2017 CFL Draft Thread

[OV Argo]

In advance of the CFL's Scouting Prospect's List (first of which for 2017 should be out soon)



1) Jordan Herdman - Linebacker - (Simon Fraser, 6-2, 235) - already a 2 time Conference D player of the year and record setting tackler

2) Elie Ankou - DT - (UCLA, 6-3, 305) - repeat starter on a Div I program

3) Rishaun Simonise - receiver - (Calgary, 6-5, 210) - big target, speedy receiver with big CIS production - * (not playing for the Dinos this season - academically inelligible ? - but was already signed as a FA by the NFL's Bengals this summer but released in TC)

4) Eddie Meredith - OT - (Western, 6-6, 310) - 2 time CIS all-star OT; previously recruited by Boston College - * (not playing for Western this season - and haven't been able to find out why?) - if he has given up on football = have to scratch him from this list

5) Mason Woods - OG - (Idaho, 6-9, 336) - massive starting guard in Div I ball

6) Junior Luke - DT - (Montreal, 6-1, 300) - play-maker on D for a strong Carabins D that has went to 2 straight Vaniers

7) Sam Narkaj - DT - (Concordia, 6, 295) - CIS all-star, 36 bench reps in Combine testing

8) Nate Behar - receiver - (Carleton, 6, 192) - smooth, polished receiver with some good testing #s

9) Braden Schram - OT - (Calgary, 6-4, 304) - CIS all-star OT, played for a very productive Dinos offence

10) Marc Glaude - O-line - (Montreal, 6-2, 288) - repeat Q all-star on a top CIS program

11) Dan Vandervoort - receiver - (McMaster , 6-1, 190) - very productive CIS receiver for several seasons

12) Robert Woodson - DB - (Calgary, 5-11, 181) - CIS all-star with some very good athletic testing #s (4.52 forty & 36" vertical)

13) Evan Foster - DE - (Manitoba, 6-2, 220) - pro undersized a bit at DE but very athletic, strong (30 bench reps), play-making defender

14) Alex Morrison - receiver - (UBC, 6-3, 211) - big target with some good athletic testing #s

15) Jesse McNair - safety - (Western, 5-11, 186) - CIS all-star

*** edit - after seeing the CFL's Scouting Combine list - I would add 4 NCAA ball Canucks, plus one guy from CIS ball :

Justin Senior - OT - (Miss. St., 6-5, 310) - starter for 3 seasons now

Akeel Lynch - RB (Nevada, 5-11, 220) - formerly at Penn State where he put up some big rushing #s

Chris Mulumba Tshimanga - LB (Maine, 6-1, 245) - huge backer who was their D player of the year a couple of seasons back

Faith Ekakitie - DT - (Iowa, 6-3, 290)

Kwaku Boateng - DE - (Laurier, 6-1, 243) - 2nd team CIS all-star last season



Senior, Lynch and Mulumba should all be top 5 or 10, IMO



Not sure who/where the Argos will be targeting next draft?; and oops, already gave up their 1st rounder in the trade for a Willy - might be able to get a good player / one of these guys in the 2nd round ?

[KCargosfan]

Thanks. Good to read from people like myself who would have no clue otherwise.

So all things being equal, you would take Herdman with the first overall pick?

[OV Argo]

Thanks. Good to read from people like myself who would have no clue otherwise.

So all things being equal, you would take Herdman with the first overall pick?

Argos ? Probably not, with Greenwood & Miles on the team, but it would be tempting to take such a talent.

I'm non-GOB like in draft thinking - would want a player who could compete/help in an area of need - sooner than later.

I' wouldn't take any of the top receivers this coming draft either when I had Brian Jones & Llevi Noel on the roster.

Like to see them get one of those DTs, or an O-lineman = areas of need now, but things can change come draft time.

[doubleblue]

I don't know too many on there yet OV, will have to start checking them out. CITY TV is suppose to be carrying some CIS games this fall. I thought Meredith was eligible to be drafted last year. Not a very strong draft for NCAA players although Ankou sounds like a good one. Maybe there will be a few guys like Alex Singleton's show up on the list.

[OV Argo]

I don't know too many on there yet OV, will have to start checking them out. CITY TV is suppose to be carrying some CIS games this fall. I thought Meredith was eligible to be drafted last year. Not a very strong draft for NCAA players although Ankou sounds like a good one. Maybe there will be a few guys like Alex Singleton's show up on the list.

Not sure what is up with Meredith; however, if he was CFL draft eligible last year, surely there would have been some draft talk about him as a prospect or he would have been invited to a CFL Combine - but there was zip mention of him last draft; his size and resume (2 time CIS all-star OT, plus recruited to Boston College before that) would have made him about/near the top O-line prospect last draft.

[doubleblue]

What ever happened to WR/DB Joel Karim Zoukngrana 6' 200 played 3 seasons at Boston College (first year red shirt) then transferred to McGill last year. Not listed on the McGill roster this year, which would be his CFL draft year.

[Wobbler]

This is great, OV! I hope you update it at the end of the CIS season.

[OV Argo]

The CFL's Scouting Combine list of top prospects - 1st/fall version - for the 2017 draft is now out on their site.


Some of the guys from my list are on there - but not my #1 Herdman ? - maybe he is somehow not eligible for the 2017 CFL draft or maybe the CFL expert scouts are writing the guy off because he plays Div II ball ?

A couple of US college ball Canucks I did not know about are on the CFL list: their #1 prospect is OT Justin Senior (Miss. St.); another is RB Akeel Lynch (who i believe doubleblue has mentioned before) - former starter at Penn State, and this year playing for Nevada. These 2 guys should be added to my list for sure - I'll revise to make a top 20.

[doubleblue]

The CFL's Scouting Combine list of top prospects - 1st/fall version - for the 2017 draft is now out on their site.


Some of the guys from my list are on there - but not my #1 Herdman ? - maybe he is somehow not eligible for the 2017 CFL draft or maybe the CFL expert scouts are writing the guy off because he plays Div II ball ?

A couple of US college ball Canucks I did not know about are on the CFL list: their #1 prospect is OT Justin Senior (Miss. St.); another is RB Akeel Lynch (who i believe doubleblue has mentioned before) - former starter at Penn State, and this year playing for Nevada. These 2 guys should be added to my list for sure - I'll revise to make a top 20.

Herdman was listed as a Junior earlier when I was checking the rosters. He could still declare for the draft early I guess. Might be a good year to do that.

[OV Argo]

Herdman was listed as a Junior earlier when I was checking the rosters. He could still declare for the draft early I guess. Might be a good year to do that.

I thought this was Herdman's 4th year at SFU - which would make him draft eligible? - but i could be wrong there.


That linebacker out of Maine - Chris Mulumba Tshmianga- i had read about before and saw that his hometown was listed as Montreal, but i wasn't sure if he would be considered a "national" in the CFL. Had a big season there a couple of years back and was Maine's D player of the year; big linebacker too.

[j-ski]

Thanks OV. As a fan of the CFL draft and the Canadians in the CFL, I love your updates.

[doubleblue]

I thought this was Herdman's 4th year at SFU - which would make him draft eligible? - but i could be wrong there.


That linebacker out of Maine - Chris Mulumba Tshmianga- i had read about before and saw that his hometown was listed as Montreal, but i wasn't sure if he would be considered a "national" in the CFL. Had a big season there a couple of years back and was Maine's D player of the year; big linebacker too.

The Herdman brothers are showing that this is their Senior year. I would think they would be ranked higher than the 3rd round. The Combine will separate the men from the boys.
Another Canadian playing NCAA Div I is David Fennell at Michigan State. 6'2 266 was a D Lineman, but this year I see he's listed as a FB. I believe he may be the Son of former Edmonton star DT Dave Fennell.

[ArgoGabe22]

Rishaun Simonise is playing junior for the Okanagan Sun. The Bengals apparently told him to bulk up and play a year of junior and they will evaluate him again, next season.

[ArgoGabe22]

CFL Scouting Bureau September Rankings

http://www.cfl.ca/2016/09/15/senior-...mber-rankings/

Dunk's additional 10 players

http://3downnation.com/2016/09/22/10...-but-could-be/

[doubleblue]

Saw some of that game today on City TV. Great sell out crowd in Ottawa. Great story there by the RedBlacks owners bringing back the CFL team and restarting the Carleton program.
I agree RB Rowe and WR Behar looks like the two best Carleton players. Rowe doesn't look quite 5'11 220 but a good hard runner. They said he has 3 years eligibility left counting this one in the CIS.
Carleton has some biiiiggg O-Linemen.

[OV Argo]

Saw some of that game today on City TV. Great sell out crowd in Ottawa. Great story there by the RedBlacks owners bringing back the CFL team and restarting the Carleton program.
I agree RB Rowe and WR Behar looks like the two best Carleton players. Rowe doesn't look quite 5'11 220 but a good hard runner. They said he has 3 years eligibility left counting this one in the CIS.
Carleton has some biiiiggg O-Linemen.

Great, fun game to be at. Both these teams have a shot to win the OUA with no real powerhouse it seems; and both teams have vet (5th year i think) QBs at the helm.

Ravens have a good team; Behar is a superb receiver - bet he is first couple of rounds CFL draft pick next year; Carleton ground the run game well, but I wasn't that impressed by Rowe like i had hoped - decent back with some moves but doesn't seem to have much power or break away speed; GGs RB Bryce Virera (sp?) is the better back IMO.

[ArgoGabe22]

Akeel Lynch, #1 RB and #3 overall draft prospect has retired after having two concussions in a span of four games. He transfered to Nevada to complete his masters so perhaps football isn't that important to him? He could've just graduated and declared to be drafted last year, no?

http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/...017-story.html

[ArgoRavi]

Akeel Lynch, #1 RB and #3 overall draft prospect has retired after having two concussions in a span of four games. He transfered to Nevada to complete his masters so perhaps football isn't that important to him? He could've just graduated and declared to be drafted last year, no?

http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/...017-story.html

Two concussions in that short of a span should and will scare a lot of players in 2016. I just watched the movie "Concussion" the other night btw and I would recommend it.

[Argo57]

Two concussions in that short of a span should and will scare a lot of players in 2016. I just watched the movie "Concussion" the other night btw and I would recommend it.

Really well done movie Ravi agreed, probably a smart decision by Lynch.
As more light is shed on this topic expect more announcements like this.

[doubleblue]

Akeel Lynch, #1 RB and #3 overall draft prospect has retired after having two concussions in a span of four games. He transfered to Nevada to complete his masters so perhaps football isn't that important to him? He could've just graduated and declared to be drafted last year, no?

http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/...017-story.html

That stinks. I watched Lynch play quite a bit with Penn State during his time there. Would have loved to see him with the Argos and for a while (before the great trade) I thought it had a chance of happening. RB's do take a pounding. Too much head banging.