May 5, 2016

Onyemata, Loffler top Canada West CFL prospect rankings

Brett Blaszko and Taylor Loffler (23) DB UBC during the CFL combine in Toronto, Sunday March 13, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras / CFL)

David Onyemata continues to dominate the ranks ahead of the 2016 CFL Draft, most recently topping Canada West’s first annual CFL prospect rankings.

Coaches from Canada West’s six football programs each submitted a list of 21 players, with a first place vote being worth 21 points, a second place vote worth 20 points etc. The rankings provide a glimpse into how Canada West coaches view the top draft eligible players ahead of the May 10 CFL Draft, with 15 players named to the list in all.

At a glance:

  • University of Manitoba defensive lineman David Onyemata, who was recently selected by New Orleans in the NFL Draft (fourth round, 120th overall), is the top ranked Canada West player ahead of next week’s CFL Draft.
  • Defensive back Taylor Loffler from the UBC Thunderbirds is the second rated prospect after helping the T-Birds win the Vanier Cup in 2015.
  • Elie Bouka of the Calgary Dinos, who inked a deal with the Arizona Cardinals following the NFL Draft, comes in third in the rankings.
  • Five UBC Thunderbirds and five Calgary Dinos cracked the rankings.
  • The prospect rankings were selected by Canada West coaches.

RELATED: Onyamata tops CFL Scouting Bureau final rankings

Manitoba Bisons


The Nigerian-born Onyemata was deemed the top Canada West prospect, to no one’s surprise, after topping the CFL Scouting Bureau’s final draft rankings last month and enjoying a dominant 2015 season, which saw him earn the J.P. Metras Award as the top CIS down lineman.

Onyemata earned all five first place votes available to him (coaches didn’t vote for their own players), but where he will go in the CFL Draft remains a mystery as his selection in the NFL Draft means a CFL team will have to play an extended wait and see game with respect to his availability.

Tight race for second

There was virtually no separation between the pair of players behind Onyemata in the race for second, as UBC Thunderbirds defensive back Taylor Loffler edged fellow DB Elie Bouka of the Calgary Dinos for the spot.

Both Loffler and Bouka finished with 98 points in the rankings, with Loffler earning the tiebreaker thanks to more first place votes (one) compared to Bouka, who was signed this past weekend by the Arizona Cardinals following the NFL Draft.

Slotting in behind Loffler and Bouka is Calgary running back Mercer Timmis, who is the lone running back in the rankings – just as he was in the CFL Scouting Bureau’s April rankings.

Timmis’ rank behind his teammate Bouka is the lone difference between the Canada West rankings and CFL Scouting Bureau rankings in terms of ordering the top four Canada West prospects, as the CFL list featured Onyemata (No. 1), Loffler (No. 11), Timmis (No. 13) and Bouka (No. 18).

Hardy Cup finalists dominate rankings

Along with Loffler, Bouka and Timmis, plenty of other T-Birds and Dinos are on the 15-player list, as last year’s Hardy Cup finalists landed a total of 10 players in the rankings.

UBC’s Terrell Davis (No. 4 – LB), Quinn van Gylswyk (No. 5 – K/P), Dominique Termansen (No. 9 – DB), and Boyd Richardson (No. 10 – DL) all made the list, while Calgary’s Brett Blaszko (No. 7 – WR), Michael Schmidt (No. 12 – DB), and Hunter Turnbull (No. 15 – DB) were also recognized.

Canada West players in the CFL Draft

In total 13 Canada West players were selected in last year’s CFL Draft, including three players in the first round (Sukh Chungh, Sean McEwen and Nic Demski). Canada West’s 13 CFL draftees in 2015 was tied with Ontario University Athletics for the most in the nation.

Over the last three years a total of 38 Canada West players have been selected in the CFL Draft.

Complete Canada West CFL prospect rankings

 

RK (PTS) NAME POSITION SCHOOL HOMETOWN
1. (105) David Onyemata DL Manitoba Lagos, Nigeria
2. (98*) Taylor Loffler DB UBC Kelowna, B.C.
3. (98) Elie Bouka DB Calgary Laval, Que.
4. (93) Mercer Timmis RB Calgary Burlington, Ont.
5. (87) Terrell Davis LB UBC Victoria
6. (83) Quinn van Gylswyk K/P UBC Victoria
7. (81) Brett Blaszko REC Calgary Burlington, Ont.
8. (78) DJ Lalama LB Manitoba Winnipeg
9. (64) Dominique Termansen DB UBC North Vancouver, B.C.
10. (63) Boyd Richardson DL UBC Regina
11. (58) Alex Vitt REC Manitoba Winnipeg
12. (57) Michael Schmidt DB Calgary Calgary, Alta.
13. (54) Mason Rossler DB Regina Regina
14. (50) Alex McKay OL Manitoba Winnipeg
15. (48) Hunter Turnbull DB Calgary Calgary, Alta.

 

*Higher number of first place votes used as tiebreaker