Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Instant impact makers can be had in the Canadian Football League Draft.
Looking back through the last five talent grabs, there were players selected who immediately played at a high level as rookies. The 2011-2015 drafts produced a Most Outstanding Rookie and multiple CFL Divisional All-Stars in their first year playing pro football.
We look back on the most instantly impactful player from each of the last five years:
2011: Craig Butler, DB/LB, Western
SSK, 2nd round, 12th overall
Very quickly Butler became a trusted player on the back end for Saskatchewan. He played in 17 games, starting 13 at safety and while recording 47 tackles, 12 special teams tackles, five interceptions – which tied for third-most in the league – one sack and one fumble recovery in 2011.
For Butler’s efforts he earned West Division All-Star honours. Even though he ran a pedestrian 4.85 40-yard time at the CFL Combine, his rookie season proved there’s more to playing football than just running fast.
2012: Ben Heenan, OL, Saskatchewan
SSK, 1st round, 1st overall
Right from the get-go Heenan was a starter in Riderville. The local product assimilated to the level of play in the CFL quickly and started the first game he could to begin his career. Heenan went on to start 12 games in year one in the league, proving to be a steady Canadian presence up front.
2013: Brett Jones, OL, Regina
CGY, 2nd round, 16th overall
After falling in the draft due to the possibility that Jones would go to medical school, Calgary took a chance and was immediately rewarded.
The big man stepped in to anchor the Stampeders’ offensive line at centre. He helped pave the way for Canuck running back Jon Cornish, who rolled up a league-best 1,813 yards rushing in 2013. And Calgary allowed the lowest amount of sacks (36) that year too.
Jones became the first centre and fifth Canadian player in league history to win the Most Outstanding Rookie award.
2014: Antoine Pruneau, DB/LB, Montreal
OTT, 1st round, 4th overall
Many CFL teams believed Pruneau could be a ratio-changing type of player and that’s what he’s become, primarily starting at strong side linebacker for Ottawa. But it didn’t take No. 6 any time to begin producing for the REDBLACKS.
As a rookie Pruneau piled up 69 tackles, 11 more on special teams and two quarterback sacks in 18 games. It’s very rare to find a first-year Canadian who can start on defence from the jump, but that’s what Pruneau did. The play-making Frenchman was nominated as Ottawa’s Most Outstanding Rookie.
2015: Sukh Chungh, OL, Calgary
WPG, 1st round, 2nd overall
Winnipeg plugged Chungh in as a starter at guard for his entire rookie season. He displayed toughness and the ability to hold up for an entire CFL campaign. Some rookies can burn out after the first half of the campaign with the CIS schedules being much shorter, but that did not seem to bother Chungh.
