CFL Notebook: Kurtis Rourke Tops Draft Rankings, Riders Release Ajou To NFL
K. Rourke With Ohio In 2023
The second time was the charm for Taylor Elgersma.
The Wilfrid Laurier quarterback cracked the winter edition of the CFL Scouting Bureau’s top-20 list of eligible prospects for the league’s 2025 draft Wednesday. Elgersma claimed the final spot after being unranked when the fall list was released in August.
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke remained atop the list after securing the No. 1 ranking in August. But six players — No. 2 Damien Alford (WR, Utah), No. 6 Nolan Ulm (WR, Eastern Washington), No. 7 Akheem Mesidor (DL, Miami), No. 9 Wesley Bailey (DL, Rutgers), No. 11 Jett Elad (DB, UNLV) and No. 12 Rene Konga (DL, Louisville) — were all reclassified to 2026 while fourth-ranked Eric Schon (OL, Duke) retired.
That helped create plenty of movement on the winter list.
Toronto’s Paris Shand, a defensive lineman from Louisiana State, moved from third to second. Stanford receiver Elic Ayomanor, of Medicine Hat, Alta., who recently declared for the 2025 NFL draft, was No. 3 after being unranked in August.
Isaiah Bagnah, a defensive lineman at BYU from Lethbridge, Alta., moved four spots up to fourth, followed by Montana receiver Keeland White, of North Vancouver, B.C., who was No. 10 in August. Hamilton’s Jaylen Smith, a defensive back at North Texas State, moved up 14 spots to No. 6 while Montreal’s Jeremiah Ojo, a defensive lineman at Montreal, was seventh from No. 14 in the fall.
Rounding out the top 10 are Western defensive back Jackson Findlay of North Vancouver, (No. 8 from No. 5), Montana defensive lineman Hayden Harris (unranked) and Western offensive lineman Erik Anderson of London, Ont., (No. 17 in August).
Others moving into the top 20 after initially being unranked were: UConn offensive lineman Christopher Fortin, of Saint-Rene, Que. (No. 11), Bowling Green defensive lineman Ali Saad, of Windsor, Ont. (No. 12), Laurier receiver Ethan Jordan, of Chatham, Ont. (No. 16), Calgary’s Samuel Carson, an offensive lineman at Louisiana at Monroe (No. 17), UBC running back Isaiah Knight, of Ottawa, (No. 18) and Calgary defensive back Nate Beauchemin, of Kelowna, B.C. (No. 19).
The CFL draft will be held April 29.
Roughriders release Ajou
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders have released Canadian wide receiver Ajou Ajou to pursue an NFL opportunity, reportedly with the Indianapolis Colts.
Ajou was selected by the Roughriders in the seventh round, 59th overall, of the 2024 CFL draft.
He had 20 receptions for 307 yards in 2024, including a 110-yard breakout performance against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 7.
RedBlacks Re-Sign Two Veteran Receivers
The Ottawa Redblacks signed all-star receiver Justin Hardy to a one-year contract extension Wednesday.
Hardy finished second in the CFL last season with 1,343 receiving yards despite missing two games.
He had a league-leading 97 receptions while hauling in five touchdowns. Hardy also ran the ball nine times for 76 yards.
Earlier, the Redblacks signed another receiver to a one-year contract extension after coming to terms with 31-year-old Bralon Addison. Both Hardy and Addison were scheduled to become a free agents Feb. 11.
Addison had 41 catches for 433 yards and three TDs in 10 regular-season games last year. He also made two starts at running back, rushing for 151 yards on 27 carries (5.6-yard average).
The five-foot-nine, 197-pound Addison enters his third season with Ottawa and seventh in the CFL. He began his career in Canada with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2018-19, 21-22).
Addison has appeared in 49 career CFL regular-season games, registering 231 catches for 2,718 yards with 13 touchdowns. He also has 80 carries for 449 yards and a TD.
Toronto Argonauts re-sign veteran receiver Damonte Coxie
TORONTO — The Toronto Argonauts have re-signed veteran American receiver Damonte Coxie.
Coxie was slated to become a free agent next month.
The six-foot-three, 200-pound Coxie had 59 catches for 860 yards and four touchdowns — all career highs — in 17 regular-season games for the Grey Cup champions. Coxie enters his fourth season with Toronto.
The former Memphis star has appeared in 38 regular-season games with Toronto, recording 113 catches for 1,857 yards and nine touchdowns.
(Associated Press)
I guess I’m happy for Ajoe Ajoe but in reality I’m sad, I was really looking forward to a decade of him in Riderville.
I’m pleased for him too but, I don’t see him as being NFL ready. He needs to mature a bit, stifle his temper and cure his dropsies. After Labour Day, I think he’ll be in a Rider uniform 🏈🏈