Getting to know 10 of the CFL’s top prospects

Over the last few months, you’ve gotten to know the CFL’s top prospects pretty well.

You’ve read their stats, seen them perform at the 2018 CFL National Scouting Combine and heard about how their style of play can fit in with a certain CFL team.

But do you really know them? Their family members? What CFL player inspires them? What their favourite football memory is?

Here are a few things you probably didn’t know about 10 of the top prospects heading into Thursday’s draft.

SAM MACMILLAN
OL – Toronto

MacMillan’s brother is Nolan MacMillan (an offensive lineman for the Ottawa REDBLACKS) and says that his brother has inspired him to become a professional football player. He also says that he tries to model his game around his Nolan’s.

MacMillan volunteers as a coach of the UofT women’s flag football team and says his most fond U SPORTS football memory was his first start in the OUA – a 70-0 victory against York. If the six-foot-two, 279-pounder says that if he wasn’t playing football he would like to work in the sphere of diplomacy and global affairs (he was a peace, conflict and justice studies major).

PETER GODBER
OL – Rice

Godber’s favourite football memory is when his team was down by 12 points against Florida Atlantic but came back to win the game after a thunderstorm delay.

He grew up a Toronto Argonauts fan and was inspired by Argos O-lineman Chris Van Zeyl’s longevity and position as a successful Canadian. If he wasn’t playing football, he’d open a small gym and become a personal trainer.

DAKODA SHEPLEY
OL – UBC

Shepley’s favourite U SPORTS memory is winning the Vanier Cup in 2015. He is inspired by current BC Lions offensive lineman Jas Dhillon, who took him under his wing in freshman year and taught him persistence.

If he wasn’t playing football, he’d be an actor or an entertainer.

RASHARI HENRY
DL – Laurier

Henry is the founder of The Stath Blog, a website he created to provide a platform for student-athletes across Canada to share their experiences and advice from their journeys as university-level athletes. If he wasn’t playing football, he’d continue to build on his sports media company.

The six-foot, 260-pounder is inspired by current Calgary Stampeders defensive lineman Ese Mrabure and current Edmonton Eskimos defensive lineman Kwaku Boateng, who he played with and against.

ALEX TAYLOR
RB – Western

Taylor models his game after two current Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and natives of Winnipeg, Nic Demski and Andrew Harris. It’s Harris’ natural explosiveness that Taylor tries to emulate in his own game.

If the five-foot-10, 205-pounder was a kinesiology major and would pursue medical studies if he wasn’t playing football. He’s also related to Markus Howell of the CFL and Alia Ross of national gymnastics.

NOAH PICTON
QB – Regina

Noah’s cousin, Mitchell, participated at the 2017 combine and has recently signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. His other cousin Aaron (who is Mitchell’s brother), played offensive line for the Regina Rams from 2010 to 2015. His father, Dean, quarterbacked the Rams to national junior championships in 1986 and 1987. Noah’s sister, Alexandra Picton, is a national-level gymnast.

The five-foot-nine, 180-pound pivot is inspired by another Canadian quarterback, and current Calgary Stampeder, Andrew Buckley.

MARK CHAPMAN
REC – Central Michigan

Chapman’s favourite NCAA memory is winning against Western Michigan in his senior season. The communications student would be producing music and creating TV shows if he wasn’t playing football.

The Champman family already has CFL ties as his brother, Jarret, played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The six-foot, 180-pound pass-catcher is inspired by former CFL quarterback Dan LeFevour, who also played for Central Michigan.

DANIEL PETERMANN
REC – McMaster

Petermann’s favourite U SPORTS memory was making an appearance in the 2014 Vanier Cup as a freshman. He’s inspired by former Hamilton Tiger-Cat Andy Fantuz as an elite Canadian receiver.

He’s related to Peter Guarasci (Team Canada basketball in the 2000 Olympics) and Rick Morocco (member of the Italian Olympic Hockey Team).

If the six-foot, 203-pound Labour Studies student wasn’t playing football, he would be a firefighter.

JACKSON BENNETT
DB – Ottawa

Bennett is inspired by current Ottawa REDBLACKS fullback Brendan Gillanders, who he calls a “great role model.” The two also went to the same high school and university.

If he wasn’t playing football, the environmental science (Eco toxicology and Geochemistry) student would become an environmental engineer.

His favourite U SPORTS memory is the team bonds he created with his Gee-Gees teammates and returning a touchdown on the opening kickoff (his first time touching the ball) against Toronto. His favourite team to play against is Carleton because of the atmosphere and crowds.

GODFREY ONYEKA
DB – Laurier

Godfrey is one of the many members of the Onyeka family that are taking over Canadian football.

His cousin, Nakas, was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts in 2017 and went on to win a Grey Cup with the team. His brother, Kene, attended the 2018 National Scouting Combine this year with him and his cousin Kosi plays for the Guelph Gryphons.

Godfrey is inspired by current Montreal Alouettes defensive back Chris Ackie, who helped him understand the physical and mental aspect of the game. If the six-foot-two, 200-pound defensive back wasn’t playing football he would be a travel nurse.