Heavy on scouts input, Justin Dunk presents the Top 10 list of CIS players to watch as the 2014 university football season unfolds, as always with an eye towards the 2015 CFL Draft.

Top 10

1) Daryl Waud, DL, Western, 6’4”, 291 pounds

Scouts take: “He was unblockable at the East West Bowl. He’s big and physical, a perfect interior defensive lineman in the CFL.”

“Big body, plugs up the holes and gets after the quarterback. Overpowers guards and centres. He does a good job of being a disruptive force on the defensive line.”

“He could be really good in the CFL. He’s just so big and athletic. You could see him potentially getting an NFL look down the road.”

“He needs to get a little bit better against the run. No one could block him in the 1-on-1s at East West.”

“He’s made a bunch of plays as a tight end for Western. He’s just a phenomenal athlete. He probably could be an all-star guard if he wanted to be.”

“I’m kind of surprised - I heard there was interest - he didn’t get an NCAA Division I scholarship.”

“He is a high-level box lacrosse player. This is his first off-season I’ve heard that he’s not playing lacrosse. It’s hindered his weight training and football development, but it’s helped him in some areas. You see how lacrosse has helped him in just how well and smooth he moves. You just don’t see guys as big as him that are as athletic as he is.”

2) Nick Demski, REC, Manitoba, 5’11”, 208 pounds

Scouts take: “He’s just smooth. He’s one of those players that doesn’t look like he’s moving that fast then runs right by you.”

“He has a great attitude, great football ability and great breakaway speed. He’s one of those kids that you give him the ball and he can create yards. The best thing about him is his attitude towards football.”

“He just needs to continue to get a little faster. He’s close to being fast enough, but he could get even faster. He needs to improve his route running. He has good hands.”

“He’s a pretty special player and does a little bit of everything. He’s kind of like an Andre Durie. He was a running back before and is much further along as a receiver than Anthony Coombs at the same point in their development. He’s very good after the catch. He has a lot of natural ball skills, playmaking ability and feel for the game. He’s just an all around athlete.”

“Most pro ready receiver we’ve seen at the East West Bowl in a while. Smooth, athletic, makes plays. Look for big things from him in the 2014 CIS season.”

“Scouts are salivating over him.”

3) Danny Groulx, OL, Laval, 6’6”, 335 pounds

Scouts take: “He’s really good, big and physical. I like him a lot. He plays tackle at Laval, he played some guard at East West. He plays with a real mean streak and he’s a big mauler.”

“He comes from a long line of offensive linemen from Laval.”

“Potential tackle in the CFL. Big athletic offensive linemen like him do not come around that often.”

4) Brandon Tennant, DL, Laval, 6’2”, 309 pounds

Scouts take: “He’s a big athletic kid - disruptive type. He’s very quick. He’s going to be a pretty good interior defensive lineman in the CFL.”

“He makes a lot of plays. He’s very quick. He needs to improve on his strength and athleticism.”

“Dominant inside during the week of practice at the East West Bowl. High energy player.”

5) Sukh Chungh, OL, Calgary, 6’2”, 288 pounds

Scouts take: “Big, tough kid - just like a big bear. He’s very physical and strong.”

“He’s got the perfect guard body. Chungh’s been very well coached by Steve Buratto out there at the University of Calgary.”

“You would like to see him improve his athleticism. He’s a brawler, mauler type lineman. It’s not always pretty but he gets the job done. He plays with an edge to him.”

“He wants to be a physical force and hit people.”

6) Addison Richards, REC, Regina, 6’4”, 202 pounds

Scouts take: “He’s just a physical specimen: big, tall and fast.”

“You cannot teach size, but you can teach everything else. He catches the ball away from his frame. He ran 4.65 seconds in the 40 – fast for his size.”

“He opened a lot of eyes at the East West Bowl.”

“He needs to get bigger, tougher and stronger. He can very easily become the next Jason Clermont, just the way he plays. He’s a faster version of Clermont. I don’t think he’s as physical as Clermont was, I think he could be a little more physical for his size.”

“Raw player with great physical attributes. He needs to work with a receiver coach and really fine tune his route running and awareness on the field.”

7) Sean McEwen, OL, Calgary, 6’2”, 297 pounds

Scouts take: “Technically sound and has been well coached.”

“He’s going to be an inside player. He has the ability to play guard or centre - just a road grader.”

“He tested and was a lot more athletic than I thought he was going to be. I think he’s more of a centre prospect.”

8) Karl Lavoie, OL, Laval, 6’3”, 283 pounds

Scouts take: “He needs to get a little more muscular and stronger. He’s got great feet. I think Lavoie has a lot of upside.”

“Great body type for an interior player. He has good feet, is strong and moves people.”

“He played centre all week at the East West Bowl and I think that position fits him the best for the pro game. He has some similarities to Greg Wojt. He just has to get a little bit bigger and continue to get stronger.”

9) Chris Ackie, DB/LB, Laurier, 6’0”, 215 pounds

Scouts take: “I think he’s a linebacker in the CFL, but he’s a good football player. He’s got a future as a prototypical weakside linebacker in the CFL.”

“He’s a beast - physically looked impressive. He would be the best CIS linebacker prospect right now even though he is listed as a DB. Phenomenal athlete who put up strong testing numbers at the East West Bowl.”

“He’s playing out of position at Laurier, but he’s big, physical, athletic and a strong kid. In the CFL he’s going to be a weakside linebacker.”

10) David Beard, OL, Alberta, 6’5”, 273 pounds

Scouts take: “Surprisingly athletic, he moves his feet very well, but he needs to put on more muscle mass. He did himself a favour with his East West performance.”

“To me he was the offensive lineman that jumped out the most at the East West Bowl. He’s got very good length an is a good athlete.”

“He’s a newly converted offensive lineman from being on the defensive line. He needs to get some more weight on his frame, continue to get stronger, but I would imagine a lot of teams were excited about him.”

“He’s still a little bit of a developmental kid, but there is a high upside with him. If he has a solid year he will rise up the rankings.”

Just on the outside

Jonathan Langa, LB, Saint Mary’s, 5’9”, 214 pounds

Tevaughn Campbell, DB, Regina, 5’11”, 183 pounds

Jake Harty, REC, Calgary, 6’1”, 207 pounds

There are going to be some beauty receivers in this draft as well. 2nd and 3rd rounders in this draft will be equivalent to most 1st rounders in the 2014 draft.

 

1rst round 2014 wide receiver Devon Bailey - 5 yards receiving so far in 2014.

There are going to be some beauty receivers in this draft as well. 2nd and 3rd rounders in this draft will be equivalent to most 1st rounders in the 2014 draft.

 

1rst round 2014 wide receiver Devon Bailey - 5 yards receiving so far in 2014.

2014 was a terrible draft. Ham and eggers for the most part.

 

 

There are going to be some beauty receivers in this draft as well. 2nd and 3rd rounders in this draft will be equivalent to most 1st rounders in the 2014 draft.

 

1rst round 2014 wide receiver Devon Bailey - 5 yards receiving so far in 2014.

2014 was a terrible draft. Ham and eggers for the most part.

 

 

Sure, but that's sort of the point.  Canadian talent is extremely hard to find.  If you have a NI receiver who can get you more than 400 yards in a season you have to realize that this is something that is not easily replaceable.  Sure we'd all like Watson to finally have that 800 yard season his potential has screamed out all these years, and will once again have to be disappointed, but outside of a very high pick it's making a move for making a move's sake.  And we probably get weaker because of it.

 

 

Honestly, we should trade Watson for a high draft pick.

An unpopular opinion around here but I agree. Watson doesn't have very much time left, between his constant injuries and decently high salary I don't think he'll be here for more than another year or two. IF we could get a second rounder and a backup Canadian receiver for him, I'd pull the trigger on a Watson deal. 

 

A desperate team like Ottawa with a foolish GM might be willing to overpay for him.

 

 

This makes no sense.  I understand being frustrated that a player has been injured, but why would we make a deal that almost certainly makes this team worse?

 

I think you might be overestimating the ease in which quality Canadian receivers can be found.  Wildly overestimating.

 

Here's a trivia question for you - of all the receivers drafted in the last two drafts, who has caught the most yardage (edit: this season)?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

answer - Carl Fitzgerald, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 38 yards.

 

Anthony  Coombs:  22 receptions 214 yards,

but I agree with your general point

 

 

 

Honestly, we should trade Watson for a high draft pick.

An unpopular opinion around here but I agree. Watson doesn't have very much time left, between his constant injuries and decently high salary I don't think he'll be here for more than another year or two. IF we could get a second rounder and a backup Canadian receiver for him, I'd pull the trigger on a Watson deal. 

 

A desperate team like Ottawa with a foolish GM might be willing to overpay for him.

 

 

This makes no sense.  I understand being frustrated that a player has been injured, but why would we make a deal that almost certainly makes this team worse?

 

I think you might be overestimating the ease in which quality Canadian receivers can be found.  Wildly overestimating.

 

Here's a trivia question for you - of all the receivers drafted in the last two drafts, who has caught the most yardage (edit: this season)?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

answer - Carl Fitzgerald, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 38 yards.

 

Anthony  Coombs:  22 receptions 214 yards,

but I agree with your general point

 

 

Oops.  Forgot about him, being out for the season and all.  Actually I probably overlooked him because he has a RB instead of a WR next to his name.  I should have caught that since Fitz is kind of a trick answer anyways, everyone thinks of him as a fullback, not a receiver.

 

Yeah, sure, I'll argue that he doesn't count cause he's not a receiver.  That's it.

 

 

 

 

Honestly, we should trade Watson for a high draft pick.

An unpopular opinion around here but I agree. Watson doesn't have very much time left, between his constant injuries and decently high salary I don't think he'll be here for more than another year or two. IF we could get a second rounder and a backup Canadian receiver for him, I'd pull the trigger on a Watson deal. 

 

A desperate team like Ottawa with a foolish GM might be willing to overpay for him.

 

 

This makes no sense.  I understand being frustrated that a player has been injured, but why would we make a deal that almost certainly makes this team worse?

 

I think you might be overestimating the ease in which quality Canadian receivers can be found.  Wildly overestimating.

 

Here's a trivia question for you - of all the receivers drafted in the last two drafts, who has caught the most yardage (edit: this season)?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

answer - Carl Fitzgerald, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 38 yards.

 

Anthony  Coombs:  22 receptions 214 yards,

but I agree with your general point

 

 

Oops.  Forgot about him, being out for the season and all.  Actually I probably overlooked him because he has a RB instead of a WR next to his name.  I should have caught that since Fitz is kind of a trick answer anyways, everyone thinks of him as a fullback, not a receiver.

 

Yeah, sure, I'll argue that he doesn't count cause he's not a receiver.  That's it.

 

 

This is a total red herring...  Haidara is a huge prospect that is just in behind some massive receiver depth in BC

 

Nate Adjei has had some game time this year, must be ahead of Fitz

Oh boy...Canadian draft!

 

 

This is a total red herring...  Haidara is a huge prospect that is just in behind some massive receiver depth in BC

 

 

 

Poblah started ahead of him last week when they had to start three Canadian receivers. That's not a ringing endorsement.

 

 

 

This is a total red herring...  Haidara is a huge prospect that is just in behind some massive receiver depth in BC

 

 

 

Poblah started ahead of him last week when they had to start three Canadian receivers. That's not a ringing endorsement.

 

 

Lots of guys are huge prospects.  Few of them will ever have the career Watson is having, the career some people can't stop complaining about.  Marco Ianuzzi was a huge prospect.  He has played more games than Watson this year and has half his yards.

 

Adjei has 52 yards.  CFL.ca has no useful sorting functions; I was going off of memory as which names to check.  The trivia is wrong.  The premise is not.

I like the looks of this draft. I had the unfortunate occasion to debate the Neufeld trade with Migs on BB.com. He felt the Riders absolutely fleeced the Bombers because of the 2nd round pick that came along with Hall. When I argued that a 2nd round in 2014 was roughly equivalent to a 4th round in 2015 he couldn't grasp the concept at all. A 2nd round pick is a 2nd round pick and a 4th round is a 4th round is all he kept saying. Tried to explain that a 4th rounder this year will likely yield as good or better of a NI prospect but he just danced around with his fingers in his ears saying I was crazy....sigh. Some Rider fans just believe what they want to believe. The kool aid is strong over there.

I don't understand all the Watson hate and time to get rid of him talk. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I like the looks of this draft. I had the unfortunate occasion to debate the Neufeld trade with Migs on BB.com. He felt the Riders absolutely fleeced the Bombers because of the 2nd round pick that came along with Hall. When I argued that a 2nd round in 2014 was roughly equivalent to a 4th round in 2015 he couldn't grasp the concept at all. A 2nd round pick is a 2nd round pick and a 4th round is a 4th round is all he kept saying. Tried to explain that a 4th rounder this year will likely yield as good or better of a NI prospect but he just danced around with his fingers in his ears saying I was crazy....sigh. Some Rider fans just believe what they want to believe. The kool aid is strong over there.

 

The best guys should always go at the top, but yes, the drop sounds like it is not nearly as steep or quick next year.  I like the possibility that we could use our first rounder on the Dline and still get a talented Olineman the next time up.  If our scouting is good, this is a really good year to have middle round picks.  I'll gladly take all the top picks too.

This is a draft we really need to make hay with. Last year after Goosen there was little opportunity to get better. This is a year that provides that chance. I hope our scouting department does it's homework and helps us close the gap in NI talent with other teams. I, also, hope this is the year the Bomber brass opens up the purse strings for NI talent. We are hosting the cup next year. I hope our intention is to improve off a solid rebuilding year and make a push for a cup by going hard in all areas of recruitment and FA.

Now that we've proven to be back on the rails, and on the right track at that, combined with the new stadium and a great players coach in Mike O'Shea.... I bet players will not only be willing to play here, they will want to play here... So the idea that we can improve our NI content through Free Agency is no longer a dream but a strong possibility IMO

I like the looks of this draft. I had the unfortunate occasion to debate the Neufeld trade with Migs on BB.com. He felt the Riders absolutely fleeced the Bombers because of the 2nd round pick that came along with Hall. When I argued that a 2nd round in 2014 was roughly equivalent to a 4th round in 2015 he couldn't grasp the concept at all. A 2nd round pick is a 2nd round pick and a 4th round is a 4th round is all he kept saying. Tried to explain that a 4th rounder this year will likely yield as good or better of a NI prospect but he just danced around with his fingers in his ears saying I was crazy....sigh. Some Rider fans just believe what they want to believe. The kool aid is strong over there.

 

Migs is hardly the typical Rider fan.  

I don't understand all the Watson hate and time to get rid of him talk. It just doesn't make sense to me.

It's a very small minority that wants Watson to go

So apparently Lemar Durant is NOT eligible for this year's draft. Thought he would be.

 

Durant is still a junior and is part of the 2016 Draft Class. 

 

So apparently Lemar Durant is NOT eligible for this year's draft. Thought he would be.

 

Durant is still a junior and is part of the 2016 Draft Class. 

 

 

Who are the three guys Duane Forde was referring to yesterday then that haven't declared for eligibility but will be top 10 guys when they do?

 

I figured one would be Durant. Can't a junior opt into the draft from the NCAA if he is in his 4th year? He redshirted a year if I remember correctly.

Durant would be giving up his NCAA eligibility as well which likely isn't an option. 

 

For the 3 guys I'm not sure but will keep looking into it. 

Now that we've proven to be back on the rails, and on the right track at that, combined with the new stadium and a great players coach in Mike O'Shea.... I bet players will not only be willing to play here, they will want to play here... So the idea that we can improve our NI content through Free Agency is no longer a dream but a strong possibility IMO

 

No longer a "red flag" destination will help.  As in most years though, we can't count on the best guys even reaching free agency.  We can keep dreaming about an Andrew Harris homecoming, but BC will keep doing everything in their power to extend his contracts.

 

Odds are come February we will see one or two signings that we would not have otherwise seen if not for the positive changes that are happening here this year.

Grover Covington's son Christian?

Grover Covington's son Christian?

 

Christian is a 2016 as well unless he enters the NFL draft this year (which may happen). Either way he's not going to be in a CFL jersey for a while. 

I don't understand all the Watson hate and time to get rid of him talk. It just doesn't make sense to me.

The problem is trading Watson will not yield a 1st round pick so why bother? It is a deep draft so if the Bombers could get a 2nd rounder for Watson from Ottawa they would be all over it (Bombers). Watson is okay but he is hurt a lot and hasn't done much.

A lot of guys on the top 20 list will be getting serious NFL looks at the very least. This is one of the things that makes the CFL draft so interesting.

Okay so I dug into it ...

 

I was able to come up with two guesses for players Forde was referring to.

 

OL Josiah St. John from Oklahoma and RB Shaq Murray-Lawrence from UNLV.