2021 CFL Draft and the Argos

[gilthethrill]

I see our 1st draft choice of 2020, Dejion Brissett, was at Virginia's March 24 Pro Day presumably trying to catch the eye of NFL scouts. Doesn't sound like he is 100% committed to playing for the Argos, especially if he thinks he has a chance of an NFL tryout. After a very poor senior year, one would expect he would want to establish himself as a good CFL receiver before looking to the NFL.

I don’t blame him. He wants to play pro football. We all know the NFL will play in September, but who knows if or when the CFL will resume.

[OV Argo]

Former Regina Rams RB Kyle Borsa tests at a Pro Day - and puts up an outstanding set of testing #s - a 4.38 forty ! (he's a track guy); 6.95 3 Cone; 22 bench reps and a 10' 3" broad jump. Don't see that kinda set of testing #s out of a Canadian college ball RB too often. Listed at 6-0, 200 - so easily pro RB size.

Believe he was suspended 2019 for a banned substance positive test (?), but put up good numbers with the Rams in 2018.

[jerrym]

Ottawa's Patrice Rene, a DB who played five years at the University of North Carolina and then got an extra 2021 year at Rutgers because of the effect Covid-19 had on players, hopes to be drafted by the CFL and NFL.

On the verge of getting his professional football career going – in either the CFL or NFL, Ottawa’s Patrice Rene, originally from Lowertown, laughs as he thinks back to his first-ever football practice 15 or so years ago with the East Ottawa Generals. In his first drill, called The Oklahoma, Patrice Rene was steamrolled to the ground. In The Oklahoma, usually 1-on-1, players line up opposite each other a couple of yards apart, then after the coach’s whistle, go full steam ahead and try and knock the other one down. ...

“Adversity was something I’d been taught about from a young age. Adversity is going to come, I’m going to counter it. It’s how I react and respond to it. Nothing is going to be perfect, I’m always going to encounter situations where things might get hard for me. I have to dig my feet deep into the dirt and grind it out.”
Grind it out he did, returning to the football field in 2020. Coming off five years at the University of North Carolina, this off-season Rene took advantage of an extra year of eligibility – added on by the NCAA because of the effect COVID-19 had on college athletics – and agreed to switch schools, to Rutgers, for the 2021 season. Going back to school for another year gives him more time to prepare for the next step – professional football. ...

Transferring to Rutgers (in New Jersey) brings him closer to home – his family will be able to see him play more often. It’s also the school he originally planned to attend. The team’s linebackers coach, Bob Fraser, was one of the first NCAA coaches to make contact many years ago, watching Rene work out at the Louis Riel Dome in Grade 8. Rene was leaning toward transferring to Oklahoma, one of the schools heavily courting him (Auburn and Texas Tech were also in the picture) , but the Rutgers coaches stepped it up with the power of persuasion. ...

Rene attended St. Peter High School in Orleans for two years before attending Episcopal High School in Virginia. During his time at Episcopal he played with two other Canadians who currently play in the NCAA – Jonathan Sutherland (Penn State) and Luiji Vilain (Wake Forest). At North Carolina, Rene played in 42 games (starting 27), with 103 tackles, two interceptions and four tackles for a loss. ...

“Since I was a little kid, I dreamed of playing professional football, whether it was the CFL or NFL,” he said. “I wish the CFL got as much love as the NFL did. Everybody talks about the NFL, that’s the game, that’s where they want to be. Part of the decision for me to come back for a sixth year was to boost my (NFL) stock a bit. If I were to come out last year, I would have had a late rounds/undrafted grade. I felt it would be better for me to come back to school and show I have more game. I’m open to anything. Football is football. Being a professional athlete is being a professional athlete. That was my goal, my dream – to be paid for what I love to do. Whether that’s the CFL or the NFL, I’ll be happy with it.”

https://ottawasun.com/sports/footbal...on-cfl-and-nfl

[OV Argo]

Both CFL Combines (Main & Regional) results are in (Jerry could you provide the link here please).

Some pretty good testing results from a few players (though without CFL supervision they are relying on players providing results/ tape).

Big UBC MLB Ben Hladik put up a superb set of testing #s; DB Nelson Lokombo too. Argos already have a couple of young NI MLB types in Kwemo & Cassar; but Lokombo might be nice to get as a potential starting safety (though him joining big bro Bo in BC makes lots of sense - they have a big opening at safety as well).

[Mocha]

National Combine
https://www.cfl.ca/2021-cfl-combine-...-list-results/

2021 CFL COMBINE PRESENTED BY NEW ERA

NAME	POS	SCHOOL	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	BENCH (REPS)	40 (SEC)	BROAD	3-CONE	SHUTTLE
Logan Bandy	OL	Calgary	6′ 4.5″	294.5	18	5.33	8′ 6.5″	7.7	4.76
Bryce Bell	OL	Wilfrid Laurier	6′ 3 5/8″	295	16	5.56	8′ 9.5″	8.06	4.7
Connor Berglof	OL	Saskatchewan	6’3 1/8″	305.6	21	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Kyle Borsa	RB	Regina	5′ 11.5″	193.3	22	4.46	10′ 2 1/8″		4.0
Carter Comeau	OL	Calgary	6′ 6 3/8″	364	32	5.63	8′ (UNV)	8.10	4.96
Matthew Derks	OL	Delaware State	6′ 3 7/8″	323.7	13	5.5	7′ 1 1/8″	8.33	4.96
Peter Kourtis	OL	Saint Mary’s	6′ 4 1/8″	305.7	21	5.6 (UNV)	7′ 6″ (UNV)	7.83 (UNV)	4.76 (UNV)
Pier-Olivier Lestage	OL	Montréal
Peter Nicastro	OL	Calgary	6′ 1 3/4″	306	24	5.4	8′ 4.5″ (UNV)	7.13	4.56
Tyler Packer	OL	Calgary	6′ 6.5″	302.5	27	5.6	8′ 5″ (UNV)	7.66	4.6
Shaiheem Charles-Brown	DL	Carleton	INJ	INJ	16	INJ	INJ	INJ	INJ
Alain Cimankinda	DL	Carleton	DNP	DNP	23	4.93	9′ 3.5″	7.36	4.43
Alfred Green	DL	Wilfrid Laurier	6′ 2.5″	241.7	15	5.06		7.5	4.56
Cole Nelson	DL	Alberta	6′ 5 7/8″	311.8	25	4.96	9′ 5/8″	7.6	4.76
Félix Garand-Gauthier	FB	Laval	6′ 1.5″	221.5	17	5.06	9′ 2 7/8″	6.9	4.33
Michael Ritchott	RB	Manitoba	DNP	DNP	14	4.73	9′ 3 1/8″	7.06	4.06
Nick Cross	LB	UBC	5′ 11″	203	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Kean Harelimana	LB	Laval	6’1 3/4″	217.5	10	5.0	9′ 2 7/8″	7.1	4.33
Ben Hladik	LB	UBC	6′ 4″ (UNV)	239 (UNV)	29	4.66	10′ 7″	6.66	4.167
Trevor Hoyte	LB	Carleton	6′ 2 1/8″	218.8	15	4.83	10′ .5″	7.1	4.33
Robbie Lowes	LB	Regina	6′ 5/8″	231.9	20	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Ethan Makonzo	LB	Montréal	6′ 7/8″	210.4	15	4.76	9′ 7 1/8″	6.93	4.33
Myles Manolo	LB	Western	6′ 2 1/8″	228	16	4.9 (UNV)	8′ 11.5″	7.33	4.5
Grant McDonald	LB	Calgary	6′ 3 5/8″	231.8	17	4.56	9′ 3 3/8″	7.56	4.46
Charlie Moore	LB	Calgary	6′ 2 1/8″	225	11	4.83	9′ 7 5/8″ (UNV)	7.13	4.33
David Côté	K/P	Laval	6′ 4″	223	9	4.76	10′ 2 1/8″	6.53	4.0
Keegan Markgraf	LS	Utah	6′ 3″	228.8	11	5.4	8′ 1 7/8″	7.8	4.83
Will Corby	WR	Toronto	6′ 4″	198	1	4.6	9′ 3 1/4″	7.1	4.3
Luther Hakunavanhu	WR	York	6′ 3 7/8″	207.4	7	4.63	10′ 2 1/8″	7.23	4.4
Glodin Mulali	WR	Acadia	5′ 11.5″	189	8	4.6	10′ 1 7/8″	6.70	4.03
Tommy Nield	WR	McMaster	6′ 3.5″	204.8	9	4.60	10′ 2 7/8″	6.7	4.13
Dylan St. Pierre	WR	Ottawa	6′ 1 7/8″	220.2	20	4.86	10′ 1 3/8″	7.23	4.2
Joshua Hagerty	DB	Saskatchewan	6′ 3.5″	193.6	8	4.76	9′ 9 7/8″	7.03	4.23
Redha Kramdi	DB	Montréal	5′ 11 1/8″	198.1	18	4.7	10′ 1/8″	6.76	4.3
Nelson Lokombo	DB	Saskatchewan	5′ 10 3/4″	184.3	10	4.66	9′ 11 3/4″	6.76	4.03
Arjay Shelley	DB	Manitoba	6′ 4 5/8″	195	11	4.70	10′ 8 1/8″	7.26	4.3
Shae Weekes	DB	Bemidji State	5′ 10.5″	189.2	7	4.66	10′ 6 1/4″	7.03	4.23

Note:
DNP = Did not receive video
UNV = Unable to verify the result or self-reported result via the submitted video
INJ = Athlete did not complete due to reported injury

[Mocha]

Regional Combine
https://www.cfl.ca/2021-cfl-regional...w-era-results/

2021 CFL REGIONAL COMBINE PRESENTED BY NEW ERA

NAME	POS	SCHOOL	HEIGHT	WEIGHT	BENCH (REPS)	40 (SEC)	BROAD	3-CONE	SHUTTLE
Chavaughn Barrett	OL	York	6′ 2″	328.8	22	5.60	7′ 11 7/8″	8.33	4.96
Tyler Warren-Clucas	OL	Saint Mary’s	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Samuel Ducharme	OL	Bishop’s	6′ 5 3/8″	299	21	5.80	8′ 2.5″	8.30	5.10
Jesse Ens	OL	Regina	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Wyatt Edmonds	OL	McMaster	6′ 1.5″	273.6	DNP	5.46	7′ 11 7/8″	7.43	4.63
Matt Krzysztalowicz	OL	Nebraska-Kearney	6′ 7/8″	307	13	INJ	8′ 4 7/8″	INJ	INJ
Mojtaba Mehry	OL	Toronto		DNP	18	5.90	7′ 11 1/4″	8.36	5.01
Alex Smith	OL	Acadia	6′ 2 3/8″	278.4	19	5.30	9′ 1/8″	7.66	4.60
William Spencer Swan	OL	Guelph	6′ 4 7/8″	276.8	5	5.80	8′ 10 7/8″	7.90	5.16
Nicolas Thibodeau	OL	Laval	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Isaac Evans	DL	Simon Fraser	DNP	DNP	19	5.00	9′ 1/2″	7.06	4.33
Austin Fordham-Miller	DL	Western		DNP	25	5.26 (UNV)		7.83	4.76
Samuel Maranda-Bizeau	DL	Laval	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Hayden Nellis	DL	Calgary	6′ 3 3/8″	277	21	5.33	9 1″ (UNV)	7.56	4.56
Nicolas Thériault	DL	Western	6′ 5/8″	239.4	21	5.13	DNP	7.46	4.60
Louis-Philippe Grégoire	RB	Bishop’s	5′ 10 3/8″	218	25	4.90	9′ 3 3/8″	7.23	4.46
Griffin Barrett	LB	Simon Fraser	5′ 10 3/8″	217.6	DNP	4.93	9′ 2 3/4″	7.10	4.36
Austin deLaroque	LB	Mayville State	5′ 10.5″	215.8	11	5.10	8′ 6.5″	7.60	4.63
Elliot Graham	LB	UBC	6′ 3 1/8″	243.8	21	4.86	10′ 7/8″	7.10	4.23
Cole Hepburn	LB	Carleton	6′ 3/4″	214.3	13	4.90	9′ 5 3/8″	7.00	4.33
Keagan Hughes	LB	Bishop’s	5′ 11 1/8″	198	11	5.10	9′ 4 3/8″	6.93	6.93
Isaiah Joseph	LB	UBC	6′ 3 3/4″	245.6	11	4.93	8′ 10 7/8″	N/A	4.50
Louve Moussenguet	LB	Bishop’s	5′ 10 1/8″	230	22	5.00	8′ 5 5/8″	DNP	DNP
Cody Peters	LB	Regina	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Jarek Richards	LB	Saint Mary’s	6′ 1/8″	205.2	17	4.76	9′ 8 7/8″	7.26	4.36
Andreas Dueck	QB	McMaster	6′ 2 1/4″	202.6	8	5.00	9′ 9 1/8″	6.73	4.36
Sam Girard	QB	Windsor	6′ 3 3/4″	206	8	5.10	8′ 7″	7.33	4.70
Abdraman Abdel-Rahim	WR	Guelph	6′ 3″	172	2	4.80	DNP	7.06	4.23
Kavantye Bailey	WR	Wilfrid Laurier	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Alex Basilis	WR	Calgary	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Jonathan Breton-Robert	WR	Laval	5′ 11	182.5	15	4.63	9′ 3.5″	6.60	4.20
Dallas Dixon	WR	Simon Fraser	6′ 3 1/8″	185.3	9	4.90	9′ 2 7/8″	6.73	4.33
Griffin Campbell	WR	Western	6′ 0″	173.2	DNP	4.53	10′ 2 3/4″	6.60	4.20
Kene Ezekeke	WR	UBC	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Matthew Gledhill	WR	Acadia	6′ 1.5″	205.4	11	4.60	10′ 4.5″	7.16	4.26
Callum Jasinski	DB	Bishops	6′ 1 3/8″	198	N/A	4.70	9′ 5 1/8″	7.36	4.70
Jayden Kelly	WR	Guelph	5′ 6 3/4″	173	5	4.67 (UNV)	UNV	6.80	4.20
Justin Nickson	WR	Western	5′ 10 3/4″	181.2	DNP	4.83	9′ 4.5″	7.00	4.33
Uunda Obo’o	WR	Sherbrooke	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
Leslie Owusu	WR	Northern Iowa	6′ 1 5/8″	195.5	10	DNP	9′ 10 3/4″	7.16	4.53
Mathieu Robitaille	WR	Laval	6′ 1/8″	187	17	4.63	9′ 4.5″	6.93	4.26
Lliam Wishart	WR	UBC	6′ 2″	260	5	5.00	9′ 6 1/8″	7.33	4.26
Andrew Beatty	DB	Windsor	5′ 9 3/4″	187	10	4.86	9′ 6″	7.03	4.20
Nicholas Cartagenise	DB	Bishop’s	5′ 10 5/8″	177	4	DNP	8′ 9 3/4″	7.30	4.43
Zack Fitzgerald	DB	Laval	5′ 9″	172	6	4.66	9′ 5″	6.90	4.16
Justin Julien	DB	St. Mary’s	5′ 8″	175	8	4.90	9′ 2.5″	N/A	4.20
Daniel McWhirter	DB	Carleton	6′ 1 3/8″	187.4	DNP	4.56	10′ 1 1/8″	4.16	6.867 (UNV)
Matt Watson	DB	Mount Allison	5′ 11 1/4″	196	15	4.66	9′ 5 5/8″	4.20	6.96

Note:
DNP = Did not receive video
UNV = Unable to verify the result or self-reported result via the submitted video
INJ = Athlete did not complete due to reported injury

[Mocha]

Here are a few mock drafts and rankings I found through Google:

https://www.cfl.ca/2021/03/24/mock-1...-overall-pick/


https://3downnation.com/2021/01/18/j...ock-draft-1-0/


http://www.independentsportsnews.com/2020/10/09/cfl-scouting-bureau-top-20-prospects-eligible-2021-cfl-draft/
FALL SCOUTING BUREAU RANKINGS

Rank	Name	Position	School	Hometown
1	Alaric Jackson	OL	Iowa	Windsor, ON
2	Amen Ogbongbemiga	LB	Oklahoma St.	Calgary, AB
3	Terrell Jana	REC	Virginia	Vancouver, BC
4	Josh Palmer	REC	Tennessee	Brampton, ON
5	Liam Dobson	OL	Maine	Ottawa, ON
6	Sage Doxtater	OL	New Mexico St.	Welland, ON
7	Daniel Joseph	DL	North Carolina St.	Toronto, ON
8	Patrice Rene	DB	North Carolina	Ottawa, ON
9	Deshawn Stevens	LB	Maine	Toronto, ON
10	Alonzo Addae	DB	West Virginia	Pickering, ON
11	Pier-Olivier Lestage	OL	Montreal	Saint-Eustache, QC
12	Logan Bandy	OL	Calgary	Calgary, AB
13	Deane Leonard	DB	Ole Miss	Calgary, AB
14	Nelson Lokombo	DB	Saskatchewan	Abbotsford, BC
15	Luiji Vilain	DL	Michigan	Ottawa, ON
16	Ben Hladik	LB	UBC	Vernon, BC
17	Bruno Labelle	TE	Cincinnati	Montreal, QC
18	Tyris Lebeau	LB	Massachusetts	Montreal, QC
19	Grant McDonald	LB	Calgary	Tsawwassen, BC
20	Nick Cross	LB	UBC	Regina, SK

[OV Argo]

Thanks for all the links Mocha.

Some interesting #s; Arjay Shelley (Manitoba - CanWest all-star) - a 6'5" DB, with a 10' 8" broad jump is an outstanding #; that big Laval kicker David Cote put up some very impressive #s for his position, including a 6.53 3 Cone # (the Laval guys all seem to have superb 3 Cone test #s, so ?); Dinos LB Grant McDonald running a 4.56 forty at 6-4, 232 size, with 17 bench reps too, is pretty impressive; under-rated maybe - McMaster receiver Tommy Nield had a very good set of testing #s for a 6-4, 205 range receiver.

[Wobbler]

Here are a few mock drafts and rankings I found through Google:

https://www.cfl.ca/2021/03/24/mock-1-0-will-hamilton-first-overall-pick/


https://3downnation.com/2021/01/18/j...ock-draft-1-0/

You linked John Hodge's mock draft twice. This is Ferguson's CFL.ca mock: https://www.cfl.ca/2021/03/24/mock-1...-overall-pick/

[Mocha]

D'oh. Thanks for the correction. I edited the original with the proper link now.

[Mocha]

Former Regina Rams RB Kyle Borsa tests at a Pro Day - and puts up an outstanding set of testing #s - a 4.38 forty ! (he's a track guy); 6.95 3 Cone; 22 bench reps and a 10' 3" broad jump. Don't see that kinda set of testing #s out of a Canadian college ball RB too often. Listed at 6-0, 200 - so easily pro RB size.

Believe he was suspended 2019 for a banned substance positive test (?), but put up good numbers with the Rams in 2018.

His numbers jumped out at me, too. It will be interesting to see how much weight that positive test has on his draft position.

[OV Argo]

His numbers jumped out at me, too. It will be interesting to see how much weight that positive test has on his draft position.

His reported 40 time changed (to slower) on this Combine listing compared to initial report at 3 Down; same for Lokombo.

[j-ski]

Football Gameplan's 2021 CFL Draft Prospect Preview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TdXj_9WOtc&t=271s

[Mocha]

Here's an interesting list of draft eligible players who competed in international competitions on Canada's national team.

Mathieu Robitalle has put up some solid combine numbers.

http://footballcanada.com/fourteen-t...-cfl-combines/

[Mocha]

Here's an article on some draft eligible players and how their combine numbers affected projected draft value.

Anyone think a team will take a chance on drafting Chuba Hubbard? He seems a lock to establish himself in the NFL, but maybe someone will take a flier on him in the later rounds. It might be worth it for publicity for Sunderland to pick the hometown kid. Or even Pinball. A player with NFL pedigree always provides some interest to the Argos.

https://www.cfl.ca/2021/04/22/stock-...-mystery-draft

[jerrym]

John Hodge takes a look at five CFL draft prospects that most people have not talked about a lot, with an honourable mention. Of course, the honourable mention is ---- you guessed it a QB. Even when CFLers and the media talk about the less well known players, the QBs come last. Oh well, at least their mentioned.

OL Bryce Bell, Wilfrid Laurier Montreal’s Pier-Olivier Lestage and Calgary’s Logan Bandy are the two U Sports offensive linemen who have garnered the most attention this year, but Bryce Bell is deserving of buzz as well. The six-foot-four, 295-pound blocker spent the past two years at right tackle on a Golden Hawks’ offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks in the OUA. Levondre Gordon also became one of the most productive running backs in OUA history during that time, rushing for 2,646 yards and 19 touchdowns over the past three seasons. Though he’ll likely move inside to guard at the professional level, Bell’s quickness to seal the edge should translate well to the professional level. He has good balance, hand placement, and still has some room to build out his lower body.

DL Alain Cimankinda, Carleton The 2019 OUA second-team all-star posted 3.5 sacks in his first game at the University of Guelph in 2017 and never looked back. He finished his tenure with the Gryphons with 16.5 sacks and had he played a fourth season with the team, it’s likely he would have broken Mike O’Shea’s all-time record of 19. The six-foot-one, 245-pound lineman has enough quickness to rush off the edge, but could slot-in at defensive tackle on passing downs. Cimankinda transferred to Carleton but never suited up for the team due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NCAA pass rushers like Daniel Joseph, Deshawn Stevens, and Mohamed Diallo are garnering a lot of the hype, but don’t sleep on Cimankinda. He’s a versatile player who would be an asset to any CFL defensive line.

RB Deonté Glover, Shepherd Glover was only added to the draft a few weeks ago, which is why there’s been little to no buzz surrounding him until now. He qualifies as a national through his mother’s citizenship, though he also spent five years in Canada as a child. The five-foot-nine, 216-pound ball carrier was initially a walk-on at West Virginia but transferred to Shepherd University where he received athletic and academic scholarships. He dominated with the Rams as a senior, recording 2,098 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns in 2019 as a rusher, receiver, and kick returner. Glover recorded strong testing numbers prior to the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, including a 6.88 three-cone, 36-inch vertical jump, and 25 bench press reps. In a year when a lot of virtual numbers are being questioned, Glover’s stand out.

DB Redha Kramdi, Montreal The 2021 CFL Draft is very deep at the defensive back position with a ton of NFL-calibre talent available. It’s easily to forget Redha Kramdi in the shuffle, but doing so would be a mistake. He played strong-side linebacker with Montreal, though his coaching staff felt he could easily have played cornerback, halfback or safety. In practice he insisted on working against the team’s best receiver during one-on-one drills, ensuring he would face the stiffest competition possible. The five-foot-eleven, 198-pound defender is extremely physical, tenacious, and smart. He’s got enough speed and cover skills to get by on defence but should really shine on special teams.

TE Bruno Labelle, Cincinnati Tight ends with 20 career receptions don’t usually generate a lot of hype, but Bruno Labelle could easily be a first-round pick in the upcoming CFL Draft. Nikola Kalinic was the No. 10 pick in the 2019 CFL Draft and validated that selection by contributing on special teams and catching 12 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown as a rookie. Labelle has the same imposing frame as Kalinic at six-foot-four and 250 pounds, but is faster, stronger, and a better blocker. Labelle is considered by some as the best fullback prospect since Rolly Lumbala, who was the No. 9 pick in the 2008 CFL Draft. The Montreal native is an elite blocker who will make an impact on special teams and catch passes in the red zone. Don’t sleep on him.

Honourable Mention — QB Mike Beaudry, Idaho The Regina native probably isn’t a future CFL franchise quarterback, but he’s posted solid numbers in stints at West Florida, UConn, and Idaho. He’s got legit size, a solid arm, and strong leadership skills. There’s been little to no buzz surrounding Beaudry thus far, but I think he deserves to get drafted and compete in a CFL training camp.

https://3downnation.com/2021/04/27/f...g-enough-hype/

[jerrym]

Kyle Borsa is the fastest player available in this year's draft, but he hasn't played since 2018 because of a failed drug test in 2019, so it will be interesting to see where he is drafted, if at all, since he is also a RB, which is often not what the CFL traditionalists are looking for.

Kyle Borsa doesn’t know exactly when he’ll hear his name called on May 4, but the fastest player in the 2021 CFL Draft class is ready for it. ...

Borsa hasn’t been on a football field since the 2018 season, when he rushed for 613 yards on 96 carries in eight games for the Regina Rams, scoring six touchdowns in the process. The six-foot 200-pound running back had amassed 2,195 all-purpose yards in two seasons with his hometown Rams. A failed drug test in 2019 changed everything for him. ...

Borsa has no problem explaining what happened. He went to a supplement store in Regina and bought something off the shelf that contained higenamine, which was a newly-prohibited product at the time. After his failed test he was handed a 16-month suspension and was due to return for the 2020 season. We all know what that year held for football in Canada. “Where I made my mistake was I didn’t research what I was putting into my body,” he said. ...

He’s used the last two seasons — one from the suspension, the other from the cancelled 2020 U SPORTS season — to stay in the gym and to stay sharp. With all of that pent up energy, Borsa submitted some dominant numbers in the virtual National Combine. His 4.46-second 40-yard dash stands at the top of the mountain. He managed 22 reps on the bench press, a 6.8-second three-cone drill, a 4.0-second shuttle and a broad jump of 10-feet, two and ⅛ inch broad jump. ...

“I could strongly say that there are a lot of other guys in my position…(that) probably would have moved on from the game and got their degree and kind of moved on with life because football doesn’t last forever anyway. That’s not the route I chose. I chose to stick with it because football is my dream and my passion. I’m happy I did so.”...

Raised in Regina by a Rider-loving family and with a father, Cory, that played junior football and won a pair of national championships with the Rams, the storybook outcome on May 4 would be for him to take the next step of his career without having to leave his hometown. When it comes down to it though, Borsa knows that it’s about landing with one of the nine teams in the league and building a career.

https://www.cfl.ca/2021/04/27/oleary...ces-cfl-dream/

[jerrym]

Marshall Ferguson's second mock draft has Hamilton taking DE Daniel Joseph from North Carolina first overall and the Argos picking LB Deshawn Stevens, who already looks like he is an Argo in his Maine University uniform, at #7 overall. You gotta like anybody who is already wearing double blue. He has also shown his leadership skills, having twice been the captain of the Canadian National Team. On the final CFL Scouting Bureau Rankings he came in at #20.

7. TORONTO DESHAWN STEVENS LB | MAINE

The versatile Maine Black Bears defender just finished a spring game schedule with the Black Bears where he led the team in tackles most afternoons. A Toronto native and two-time captain of the Canadian National Team, Stevens quickly suits up on special teams while preparing to shine behind Cameron Judge and Henoc Muamba.

https://www.cfl.ca/2021/04/27/mock-2...on-take-first/

[jerrym]

Here are the final CFL Scouting Bureau Rankings:

SPRING SCOUTING BUREAU RANKINGS
Rank	Name	Position	School	Hometown
1 (2)	Josh Palmer	REC	Tennessee	Brampton, ON
2. (1)	Alaric Jackson	OL	Iowa	Windsor, ON
3. (5)	Jevon Holland	DB	Oregon	Coquitlam, BC
4. (4)	Amen Ogbongbemiga	LB	Oklahoma State	Calgary, AB
5. (3)	Chuba Hubbard	RB	Oklahoma State	Sherwood Park, AB
6. (11)	Benjamin St-Juste	DB	Minnesota	Montreal, QC
7. (10)	Pier-Olivier Lestage	OL	Montreal	Saint-Eustache, QC
8. (8)	Sage Doxtater	OL	New Mexico State	Welland, ON
9. (15)	Mohamed Diallo	OL	Central Michigan	Toronto, ON
10. (17)	Deane Leonard	DB	Ole Miss	Calgary, AB
11. (13)	Patrice Rene	DB	North Carolina*	Ottawa, ON
12. (7)	Liam Dobson	OL	Maine**	Ottawa, ON
13. (9)	Daniel Joseph	DL	NC State	Toronto, ON
14. (12)	Alonzo Addae	DB	West Virginia	Pickering, ON
15. (6)	Terrell Jana	REC	Virginia	Vancouver, BC
16. (-)	Bruno Labelle	TE	Cincinnati	Montreal, QC
17. (19)	Nelson Lokombo	DB	Saskatchewan	Abbotsford, BC
18. (16)	Logan Bandy	OL	Calgary	Calgary, AB
19. (20)	Bryce Bell	OL	Laurier	Waterloo, ON
20. (14)	DeShawn Stevens	LB	Maine	Toronto, ON

Please note: The number in parentheses is the player’s ranking from the last CFL Scouting Bureau, published in January.

https://www.cfl.ca/2021/04/26/josh-p...reau-rankings/

[OV Argo]

No idea where/who the Argos will be looking this draft? They seem pretty loaded with Canadian talent and at a bunch of position groups.

Ferguson has them taking D. Stevens (Maine)? - he's playing MLB for them recently but maybe more a CFL rush end type? They already have young former draft picks Kwemo & Cassar as big MLB types; and they are loaded at import DE talent and still have Robbie Smith as a promising young NI DE. Picking Stevens would make little sense to me. Tough to disagree with resident CFL site draft "expert" Marshall though. ;o)