2018 CFL draft

[jerrym]

The Eastern Regional Combine will runs Wednesday. CFL.ca describes five players to watch below.

JEREMY MAGAN-FRANCE DL | BISHOP’S

At six-foot-two and 260 pounds, Jeremy Magan-France will be looking to put his size and skill on display at the Eastern Regional Combine. In eight games at Bishop’s in 2017, the defensive lineman tallied 13 unassisted tackles, five assisted tackles, two sacks and five tackles for a loss (sixth in the AUS). The Rexdale, Ont. native played in eight regular season games in 2016, recording 28 total tackles, including one tackle for a loss, and tallied one forced fumble and two pass breakups.

BRYCE VIEIRA RB | OTTAWA

Studying theatre at the University of Ottawa, Bryce Vieira will be looking to bring the drama, and versatility, to his one-on-one drills at the Eastern Regional Combine this Wednesday as he tries to get an invitation to Winnipeg. In 2017, the running back played in seven games with the Gee Gees rushing 95 times (ninth in the OUA) totaling 460 yards and one touchdown. He also caught 23 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown and returned four punts for 27 yards. The versatile Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. native also played for the East Team in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl.Vieira will be looking to improve on his 2017 East-West Bowl Combine results after he posted 15 reps on the bench press.

DYLAN BELL DB | ST. FX

Defensive back Dylan Bell is quite the playmaker and look for him to put that on full display at Wednesday’s regional combine. Last season he played in eight regular season games and recorded 37 unassisted tackles (sixth in the AUS) and 21 assisted tackles (eighth in the AUS).
Including his tackle total last season, the five-foot-11, 195-pounder had his best statistical season, adding one forced fumble, one fumble return and two interceptions. In 30 career games, the Brockville, Ont. native has collected 106.5 total tackles, four forced fumbles, two fumble returns and eight interceptions. Bell was also a part of the team that won back-to-back AUS Championships in 2015 and 2016.

GUILLAUME PAQUET REC | MONTREAL
If you’re looking for a dynamic receiver to track on Wednesday, look no further than Guillaume Paquet. Paquet played in just five regular season games in 2017 and still caught 26 passes for 371 yards (10th in the RSEQ) and three touchdowns (first in the RSEQ). He also rushed six times for 58 yards and one touchdown and returned two kicks for 46 yards and two punts for four yards. That performance helped the five-foot-11, 190-pound receiver to be named a RSEQ All-Star for the second year in a row and a U SPORTS Second-Team All-Canadian.. In2015, the Montreal, Que. native was part of the team that won the Dunsmore Cup (RSEQ Championship) and the Mitchell Bowl.
NOLAN MCGREER OL | CARLETON

Offensive lineman Nolan McGreer will be one to watch on Wednesday as the law student looks to get an invite to the national combine in Winnipeg. McGreer played for the East team in the East-West Bowl in 2017 as well as playing in, and starting, eight regular season games at offensive tackle. The six-foot-four, 280-pounder was named an OUA First-Team All-Star as well. The Kingston, Ont. native played in eight regular season games at tackle in both 2016 and 2015. He only suited up in three regular season games in 2014 with one start at guard and one at tackle after missing five games with an injury.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/06/5-play...nal-combine-2/

[OV Argo]

The Eastern Regional Combine will runs Wednesday. CFL.ca describes five players to watch below.



https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/06/5-play...nal-combine-2/

There are a couple of better (IMO) prospects at the Eastern Combine - in O-linemen Jacob Czaja (StFx) & Mathew Ouellet-Decarlo (Bishop's) - both have pro size and have been AUS all-stars.

Seen Viera play for the GGs - shifty, quick back with good pass catching skills; smallish CIS tailback ? = doubt he will be drafted, but maybe in the later rounds

[jerrym]

Four players at the Eastern Regional Combine have been selected to go onto the National Combine: DB Justin Howell, LB Khadim Mbaye, WR Marco Dubois and OL Arnaud Gendron-Dumouchel.

A shifty wide receiver, Dubois separated himself from the rest of the prospects with a dominant day of testing. The Laval product finished atop three of the major testing categories, running a 4.56 hand time in the 40 and topping both the Broad and Vertical Jump.
Carleton’s Justin Howell also found himself on the day’s leaderboard in multiple spots, finishing second in the 3-Cone and Shuttle and just behind Dubois in the 40 with a 4.58.


At 6-foot-9 inches, Gendron-Dumouchel towered over the competition on Wednesday and earned a ticket to Winnipeg with his reach, wingspan and footwork. He pumped out 17 reps on the bench press in a show of strength. The Montreal offensive lineman finished second among his O-Line cohorts in the three-cone drill. The two-year starter out of Montreal will enter the primary Combine as the one of the most physically imposing figures.
Versatility was the name of the game for Mbaye who showed coaches and scouts that he could compete at both linebacker and defensive lineman. The Ottawa defender tested well but proved his worth primarily in the one-on-ones.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/07/four-s...egional-wraps/

[OV Argo]

Four players at the Eastern Regional Combine have been selected to go onto the National Combine: DB Justin Howell, LB Khadim Mbaye, WR Marco Dubois and OL Arnaud Gendron-Dumouchel.




https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/07/four-s...egional-wraps/

Interestin' - Dubois - apparently a 5th or 6th string receiver with Laval (going by his production there) gets invited to the main Combine based on a pretty decent set of testing #s compared to most there ?

And that O-lineman's bench # is basically ok to weak for that position but the writer here refers to it as a "show of strength" ???


And not advancing from that Eastern Combine: Jacob Czaja (3 time AUS all-star OG - with pro size and strong bench #); and QB (LOL) Hugo Richard (CIS rookie of the year, 2 time CIS all-star, and Vanier winning QB with outstanding career passing stats and pro QB size) - must be just lacking something on the resumes. ;o)

Good ole CFL "scouting" and the good little reporters who get to comment on it. ;o)

[jerrym]

Let's see if CFL.ca's predictions of who to watch at the Ontario Combine are any closer to the mark than those of the Eastern Combine where they went 0/5. Here are their predictions.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/08/5-play...nal-combine-2/

[OV Argo]

Let's see if CFL.ca's predictions of who to watch at the Ontario Combine are any closer to the mark than those of the Eastern Combine where they went 0/5. Here are their predictions.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/08/5-play...nal-combine-2/

Well - they got one guy right - Western receiver Harry McMaster - who impressed me in the Mustangs play-off run last year - smooth, sure handed receiver; but his set of testing #s at the Combine are not that good in terms of indicating a lot of athleticism; he might be in tough to impress CFL scouts that much, unless they take notice of his route running, hands and other receiver finesse skills. Might be a good sleeper pick that could be got in the later rounds - the Bombers need help at receiver - and sometimes lesser rated players can pull through as very good players when they get a shot. Dave Stala was a 6th round CFL draft pick - and went on to produce 1000 yard CFL receiving seasons in a good career.

[jerrym]

Well - they got one guy right - Western receiver Harry McMaster - who impressed me in the Mustangs play-off run last year - smooth, sure handed receiver; but his set of testing #s at the Combine are not that good in terms of indicating a lot of athleticism; he might be in tough to impress CFL scouts that much, unless they take notice of his route running, hands and other receiver finesse skills. Might be a good sleeper pick that could be got in the later rounds - the Bombers need help at receiver - and sometimes lesser rated players can pull through as very good players when they get a shot. Dave Stala was a 6th round CFL draft pick - and went on to produce 1000 yard CFL receiving seasons in a good career.

Well 1/6 is some kind of improvement. The other five are LBs Eric Mezzalira and Paul Kozachuk, DBs Jacob Firiotte and Jordan Beaulieu, and OL Sam MacMillan.

Kozachuk finished first among linebackers and sixth overall in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.71 seconds. He ranked third overall in the vertical jump with an impressive 37 inches. The Varsity Blue finished fifth in bench with 18 reps of 225 lbs.

Mustang Beaulieu was the fastest of the day, clocking in at 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 4.09 in shuttle for first overall in both. The defensive back was second in the three-cone drill at 7.18 seconds and fourth in the vertical jump with 34.5 inches.

Linebacker Mezzalira finished second in the bench press with 21 reps. The McMaster Marauder was also second among linebackers in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.84 seconds.

Defensive back Firlotte finished in the top 10 in the vertical jump, with a leap of 32.5. The Queen’s Gael finished seventh in the broad jump at 9’9.75”

Six-foot-one McMaster also received an invite. The wide receiver from Western ran a 4.84 40-yard dash, with an 8’11.25” broad jump, and shone in the one-on-ones and individual drills.

University of Toronto Sam MacMillan finished second among offensive linemen in shuttle at 5.19 seconds and in the broad jump at 7’10.5”.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/09/six-se...onal-showcase/

[doubleblue]

Well - they got one guy right - Western receiver Harry McMaster - who impressed me in the Mustangs play-off run last year - smooth, sure handed receiver; but his set of testing #s at the Combine are not that good in terms of indicating a lot of athleticism; he might be in tough to impress CFL scouts that much, unless they take notice of his route running, hands and other receiver finesse skills. Might be a good sleeper pick that could be got in the later rounds - the Bombers need help at receiver - and sometimes lesser rated players can pull through as very good players when they get a shot. Dave Stala was a 6th round CFL draft pick - and went on to produce 1000 yard CFL receiving seasons in a good career.

Yah I agree on your observations on McMaster. His 4.84 time in the 40 will probably knock him down to the mid to later rounds, but the Stala comparison might be a good one.

[jerrym]

Another parent-born here National, Mark Chapman, is moving up the draft list. I think the league needs to redefine National.

Mark Chapman had all 32 NFL and three CFL teams at his Central Michigan pro day and the receiver could be one of the top picks in this year’s draft.
The Alouettes, Ticats and Riders sent scouts to watch Chapman work out in Mount Pleasant, MI. Chapman was timed in the 4.50-4.60 range in the 40, short shuttle 4.30, three-cone 7.07, 60-yard shuttle 11.64, leapt 35.5 inches on the vertical, 10-foot, six-inch broad jump and pumped out 14 reps of 225 pounds on the bench. ...

“Productive, good route runner who separates on film,” one CFL scout said. “He has the potential to be the best receiver in the 2018 class.”
“Chapman plays fast on film and keeps his top end speed throughout games,” another personnel man added.
Chapman led Central Michigan University with 59 receptions and 875 yards while reaching the end zone five times in 13 games during his senior season. The six-foot, 180-pound pass catcher caught eight balls for 168 yards and three touchdowns against Kansas in the best game of his collegiate career to date which was a 45-27 victory. ...

Proven performance in NCAA Division I helps improve a draft grade and Chapman has 147 receptions for 2,035 yards and 10 touchdowns over four seasons with the Chippewa’s. It’s worth noting he was a high school star too, earning Michigan’s Player of the Year honours in 2012 as a dual-threat quarterback.

http://3downnation.com/2018/03/17/ne...-draft-boards/

[OV Argo]

Another parent-born here National, Mark Chapman, is moving up the draft list. I think the league needs to redefine National.



http://3downnation.com/2018/03/17/ne...-draft-boards/

Pretty good set of testing #s + good NCAA production = i bet he is the top receiver draft pick upcoming, with maybe Simoinse to challenge.

The redefine "National" debate can go on - Singleton is a good recent example. I have zero problem with any of these Canadian connection guys being declared NIs now - from a league that has continued to move to allow more import players on rosters to where they are now the majority. Not good / don't agree / total B$, etc. etc. Change the rosters to much more Canadian content - guys who were born & raised in Canada or played their minor/college ball here - they should be the majority in the CFL IMO - and then they could do away with guys like Chapman or Singleton qualifying as NIs. Not going to happen though.

[jerrym]

Marshall Ferguson's Mock Draft 1.0 tweet is shown below. By clicking on the accompanying url one can see his first three rounds predictions with comments on each player.

Here it is, @TSN_Marsh Mock Draft 1.0

To see his FULL 3 ROUND RESULTS, head over here➡️ https://t.co/IGN4xQaPp8 #CFLDraft pic.twitter.com/h09Mf73GvC

— CFL (@CFL) March 15, 2018

[OV Argo]

Marshall Ferguson's Mock Draft 1.0 tweet is shown below. By clicking on the accompanying url one can see his first three rounds predictions with comments on each player.

Why on earth would the Argos use their 1st pick on receiver Cibasu ??? - they already have Coombs who has started, plus a bunch of other NI receivers in Noel, Jones, Ralph & Williams - all who have made the roster and played. Unless they figure Cibasu is a can't miss prospect and another Paul Masotti ?

O-line - either depth or a potential starter = much bigger need and a big, deep crop to chose from there.

Some Ferguson's mock picks there are very questionable, and some of his comments i find laughable - but it is the CFL draft we're talking - and anything including WTF type picks are possible.

[doubleblue]

Marshall Ferguson's Mock Draft 1.0 tweet is shown below. By clicking on the accompanying url one can see his first three rounds predictions with comments on each player.

I hope Popp doesn't take SB/WR Ciraco over OG Ryan Hunter 6'4 320 at the 9th pick. Tough to find a Canadian receiver who is a difference maker and worthy of a 1st round pick, and if there is one you can bet he will be in the NFL. Half to 60% of your starting Canadians will be offensive linemen, so it just makes sense to try and find the best available. Argos still paying for taking Brian Jones over Lauzon-Segin two years ago. Woods (poor scouting) over Spooner last year was another goof IMO. Maybe the word on Hunter and Nebraska Tackle Knevel is they will be signed in the NFL as FA's. But it is a good year for O-Linemen and there will still be some good ones at #9 IMO.

[OV Argo]

I hope Popp doesn't take SB/WR Ciraco over OG Ryan Hunter 6'4 320 at the 9th pick. Tough to find a Canadian receiver who is a difference maker and worthy of a 1st round pick, and if there is one you can bet he will be in the NFL. Half to 60% of your starting Canadians will be offensive linemen, so it just makes sense to try and find the best available. Argos still paying for taking Brian Jones over Lauzon-Segin two years ago. Woods (poor scouting) over Spooner last year was another goof IMO. Maybe the word on Hunter and Nebraska Tackle Knevel is they will be signed in the NFL as FA's. But it is a good year for O-Linemen and there will still be some good ones at #9 IMO.

None of the NCAA O-linemen (Knevel, Rutherford, Godber, Hunter) that are in the top 10 rankings for this CFL draft is considered a top NFL draft prospect - at least from reading NFL draft prospect rankings (i've seen the first 3 in various rankings - at around #50 for their position); so they are probably long-shots to be even post-draft NFL FA signings. And the CFL teams will know either way before their draft. Knevel has maybe the best shot just based on size/wing-span. Rutherford & Hunter not showing for the CFL Combine is dumb on their part IMO. - maybe they're afraid to be exposed as weak in testing #s or one-on-ones ? Some very good CIS O-linemen up this draft, so unless Popp feels film on one of those NCAA Canucks is so impressive they are viewed as blue-chippers, I'd prefer they take one of the CIS all-star O-linemen - like Pickett (Guelph - experienced guard) or David Brown (Western - not going to the Combine, but i think i read that he was injured in the Vanier ? - recovery an issue?) - Brown is an all-star OT so he might pan-out there or be converted to OG.

Have to disagree on impact Canadian receivers though - there are potentially plenty of them IMO; they have been put on little use mode by recent CFL copy-cat thinking that prefers mostly imports in a typical CFL 5 pack; Sinopoli is arguably one of the best receivers in the league now - in terms of hands, smarts, toughness, YAC ability - 3 straight 1000 yard seasons - and the guy was a QB in college ball ?! Brian Jones or Llevi Noel could be impact CFL receivers - I would bet. So could maybe Vandervvort or Nate Behar or Mitch Picton from last year's dract, IMO. If you'd rather see Khalil Paden or Fuller or Hazelton types get more opportunity = keep watching. ;o)

[doubleblue]

Marshall Ferguson's Mock Draft 1.0 tweet is shown below. By clicking on the accompanying url one can see his first three rounds predictions with comments on each player.

Marshall mentioned he was going to have to redo his Mock Draft. He had a lot of players that should be in the mix listed IMO. But I think Dan Petermann should rise above the 17th pick overall. Guys like 2nd round Norwell McGlaun, Sean Harrington and 3rd round Harry McMaster should drop down a ways.

There's no doubt Dakota Shepley is the number one guy but I will be very surprised if he hasn't signed a NFL contract by CFL draft day. Don't know who could be moving up, but some of the players that caught my eye would be: LB J. G. Poulin, DB Royce Metchie, WR Etienne Moisan, RB Ryder Stone, FB Tanner Green and LB Micah Teitz. Also can't see David Knevel going past the 3rd round for a team that can afford to wait a year or two. Plus there could be a few other players who didn't show for what ever reason that some GM thinks highly of. It is the CFL draft after all and there will always be some picks that will make me say....What ?????

[jerrym]

Argo WR Jimmy Ralph questions how seriously one should take the Combine results.

Ralph attended the Western Regional combine last year and his numbers were… underwhelming. He ran a 4.83 in the 40-yard dash (not good for undersized CFL receiver), did not participate in the bench press (not a good sign) and posted a 25.5-inch vertical leap (which is really bad.)
Unsurprisingly, Ralph went undrafted but signed as a free agent with the Argos and that’s where his good numbers began to emerge. He played in 16 games, made one start and registered 26 catches for 278 yards, which is more than all the receivers taken in the 2017 CFL draft… combined. That includes No. 3 overall pick Danny Vandervoort (one catch for yards), fellow first-rounder Nate Behar (12 games played, no catches) and the No. 17 overall pick, Julan Lynch (two catches, 18 yards.)

http://rabble.ca/babble/alberta-and-...adlong-embrace

What if combine tests actually carried over to the football field??? Hahaha I'd be out of of a job!!! 😂 😂 😂 #worsttestever #undrafted #CFLCombine #combineoverrated #watchthefilm

— Jimmy Ralph (@jimmyralph) March 25, 2018

[paulwoods13]

Pretty good set of testing #s + good NCAA production = i bet he is the top receiver draft pick upcoming, with maybe Simoinse to challenge.

The redefine "National" debate can go on - Singleton is a good recent example. I have zero problem with any of these Canadian connection guys being declared NIs now - from a league that has continued to move to allow more import players on rosters to where they are now the majority. Not good / don't agree / total B$, etc. etc. Change the rosters to much more Canadian content - guys who were born & raised in Canada or played their minor/college ball here - they should be the majority in the CFL IMO - and then they could do away with guys like Chapman or Singleton qualifying as NIs. Not going to happen though.

You decry the reduced number of NAT starters and the fact a majority of roster players are INTs, yet you are OK with guys who are not Canadian taking jobs away from actual Canadians. Where's the logic?

[OV Argo]

You decry the reduced number of NAT starters and the fact a majority of roster players are INTs, yet you are OK with guys who are not Canadian taking jobs away from actual Canadians. Where's the logic?

Those new "Nationals" at least have some sort of Canadian connection to qualify; as opposed to Billy Bob who couldn't find Canada on a map but is sure to be favored to be recruited and given a CFL shot by the typcial GOB - not sure how this is hard to grasp. Make the large majority of CFL rosters "actual Canadians" and then they could do away with the reach Nationals.

The GOBs / BOGs are the clowns who have taken away CFL jobs from "actual Canadians" by changing rosters to allow more Americans (and if you include PRs now - which hugely favor Americans) - and make them the majority of the "radical" (sic) CFL.

[doubleblue]

Pretty good set of testing #s + good NCAA production = i bet he is the top receiver draft pick upcoming, with maybe Simoinse to challenge.

The redefine "National" debate can go on - Singleton is a good recent example. I have zero problem with any of these Canadian connection guys being declared NIs now - from a league that has continued to move to allow more import players on rosters to where they are now the majority. Not good / don't agree / total B$, etc. etc. Change the rosters to much more Canadian content - guys who were born & raised in Canada or played their minor/college ball here - they should be the majority in the CFL IMO - and then they could do away with guys like Chapman or Singleton qualifying as NIs. Not going to happen though.

I don't have a problem with guys like Singleton and Chapman playing in the League as Nationals if they are Canadian citizens. The rules maintain that each team has to field 21 Nationals. But Teams can't sign the all the best Nationals because approximately about 20 or two per team are in the NFL. So if there a few players down in the States with Canadian roots who are better than the Canadian Canadians than I say giddy up. Sign them up. Better is better.

[jerrym]

The rarest of all draft picks, a Canadian QB, is reflected in the fact that their are only two Canadian QBs at the National, 2016 Hec Creighton winner Noah Picton of the University of Regina and Christian Strong, who played at Seton Hill University. Although born in Canada, the 6'4", 215 lb Strong lived in the US until 12 and played Pop Warner football there starting at age eight, but then lived and played high school Canadian football in Brampton from 13 to 17 before heading to the US for university. How much of a chance will either of them get in the CFL?

Through four years with the Div II Griffins — he redshirted his freshman year — Strong showed that he could put up numbers.
From 2015 through 2017, he completed 671 of 1,176 passes for 8,656 yards, throwing 56 touchdowns against 39 interceptions. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is a small one, but Strong points to former Edinboro QB and current Ottawa REDBLACKS starter, Trevor Harris, as a notable alumni, as proof that the leap can be made.
“It gave me the opportunity, the school took a chance on me and gave me a great scholarship and I made the best of it,” Strong said of his time at Seton Hill.
“We had struggling years (the team went 0-11 in 2017). There were ups and downs, there was adversity, but it helped mold me into the person I am today. Being a three-year starter there, I got a ton of reps and I couldn’t ask for anything else. ...


“We were the No. 1 passing offence in 2016 in all of Division II, so it was a fun time."

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/03/20/oleary...mpete-combine/