CFL NOTEBOOK: DRAFT RANKINGS, RIDERS SIGN PHILIP BLAKE

University of Illinois offensive lineman Isaiah Adams sits atop the Winter Edition of the Canadian Football League (CFL) Scouting Bureau. The native of Ajax, Ont., holds the No. 1 ranking among prospects eligible to be selected in this year’s 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.

Two players – quarterback Kurtis Rourke and offensive lineman Eric Schon (ranked Nos. 1 and 20, respectively in the fall) – have reclassified to 2025.

2023 Scouting Bureau: Fall Edition

CFL SCOUTING BUREAU: WINTER EDITION
​(Rank (Previous) | Name | Position | School | Hometown)

• 1 (5) | Isaiah Adams | OL | Illinois | Ajax, Ont.
• 2 (3) | Theo Benedet | OL | UBC | North Vancouver, B.C.
• 3 (–) | Theo Johnson | TE | Penn State | Windsor, Ont.
• 4 (12) | Tanner McLachlan | TE | Arizona | Lethbridge, Alta.
• 5 (4) | Kyle Hergel | OL | Boston College | Toronto
• 6 (2) | Gabe Wallace | OL | Buffalo | Salmon Arm, B.C.
• 7 (10) | Geoffrey Cantin-Arku | LB | Memphis | Lévis, Que.
• 8 (11) | Anim Dankwah | OL | Howard | Toronto
• 9 (8) | Giovanni Manu | OL | UBC | Pitt Meadows, B.C.
• 10 (14) | Melique Straker | LB | Arkansas State | Brampton, Ont.
• 11 (6) | Nick Mardner | WR | Auburn | Oakville, Ont.
• 12 (7) | Daniel Johnson | OL | Purdue | London, Ont.
• 13 (19) | Dhel Duncan-Busby | WR | Bemidji State | Madison, Ohio
• 14 (9) | Justin Sambu | DL | Baylor | Calgary
• 15 (–) | Daniel Okpoko | DL | San Diego State | Saskatoon
• 16 (13) | Christy Nkanu | OL | Washington State | Montreal
• 17 (16) | Ajou Ajou | WR | Garden City CC | Brooks, Alta.*
• 18 (–) | Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay | OL | Laval | Rimouski, Que.
• 19 (18) | Kail Dava | DL | Tennessee Tech | Mississauga, Ont.
• 20 (–) | Kevin Mital | WR | Laval | Saint-Hubert, Que.

(CFL Communications)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed National offensive lineman Philip Blake to a one-year contract extension.  

Blake (6’3-310) suited up for six games for the Roughriders in 2023 after recovering from an injury sustained in the preseason. An instant boost to the offensive line, Blake helped running backs Jamal Morrow and Frankie Hickson earn nearly 400 yards rushing after his return to the lineup.  

Blake became a Grey Cup Champion after a strong 2022 season along the Toronto Argonauts offensive line. He appeared in 17 regular season games, as well as the East Final and Grey Cup and helped the Argos’ running backs rush for more than 1,000 yards combined and quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thomas lead the league in passing yards on route to a Grey Cup win against Winnipeg. Blake initially signed with the Argos in 2020 and went on to play 11 games in 2021.  

Prior to the Argos, Blake played five seasons in the CFL, including 11 games with the Roughriders (2018-19) and 57 games with the Montreal Alouettes (2015-18). Blake was selected by the Alouettes in the third round, 23rdoverall, of the 2011 CFL Draft and by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round, 108th overall, in the 2012 NFL Draft. He spent time with the Broncos and the Cardinals before signing with the Alouettes in 2015.