U Sports Playoffs: Ferguson’s ‘can’t-miss’ list
The U Sports playoffs continue to heat up as Canada’s top university football teams kick off the Mitchell Bowl and the Utech Bowl this weekend.
With many of the country’s top amateur talent on display, CFL.ca’s Marshall Ferguson looks at who you should key in on in each game on Saturday.
Mitchell Bowl: St.FX (8-1) @ Calgary (8-2)
Robert Woodson #4
DB | Calgary Dinos
Woodson is a dynamic playmaker with big play ability. He is among the best defensive backs remaining in the U Sports football playoffs when it comes to recognition and feel for the game. On tape, Woodson is rarely caught out of position and difficult to beat with a double move as his feet are fundamentally sound. Woodson is the top rated defensive back (12th) on the CFL fall Scouting Bureau Rankings.
Jordan Filippelli #67
OL | Calgary Dinos
Filippelli was a raw blocker as a redshirt freshman with Calgary in 2013 but has developed to acquire good hips and movement for a man sizing up at 6-foot-5, 310 pounds. He is a prototypical ratio-breaking left tackle at the next level and worth a look or two Saturday against ST.FX.
Braden Schram #69
OL | Calgary Dinos
Schram is a strong run blocker with a solid base. He will need to anchor the offensive line and give plenty of help to offensive tackles dealing with the likes of St.FX defensive end Kay Okafor. Calgary utilizes a zone blocking scheme quite often in pass protection so Schram is rarely asked to win a true one on one with a defensive end, although that could change should Calgary advance.
Brendon Thera-Plamondon #83
WR | Calgary Dinos
A smooth route runner with big play ability, Thera-Plamondon will be asked to stretch the X-Men defence vertically for coach Wayne Harris. He got into the end zone last week against UBC in the highest-scoring game in Hardy Cup history, with 89 combined points, by shaking his defender with a slick double move.
Utech Bowl: Laurier (9-1) @ Laval (9-1)
Marcus Arkarakas #5
WR | Laurier Golden Hawks
Arkarakas needs to produce if Laurier stays in this game. The ground game Head Coach Michael Faulds developed while playing at Western and coordinating the York University Lions is complemented perfectly by Arkarakas’ ability to exploit the heart of the defence in the always dangerous but highly rewarding area of a Canadian football field, behind the linebackers and in front of the safety. Arkarakas was essential to the Golden Hawks’ stunning Yates Cup comeback at Western last week and will need to perform in a similar manner again.
Kwaku Boateng #3
DL | Laurier Golden Hawks
Boateng is one of the most dynamic playmakers in U Sports. He ranks fifth in USports sacks with 6.5 on the season. Boateng also leads U Sports with four forced fumbles in 2016 so he has a nose for the football. At 6-foot-2, 250 pounds he is an ideal size to battle Laval’s ground game. Fast enough to win the edge, thick enough to anchor run defence of the Golden Hawks and turn running backs inside to his exceptional linebackers. Kwaku is ranked No. 2 on the CFL’s fall scouting bureau rankings.
Brandon Calver #40
LB | Laurier Golden Hawks
Calver is a sound playmaker who reads and reacts admirably but is susceptible to play action at times. His sideline to sideline presence is readily apparent on film and he’ll need every ounce of that energy to battle with Laval’s interior offensive line Saturday afternoon.
Nakas Onyeka #11
LB | Laurier Golden Hawks
Simply put, Onyeka makes plays. He is everywhere on the field. Physical enough to get involved in the run game but athletic enough to run with most receivers. At 6-foot, 210 pounds he is a less than ideal matchup for Laval’s freak of nature tight end Antony Auclair, but he may be Laurier head coach Michael Faulds’ best option to handle the big pass catcher.
Jalen Price #77
DT | Laurier Golden Hawks
Price is your prototypical nose tackle which creates an interesting challenge for Laval when running the football as it loves to do. Price is all of his reported 6-foot-5, 320-pound frame and will undoubtedly face several doubles teams in both pass protection and run blocking. No doubt the Rouge Et Or will scheme for Price. I’m interested to see how he responds Saturday.
Felix Faubert Lussier #21
SB | Laval Rouge Et Or
Felix the long haired cat has already been drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and is the one player on this list not draft eligible this May, but I can’t put together a succinct list of who to watch in these games without including him. Thought of as a fullback in Hamilton, Faubert-Lussier was returned to Quebec City after an injury riddled rookie training camp and has been incredibly productive for Laval, including 10 catches in last week’s Dunsmore Cup victory over Montreal.
Antony Auclair #81
TE | Laval Rouge Et Or
Monster. This man is a monster. Measuring in at 6-foot-5, 254 pounds with a 34-inch vertical, there simply is no favourable matchup for Laurier when Auclair releases into a pass route. What really separates this coach’s dream of an offensive weapon is his quickness. He gets in and out of his routes quickly and has massive yet soft hands. Lots of NFL buzz around Auclair as several NFL teams have inquired about him recently. It will be hard for me to look anywhere else when Laval has the football Saturday.
Ed Godin #45
DE | Laval Rouge Et Or
Godin Is an all-around solid player. He is not elite at getting to the quarterback with 4.5 sacks on the season but given a favourable matchup he will exploit it. He might get that matchup considering Laurier’s offensive line is arguably its weakest positional group and Laval’s Mathieu Betts is tied for second in U Sports this season with nine sacks. Both are worth your attention and could cause havoc for Laurier quarterback Michael Knevel.
Jean-Simon Roy #68
OL | Laval Rouge Et Or
How is there only one Laval offensive lineman on this list? HOW? It seems like the Laval pro ready lineman factory is accustomed to producing two or three first round picks a year and will have more than one selected again this year but Roy is the best of the bunch. Pick a superlative, he’s earned it. Physical, good feet, limited handsy lineman penalties and much more. Roy is the complete package but his matchup with Laurier defensive lineman Jalen Price is one to watch.
