Ohio University's Kurtis Rourke Leads the Way in CFL Scouting Bureau's Fall Edition
August 24, 2023 - Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release
TORONTO - Ohio University quarterback Kurtis Rourke headlines the Fall Edition of the Canadian Football League (CFL) Scouting Bureau. The native of Oakville, Ont., sits in the No. 1 spot among prospects eligible for the 2024 CFL Draft.
The CFL Scouting Bureau, comprising CFL scouts, as well as player personnel directors and general managers from the league's nine clubs, annually releases its rankings in the fall, winter and, for a third and final time, in the spring ahead of the coming draft.
CFL SCOUTING BUREAU: FALL EDITION
(Rank | Name | Position | School | Hometown)
1 | Kurtis Rourke | QB | Ohio | Oakville, Ont.
2 | Gabe Wallace | OL | Buffalo | Salmon Arm, B.C.
3 | Theo Benedet | OL | UBC | North Vancouver, B.C.
4 | Kyle Hergel | OL | Boston College | Toronto
5 | Isaiah Adams | OL | Illinois | Ajax, Ont.
6 | Nick Mardner | WR | Auburn | Oakville, Ont.
7 | Daniel Johnson | OL | Purdue | London, Ont.
8 | Giovanni Manu | OL | UBC | Pitt Meadows, B.C.
9 | Justin Sambu | DL | Baylor | Calgary
10 | Geoffrey Cantin-Arku | LB | Memphis | Lévis, Que.
11 | Anim Dankwah | OL | Howard | Toronto
12 | Tanner McLachlan | TE | Arizona | Lethbridge, Alta.
13 | Christy Nkanu | OL | Washington State | Montreal
14 | Melique Straker | LB | Arkansas State | Brampton, Ont.
15 | Nick Wiebe | LB | Saskatchewan | Okotoks, Alta.
16 | Ajou Ajou | WR | Garden City CC (South Florida) | Brooks, Alta.*
17 | John Bosse | OL | Calgary | Calgary
18 | Kail Dava | DL | Tennessee Tech | Mississauga, Ont.
19 | Dhel Duncan-Busby | WR | Bemidji State | Madison, Ohio
20 | Eric Schon | OL | Holy Cross | Barrie, Ont.
*Eligible for the 2024 CFL Draft by games played at Clemson and South Florida.
The 2020 U SPORTS football season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the 2024 draft class having fewer athletes from Canadian post-secondary institutions. U SPORTS athletes currently designated as part of the 2025 Class will be able to opt into the 2024 Class until August 31.
BY THE NUMBERS
The fall prospect list includes:
10 offensive linemen
Three linebackers
Three wide receivers
Two defensive linemen
One quarterback
One tight end
19 schools are represented in the rankings. UBC is the only school to feature multiple players: No. 3 Theo Benedet and No. 8 Giovanni Manu.
15 prospects are from the NCAA; four are from U SPORTS; one from Junior College
Five of the nine first-round selections in the 2023 CFL Draft were listed in the 2022 CFL Scouting Bureau: Fall Edition
TOP-5 SPOTLIGHT
1 | KURTIS ROURKE | QB | OHIO | OAKVILLE, ONT.
Played in 11 games last season, passing for 3,256 yards and 25 touchdowns to four interceptions, with a 69 per cent completion rate
Rushed for 249 yards and four majors
2022 MAC Offensive Player of the Year
2022 Vern Smith Leadership Award
Named to 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl Watchlist
In 23 career games with the Bobcats, passed for 4,912 yards and 35 touchdowns
2 | GABE WALLACE | OL | BUFFALO | SALMON ARM, B.C.
Started all 13 games at left guard last season
All-MAC Third Team in 2022
Blocked for an offence that ranked in the Top-5 in the conference in scoring offence (28.5), total offence (377.2) and passing offence (235.3)
37 career games with the Bulls with 25 starts
3 | THEO BENEDET | OL | UBC | NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.
In eight games last season, UBC's offensive line only allowed 10 sacks, while the offence averaged 6.1 yards per rush
J.P. Metras Trophy (2022)
2022 Canada West All-Star and First-Team All-Canadian
2022 East-West Shrine Bowl
25 career games with the Thunderbirds with 19 starts
4 | KYLE HERGEL | OL | BOSTON COLLEGE | TORONTO
Transferred to Boston College for the 2023 season
Played the previous two seasons with Texas State, and with North Dakota prior to that
Started all 24 games with Texas State, All-Sun Belt Third Team (2022), PFF All-Sun Belt First Team (2022), PFF All-Sun Belt Second Team (2021)
Started 17 games with North Dakota, FCS Independent Newcomer of the Year (2019)
5 | ISAIAH ADAMS | OL | ILLINOIS | AJAX, ONT.
Started all 13 games last season
2023 preseason watchlist for Outland Trophy, awarded to the best college football interior lineman in the United States
2022 All-Big Ten Third Team
Member of the first offensive line in team history to be named a Joe Moore Award semifinalist (2022)
Named to 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl Watchlist
Transferred from Garden City Community College, 2021 NJCAA D1 All-America First Team
Played 2019 season at Wilfrid Laurier University
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