(Toronto) Canadian Akheem Mesidor, defensive lineman from the University of Miami, is one of the top prospects for the next CFL draft, which includes five players from Quebec.
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The Ottawa native, who had three tackles and two sacks in Miami’s 27-21 loss in the American college football final against Indiana on Monday, dominates the winter rankings of the 20 best prospects released Wednesday for the draft on April 28.
Linebacker Dariel Djabome (Rutgers), from Longueuil, is the highest-ranked Quebecer at seventh. He is followed by three Montrealers: defensive back Malcolm Bell (Michigan State), tight end Rohan Jones (Arkansas), as well as receiver Nick Cenacl (Hawaii), in ninth, 10e et 11e places.
Laval University center back Émeric Boutin, from L’Assomption, concludes this ranking in 20e place. He is also the only representative of a Canadian university in this ranking.
Mesidor had a stellar season south of the border with 60 tackles, including 15.5 for losses, 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 15 games, securing a spot on the ACC All-Star team. He should also be an early pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The CFL Scouting Bureau is made up of scouts from its nine teams, directors of player personnel and general managers. Its rankings are published three times a year.
The top 20 prospects
The number in parentheses represents their rank during the last broadcast, in the fall.
- (1) | Akheem Mesidor | LD | Miami | Ottawa, ON
- (2) | Logan Taylor | LO | Boston College | Lunenburg, N.-É.
- (5) | Albert Reese IV | LO | Mississippi State | Edmonton, AB
- (7) | Rene Congo | LD | Louisville | Ottawa, ON
- (3) | Wesley Bailey | LD | Louisville | Ottawa, ON
- (6) | Jett Elad | DD | Rutgers | Mississauga, ON
- (10) | Dariel Djabome | SEC | Rutgers | Longueuil, QC
- (–) | Nuer Gatkuoth | LD | Wake Forest | Edmonton, AB
- (12) | Malcolm Bell | DD | Michigan State | Montréal, QC
- (16) | Rohan Jones | AR | Arkansas | Montréal, QC
- (4) | Nick Cenacle | REC | Hawaii | Montreal, QC
- (13) | Darius Bell | LO | East Carolina | Hamilton, ON
- (18) | Darius McKenzie | SEC | South Alabama | Ottawa, ON
- (8) | Devynn Cromwell | DD | Michigan State | Toronto, ON
- (–) | Jonathan Denis | LO | Louisiana Tech | Homestead, FL
- (19) | Aamarii Notice | LD | Coastal Carolina | Toronto, ON
- (9) | Nolan Ulm | REC | Eastern Washington | Kelowna, C.-B.
- (–) | Nate DeMontagnac | REC | North Dakota | Mississauga, ON
- (11) | Giordano Vaccaro | LO | Purdue | Winnipeg
- (–) | Emeric Boutin | CA | Laval | L’Assomption, QC
