CFL SCOUTING BUREAU: WINTER EDITION

Laval’s defensive lineman Mathieu Betts tops the list in the second installment of CFL Scouting Bureau rankings

TORONTO (December 6, 2018) - The Canadian Football League (CFL) Scouting Bureau today published its second edition of the top-20 ranked prospects eligible for the 2019 CFL Draft.

WINTER SCOUTING BUREAU RANKINGS

Rank

Name

Position

School

Hometown

 

  1. (2)

Mathieu Betts

DL

Laval

Montréal, QC

 

      2. (4)

Shane Richards

OL

Oklahoma St.

Calgary, AB

 

      3. (5)

Justin McInnis

REC

Arkansas St.

Pierrefonds, QC

 

      4. (1)

Jonathan Kongbo

DL

Tennessee

Surrey, B.C.

 

      5. (9)

Alex Fontana

OL

Kansas

Toronto, ON

 

      6. (3)

Hergy Mayala

REC

Connecticut

Montreal, QC

 

      7. (10)

Alexandre Savard

REC

Laval

Québec, QC

 

      8. (11)

Maleek Irons

RB

Ohio

Chilliwack, B.C.

 

      9. (13)

Kurleigh Gittens Jr.

REC

Laurier

Ottawa, ON

 

     10. (7)

Brady Oliveira

RB

North Dakota

Winnipeg, MB

 

     11. (18)

Maurice Simba

OL

Concordia

Laval, QC

 

     12. (15)

Robbie Smith

DL

Laurier

Brampton, ON

 

      13. (14)

Kaion Julien Grant

REC

St. Francis Xavier

Toronto, ON

 

      14. (19)

Fraser Sopik

LB

Western

Toronto, ON

 

      15. (17)

Jamie Harry

DB

Ottawa

Lachine, QC

 

      16. (12)

Samuel Thomassin

OL

Laval

Québec, QC

 

      17. (8)

Zach Wilkinson

OL

Northern Colorado

Vancouver, B.C

 

      18. (-)

Trivel Pinto

REC

UBC

Toronto, ON

 

     19. (20)

Michael O’Connor

QB

UBC

Orleans, ON

 

      20. (-)

Nate Anderson

DL

Missouri

Toronto, ON

 

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

TOP 5 PROSPECTS

Mathieu Betts | DL | Laval

Betts jumped a spot to gain the first overall position in the winter rankings. In 2018, Betts capped a very successful fourth year with the Laval Rouge et Or by capturing the second Vanier Cup of his career. The Montreal native became the first player in history to claim the J.P. Metras Trophy three times, the first to win four major U SPORTS awards during his career. He led U SPORTS with nine sacks on the season and totalling 14 tackles for a loss. Betts also received an invite to play in the East-West Shrine Game in Florida.

Shane Richards | OL | Oklahoma St.

Richards will play his final collegiate game for the Cowboys against Missouri on New Year’s Eve in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. He redshirted in 2017 and appeared in four games in 2016. Prior to college he played for Crescent Heights in Calgary and then one season with the New Mexico Military Institute (JUCO). He has moved up from the fourth spot.

Justin McInnis | REC | Arkansas St.

McInnis in his third season with the Arkansas State Red Wolves the receiver finished second on the team with 56 receptions, for 694 yards and six total touchdowns to help lead the team to an 8-4 record and an Arizona Bowl appearance against Nevada. His best game in 2018 came against University of South Alabama where notched 177 receiving yards, a touchdown on seven receptions.  In his three seasons with the Red Wolves, McInnis compiled 115 receptions for 1,577 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions. McInnis is a native of Pierrefonds, QC.

Jonathan Kongbo | DL | Tennessee

Kongbo finished his three-year career with the Tennessee Volunteers where he appeared in 30 games where he compiled 51 tackles (20 solo, 31 assisted), 5.5 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. In his senior season, he saw his season cut short following a season-ending knee injury against the Auburn Tigers. The Surrey, B.C. native notched a season-high five tackles against Georgia. Prior to going to University of Tennessee Kongbo as a freshman attended Wyoming where he redshirted. Following that he went to Arizona Western College (JUCO) where he played a season and was rated the number one JUCO prospect.

Alex Fontana | OL | Kansas

Fontana started at centre in the season-opener and saw action on the offensive line for the Jayhawks throughout the season. The Toronto native started at centre in his first two seasons at the New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to Houston, where he made five starts and appeared in 11 games as a junior. He missed his original senior year due to injury before transferring to Kansas

BY THE NUMBERS

The rankings include: six receivers, five offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, two running backs and a quarterback, linebacker and defensive back.

16 schools are represented on the list with Laval (three), Laurier (two) and UBC (two) having multiple prospects on the list.

2018 CFL Draft first overall selection Mark Chapman was ranked 10th on the 2017 Winter Scouting Bureau.

Last year’s winter rankings saw 19 of 20 prospects selected in the CFL Draft, with nine being selected in the first round.

ABOUT THE SCOUTING BUREAU

The CFL Scouting Bureau releases its rankings three times each year: in September, December and Apri.

The CFL’s Scouting Bureau is comprised of CFL scouts, player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s nine teams.

Lucas Barrett

Manager, Communications & Public Affairs, Canadian Football League

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About the Canadian Football League

Built on a foundation of more than 110 years of football tradition and history, the Canadian Football League features nine teams, millions of fans and a commitment to service to the community, as well as, elite sport. To stay up to date with CFL news, visit CFL.ca.

Contact

50 Wellington Street East - 3rd Floor Toronto, ON M5E 1C8, CANADA

(416) 322-9650

www.cfl.ca