tapped. He is raw but incredibly athletic and well above average in strength. That doesn’t come through in pass rush drills but with the right coach it will.

 
DL MARK MACKIE
McMASTER UNIVERSITY
STOCK: UP ⬆
Mackie was selected from the Ontario Regional Combine to attend the national combine due to his vast variety of pass rush moves and overall athleticism. Even against one of the most athletic defensive line groups in recent memory with Kwaku Boateng, Fabion Foote and Kay Okafor, Mackie stood tall and dazzled with his quick feet and strong initial burst.

 
DL CONNOR McGOUGH
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
STOCK: UP ⬆
McGough was one of my favourite players on film leading into the combine due to the variety of roles he was asked to play by the Calgary coaching staff as a defensive end with a linebacker package and special teams personal protector on punt. He does a little bit of everything but when focused on a singular pass rush move he comes with a plan and it showed in Regina. He feels like the type of guy you could use in a national defensive line rotation without any concerns while watching his potential ceiling continue to rise.

 
DL SAMUEL NARKAJ
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY
STOCK: DOWN ⬇
Narkaj was essentially exactly what you expected. A bulldozer of a defensive tackle with a big bench number and lacklustre agility scores. There is nothing wrong with that but his lack of variety in the pass rush one-on-ones is a bit concerning, especially with fellow RSEQ defensive tackle Mathieu Dupuis showing off his wider-ranging skill set.

 
DL JUSTIN VAUGHN
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
STOCK: DOWN ⬇
Vaughn came to the combine best defined as a question mark. He left much the same. Shoulder surgery didn’t allow Vaughn to complete the bench press and he ran one 40-yard dash before tweaking something, which didn’t allow him to run the 3-cone or shuttle. His natural length and on-tape athleticism are exactly what teams want to see, but don’t think for a second not being able to make it through the combine healthy doesn’t make teams wonder if a player could survive their first training camp.

 
DL JUNIOR LUKE
UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL
STOCK: DOWN ⬇
I still believe Luke will get taken in the top half of the draft because game tape outweighs all other things, but he did struggle at times during the combine and could find himself in a log jam with other talented defensive tackles — such as Kay Okafor — taking a step forward.

 
DL KWAKU BOATENG
WILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY
STOCK: STABLE
Similar to Idaho offensive lineman Mason Woods, the CFL combine was all about checking off boxes for Boateng. He did it with greater success than Woods in Regina and showed why many believe he could be the first USPORTS player off the board come May 7.

 
DL EMILE CHARRON-LIGEZ
UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL
STOCK: SLEEPER
The University of Montreal Carabins defensive end had a quickness and energy about him at the Eastern Regional Combine unlike any other defensive lineman at CFL combines this year.
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
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CardiacKid
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Joined: Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:46 am
Location: Under Christmas Hill, Saanich

In perusing the posts, I was a little surprised not to see Anthony Auclair's name pop up. Based on the interest he has garnered from the NFL, it seems a very good chance he will get his name called at the NFL draft. Roughly 10 NFL teams visited with the guy including the KC Chiefs who have had luck with French-Canadians.

But Wally has shown himself willing to expend a risky pick on a player who may disappear down south for a spell and I think Auclair would be worth that wait. A big target like that who can punish defense backs would be sweet. The 2nd tallest guy who ever got evaluated for a pro day or combine at 6'5" and who runs a 4.82 40 and weighs in at 256.

As a tight end, he is bit of a square peg for the round hole CFL. But perhaps his presence would get Khari Jones to open up his bag of tricks a little more?
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