The 2024 National Combine kickoffs in Winnipeg on March 19th, a six day event where 71 of the best prospects will have one last opportunity to impress CFL personal before the draft on April 30th. Standing out in a group full of talented athletes won’t be easy but here are five prospects to watch out for at the CFL’s National Combine.
- Jerrell Cummings | UBC | DB
The former division II standout transferred to UBC when SFU folded its program early in 2023. During his time at SFU Jerrell was named the 2019 GNAC freshman of the year in large part for having a league leading 17 Pass breakups, he was also named to the 2021 GNAC all conference team. In his first season at UBC he was named a Canada west Allstar, and the thunderbirds fell one win short of winning a Vanier cup. Cummings should perform well during the on-field portion, if he can test well and impress during his interviews expect him to raise up draft boards following the combine.
- Kevin Mital | Laval | WR
Kevin Mital helped his Laval Rouge et Or win the Vanier Cup in 2022, he was named the Ted Morris Trophy winner as the game’s most outstanding offensive player, He was also the first wide receiver to win the Hec Crighton trophy since 2005. Mital went from leading the country in catches, receiving yards, and TD’s too only playing four games in 2023 due to an ankle injury. All eyes will be on Kevin Mital at the combine, if he can put out some fires about the off-field issues causing his one game suspension this past season, I believe CFL teams might start to reconsider Mital as one of the best prospects of this year’s draft class.
- John Bosse | Calgary | OL
They say measurables aren’t everything but standing at 6’6 and weighting in at 320lbs John Bosse will attract the attention of CFL front offices. Bosse came to the University of Calgary as a defensive lineman only weighting 250lbs, in 2019 he would switch to offensive line contributing as a backup during their Vanier Cup winning season. Coming into 2023 the Versatile lineman had more expected of him, moving out to tackle for the first time and being ranked #17 on the CFL’s fall edition of the scouting bureau. Bosse has everything you want in an offensive lineman, it’ll be interesting to see just how far he can climb up draft boards.
- Tyshon Blackburn | Alberta | DB
The two time Can West Allstar will enter the combine trying to prove why he’s not only the best defensive back in the conference but in all of USports as well. Tyshon Blackburn made himself known in 2021 when he was named a First Team All Canadian finishing a shorten post covid season with eight games played, two Ints, and five pass break ups. Standing at 6’3 and weighting over 200lbs Blackburn can be a nightmare for opposing players, often using his height to his advantage to break up passes and his big frame to come up and help support in the run game.
- Matthew Peterson | Alberta | RB
Matthew Peterson had himself quite the 2023 season, taking home the Canada West football Player of the Year award while also being named a first team all Canadian and Canada West Allstar. He finished the season with 1,128 rushing yards on 117 carries averaging an outstanding 9.6 yards per carry and four touchdowns, helping his Alberta Golden Bears finish with their best regular season record since 2005. With his perfect combination of power and speed Peterson has the potential to follow in the footsteps of the great Canadian running backs before him, all he needs is the right team to believe in him.
The CFL will have streams available to watch the combine on Thursday march 21st and Sunday march 24th, check out CFL.ca for more details on the event.