CFL SCOUTING BUREAU: FALL EDITION

TORONTO (September 12, 2019) – The Canadian Football League (CFL) Scouting Bureau has published the first edition of the Top-20 prospects eligible for the 2020 CFL Draft.

The CFL Scouting Bureau, comprised of CFL scouts, as well as, player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s nine clubs, releases its rankings three times each year: in September, December and April.

FALL SCOUTING BUREAU RANKINGS

TOP 5 PROSPECTS

NEVILLE GALLIMORE | DL | OKLAHOMA

In four seasons with the Oklahoma Sooners, Gallimore has been a consistent contributor, playing in 40 games and starting 26. He has compiled totals of 122 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles. In the Sooners’ first two games this season, the St. Catharines, Ont., native has compiled four tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble.  Prior to signing with the Sooners, the 6’2, 301 pound defensive lineman played at Canada Prep Football Academy. Gallimore holds the distinction of being the first Canadian to be nominated to play in the highly touted U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

CHASE CLAYPOOL | WR | NOTRE DAME

Claypool enters this season as the lead receiver for the Fighting Irish. He has played in 38 games for Notre Dame and has accumulated 89 receptions for 1,216 yards and six touchdowns in four years with the program. The 6’4, 229 pound receiver also plays a key role on special teams as a gunner on punt returns. In this year’s season-opening 35-17 win against Louisville, the Abbotsford, B.C., native led his team in receptions (5) and receiving yards (94).

NATHAN ROURKE | QB | OHIO

Rourke came into the season with a 17-7 record as a starting quarterback and has nearly been a step-in starter since joining the team (28 games, 26 starts). In his career as a Bobcat, he has a 57.9% completion rate, 5,002 passing yards and 42 touchdowns, while adding 1,804 yards on the ground and 47 rushing touchdowns. Through two games this season, the Oakville, Ont., native has led the Bobcats to a 1-1 record, while passing for 365 yards and accounting for three touchdowns (two pass, one rush).

SAGE DOXTATER | OL | NEW MEXICO STATE

Doxtater entered the year with 32 starts in 33 career games as a member of the Aggies. The former Canada Prep Academy Raider has yet to play in 2019 due to a shoulder injury. In 2018, Doxtater anchored an offensive line which allowed rushers to average over 105 yards, and quarterbacks to pass for more than 265 yards per game. As a freshman in 2016, the 6’7, 330 pound native of Welland, Ont., was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Newcomer Team.

PATRICE RENE | DB | NORTH CAROLINA

Rene has appeared in 35 games as a Tar Heel, making 21 starts, including both games this season. In the first half of North Carolina’s second game of the year – an eventual 28-25 victory over Miami – the starting cornerback suffered a season-ending tear of his right anterior cruciate ligament. In his breakout 2018 campaign, the 6’2, 208 pound Ottawa native started all 11 games and tallied 31 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Rene is eligible to return to the school for the 2020 season.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The rankings include: six offensive linemen, four receivers, three defensive linemen and defensive backs, two quarterbacks, one linebacker and one kicker.
• 18 schools are represented on the list and two schools feature two prospects:
  • Laval (No. 7 Ketel Asse and No. 8 Adam Auclair)
  • Buffalo (No. 13 Tomas Jack-Kurdyla and No. 17 Dev Lamour)
• 12 prospects come from the NCAA; eight from U SPORTS.
• Last year, 18 of the 20 prospects identified in the fall rankings were selected in the CFL Draft.
• Of the eight first round selections in the 2019 CFL Draft, six appeared in the fall rankings.

When making use of the attached images of the top prospects, the accompanying photo credits must be included.