July Rookie Report: Petermann, Dubois among early standouts

Marshall Ferguson

CFL.ca

@TSN_Marsh

In June’s rookie report I gave out praise, admiration and doubts surrounding ten of the 2018 CFL draft class’ more interesting prospects.

That was the first chunk of the season where highly drafted players reach to attain expectations set by their draft position. July is where the grind of the CFL season starts to set in. Injuries and teams struggling to perform to their peak ability often lead to roster evolution, especially for national players drafted and developed by a franchise that clearly had them on a draft board for a purpose, to one day have that player contribute.

While this months rookie report does hit some of the same notes from June, keep an eye out for some of the less discussed players from Spring of 2018 making moves on the game day depth chart.

UP

26th overall – Winnipeg Blue Bombers REC Dan Petermann – McMaster

Peterman has a monster kick return to begin Winnipeg’s Week 7 matchup with the Argos after the initial return man flipped the ball to him on a designed reverse.

Being given the thumbs up to execute a prized piece of Mike O’Shea’s special teams trickery is a sure sign Petermann is earning respect in the ‘Peg as they try to find way to incorporate his blazing 40-yard-dash time from the 2018 combine to good use.

13th overall – Ottawa REDBLACKS REC Marco Dubois – Laval

On film last winter Dubois was a special teams monster. At the combine he was a special teams monster. In professional football nothing has changed.

I got my first chance to watch Dubois work live in Week 7 against the Tiger-Cats and he was as impressive a specimen in a game day jersey as he was in a combine practice jersey. One of the truly great picks of the 2018 draft.

25th overall – Calgary Stampeders DB Royce Metchie – Guelph

Metchie made a couple of great special teams plays for Calgary before being knocked out of the game in Ottawa earlier this month. His athleticism makes the tough plays look simple and he will only get better as a cover man under the tutelage of special teams coordinator Mark Kilam.

DOWN

2nd overall – Montreal Alouettes OL Trey Rutherford – UCONN

Believed to be the Alouettes number one target in the draft, Rutherford has dressed for every game this season but has yet to see any meaningful snaps while sitting behind Philip Blake at left guard.

During the last month, Montreal spent a supplemental draft pick to get Tyler Johnstone and traded for Tony Washington and Landon Rice from Hamilton. A suddenly crowded and competitive national offensive line group for the second overall pick.

10th overall – Edmonton Eskimos DB Godfrey Onyeka – Wilfrid Laurier

The best part of watching Laurier games over the past three years was watching Godfrey Onyeka be everywhere around the ball. He hasn’t had his name mentioned much this season because there hasn’t been much to talk about and over the past month he has bounced back and forth between the one-game and six-game injured list.

STABLE

11th overall – Hamilton Tiger-Cats Jackson Bennett – Ottawa

Jackson Bennett had an up and down first couple of weeks in the CFL but has settled in nicely now with Hamilton as a backup SAM linebacker. A position the ole’ ball coach, Jerry Glanville seems to think he could be a very real ratio changing player at.

1st overall – Hamilton Tiger-Cats REC Mark Chapman – Central Michigan

Chapman’s rookie report status has officially flat lined until further notice after signing with the Denver Broncos. An exceptional talent who will make the Ticats better if he ever arrives.

SNEAKY GOOD

39th overall – Calgary Stampeders OL Justin Lawrence – Alberta

To little or no fireworks Alberta Golden Bears second fiddle Justin Lawrence has been playing significant snaps at centre while protecting one of the CFL’s most prized possessions in Bo Levi Mitchell.

Lawrence’s highlight tape was my favourite of all draft eligible lineman in 2018 and I couldn’t be happier to see him get an opportunity. Not surprised at all he is taking advantage of it with each snap on an undefeated Calgary squad.

38th overall – Montreal Alouettes RB Ryder Stone – Dartmouth

The Alouettes have – excluding that anomaly in Saskatchewan – not been an enjoyable watch through the first third of the season but they have found a bright light in Dartmouth running back Ryder Stone.

Every once in a while Stone’s name appears on the CFL on TSN screen while making a big play on special teams or carrying the ball with exceptional burst in garbage time. I think he could be a very real every down back in a couple years with the right coaching and development.

43rd overall – Toronto Argonauts LB Sean Harrington – Michigan State

All the talk for the Argos this past month has been about James Franklin replacing Ricky Ray and what happened to the running game in what was supposed to be James Wilder Jr’s self proclaimed record year.

Meanwhile, quietly on special teams Michigan State Spartan Sean Harrington racks up positive film grades on special teams units ranging from put to kickoff return and even field goal.

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