CFL Scouting Bureau: Laval’s Groulx top CIS prospect heading into May 12 draft
OTTAWA (CIS) – Danny Groulx, an offensive lineman from Laval University, is the top-ranked CIS prospect heading into the 2015 CFL Canadian Draft, set for May 12.
Photo credit Stephane Gaudreau
OTTAWA (CIS) – Danny Groulx, an offensive lineman from Laval University, is the top-ranked CIS prospect heading into the 2015 CFL Canadian Draft, set for May 12.
The CFL’s Scouting Bureau released its third and final Top-20 list of the year on Friday, with 12 CIS standouts and eight from the NCAA making the cut. The Calgary Dinos lead the way with three representatives, while Wilfrid Laurier and Regina have two apiece.
Groulx, a 6-foot-6, 325-pound senior from Gatineau, Que., moves up three positions to No. 5 on the new Scouting Bureau list, which is topped by Rice defensive tackle Christian Covington. A two-time Vanier Cup champion with the Rouge et Or, Groulx opened the season at No. 4 back on Sept. 11 before dropping to No. 8 in the Dec. 10 national rankings.
The other CIS stars included on the latest prospect list are Calgary guard Sukh Chungh (No. 6 / up one position), Western defensive tackle Daryl Waud (No. 7 / down four), Manitoba slotback Nic Demski (No. 9 / down four), Calgary centre Sean McEwen (No. 10 / down four), Wilfrid Laurier defensive back Chris Ackie (No. 11 / up one), Regina wide receiver Addison Richards (No. 12 / down three), Montreal linebacker Byron Archambault (No. 14 / up three), Regina defensive back Tevaughn Campbell (No. 15 / previously unranked), Laurier defensive end Ese Mrabure-Ajufo (No. 17 / up one), Calgary receiver Jake Harty (No. 18 / up one) and McMaster linebacker Nick Shortill (No. 20 / down nine).
Demski and Waud were the top-ranked CIS players on the September and December lists, respectively, both in third position.
Last May, Laval centre Pierre Lavertu became the eighth CIS player in as many years – and the 12th in the past 15 years - to be selected first overall in the CFL Canadian Draft when the Calgary Stampeders called his name at No. 1. He was ranked fourth, second and third, respectively, on the three Scouting Bureau lists published in 2013-14.
A record 59 CIS players (out of 65 total picks) were selected in the 2014 CFL Draft, including eight in the first round, also an all-time mark for CIS (tied with 1970 and 1972).
The 2015 draft on May 12 is set to kick off at 8 p.m.
NOTES: The Scouting Bureau is comprised of CFL scouts, player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s nine teams... Another player with ties to CIS is on the third prospect list of 2014-15. Fourth-ranked running back Tyler Varga was named the CIS rookie of the year with Western in 2011 before transferring to Yale in the NCAA.
CFL release: http://www.cfl.ca/article/final-scouting-bureau-rankings-released
December rankings: http://www.cfl.ca/article/full-rankings-mcewen-rises-into-the-top-10
September rankings: http://www.cfl.ca/article/full-rankings-demski-topped-ranked-receiver
CFL SCOUTING BUREAU APRIL 24, 2015 LIST:
Rank Name University Hometown Pos. Ht. Wt. Sept.
1. Christian Covington Rice Vancouver, B.C. DL 6-3 300 NR
2. Brett Boyko UNLV Saskatoon, Sask. OL 6-7 310 1
3. Alex Mateas Connecticut Ottawa, Ont. OL 6-4 309 2
4. Tyler Varga Yale Kitchener, Ont. RB 5-11 220 4
5. Danny Groulx Laval Gatineau, Que. OL 6-6 325 8
6. Sukh Chungh Calgary Port Coquitlam, B.C. OL 6-4 303 7
7. Daryl Waud Western Hamilton, Ont. DL 6-5 270 3
8. Lamar Durant Simon Fraser Coquitlam, B.C. REC 6-2 231 NR
9. Nic Demski Manitoba Winnipeg, Man. REC 6-0 215 5
10. Sean McEwen Calgary Calgary, Alta. OL 6-3 297 6
11. Chris Ackie Laurier Cambridge, Ont. DB 6-2 205 12
12. Addison Richards Regina Regina, Sask. REC 6-5 205 9
13. Jacob Ruby Richmond London, Ont. OL 6-7 315 10
14. Byron Archambault Montreal Montreal, Que. LB 6-0 240 17
15. Tevaughn Campbell Regina Toronto, Ont. DB 6-0 185 NR
16. Shaquille Murray-Lawrence UNLV Scarborough, Ont. RB 5-8 200 NR
17. Ese Mrabure-Ajufo Laurier Mississauga, Ont. DL 6-4 260 18
18. Jake Harty Calgary Calgary, Alta. REC 6-2 210 19
19. Brandon Bridge South Alabama Mississauga, Ont. QB 6-5 235 NR
20. Nick Shortill McMaster Nobleton, Ont. LB 6-2 223 11