Last week we looked at the top CIS prospects heading into the 2015 CFL Draft, ranking them one to five. This week we look at the next five ranked prospects playing football in Canadian Universities who could be drafted into the CFL this spring. To recap from last week, offensive lineman from Laval Danny Groulx was ranked number one, followed by receiver Nic Demski, defensive lineman Daryl Waud, guard Sukh Chungh, and wideout Addison Richards. Here are your next five.
6) Brandon Tennant, Defensive Lineman, Université Laval
Tennant can easily make into the top five on this list but still has room to improve if he wants to get there. At 6’2″ and 309 pounds, he is one of the stronger defensive tackles in the CIS. He has yet to play this season for the Rouge et Or with an unknown injury, but he was a key piece on the defensive line last year when they won the Vanier Cup. In nine regular season games last year, the then junior recorded five solo tackles and six assisted, averaging nearly one full tackle per game. His 2.5 sacks were good enough to drag the quarterback 18 yards back all of last season. What surprised the scouts the most was his four solo tackles in the East-West Bowl, when he demonstrated his power and quickness against a very good offensive line. The kid needs to improve on his strength a bit, but his athleticism is up to par. He’s quick on his feet and can get past the o-line as fast as anyone out there, making him very valuable to any CFL team looking to draft him.
7) Chris Ackie, Linebacker/ Defensive Back, Wilfrid Laurier University
Chris Ackie is listed as a defensive back on the official CIS website but his size (6’0″, 215 lb) suggests he should be playing linebacker. He has grown into his big frame and plays a hard-nosed physical game right now for the Golden Hawks. He has certainly impressed scouts around the league with his incredible start to the season. In three games this season he has produced 12 solo tackles and 4 assisted, good enough for second on the team, trailing by a half-tackle. Not only that but he already has an interception and two broken up passes that could have been INTs. Reason why we’re listing him as a linebacker here is because that is what his body is meant to do. Play the weak side linebacker and not in the secondary. In the East-West Bowl, playing linebacker, he tackled three opponents on his own and two with someone else. After putting up good numbers at the physical testing unit at the East-West Bowl weekend, Ackie seems ready to be a big part on a defense in the Canadian Football League.
8) Sean McEwen, Center, University of Calgary
Weighing just about a shade under 300 pounds and standing 6’2″ tall is the number one center heading into the draft; Sean McEwen. The fourth year science student out of Calgary has a good body for the center position and his physical abilities are strong too. He has a sound game and playing style, he doesn’t make the pancake blocks nor does he allow players to get around him. He surprised some scouts with his athleticism for his size with quick feet along the line and having the ability to also play guard. Playing with Chungh for the Dinos, the two have held the fort on the strong offensive line with only three sacks against in their three games this year. McEwen could be a pick in the middle rounds but will be valuable to his team moving forward.
9) Karl Lavoie, Offensive Lineman, Université Laval
Another guard to make the top ten is guard Karl Lavoie from the prestigious football program in Quebec City. With a body measuring 6’3″, Lavoie surprisingly only weighs 283 pounds, and really needs to fill out his body if he wants a starting job in the CFL in the coming years. Lavoie can play either guard or center but is better at the guard position because of his steady yet quick feet. Scouts have drawn comparison between him and Hamilton Tiger-Cats guard Greg Wojt. Playing with top-ranked player Groulx, Lavoie has some inspiration to get better this CIS season and into the draft but he may still be a good pick for teams in the spring.
10) Jake Harty, Wide Receiver, University of Calgary
The third Dino and third receiver on this prestigious top ten list is Mr. Jake Harty from Calgary, Alberta. Another big, strong receiver with a height of 6’2″, Harty has been showcasing his talents this season. The Arts student has been creative, finding ways to get to pay-dirt with 2 touchdowns already on 15 receptions this year. He’s hauled in 228 yards’ worth of caught passes as well. He even finished with three receptions for 40 yards in the East-West Bowl in May, proving he deserves this number ten spot over players like Tevaughn Campbell, Nicholas Shortill, or Ese Mrabure-Ajufo (more to come on them later). Harty may never become a top receiver in the CFL considering how tough it is for a CIS graduate to excel at that position in the pros, but Harty is still one of the best at his level heading into the draft next year.
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