The Canadian Press
TORONTO — Two of this generation’s best quarterbacks continue to duel for the title of number one player in the CFL.
As Mike Reilly and Bo Levi Mitchell continue to go back and forth, this year it was Mitchell landing the No. 1 spot on TSN’s annual top 50 players list.
Last season Mitchell led the Stampeders to a 13-5 record, the best in the CFL, while overcoming an injured receiving corps to capture the 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw in November. The Stamps’ signal-caller, who’s entering his eighth CFL season at the age of 29, won the second Most Outstanding Player honour of his career in 2019.
For Mitchell, this marks the second time in three years he has earned the distinction of top player in the CFL, and third overall. Either Mitchell or Reilly has occupied the number one spot for five seasons running.
While the Lions and Eskimos share the lead with eight players each, Hamilton and Winnipeg dominate the top 10 players with a combined seven.
Five of the league’s starting quarterbacks made the list, including three of the top six, but as per usual, the receiver position was the most frequent, with 10 pass-catchers present, followed by nine defensive backs.
Only one kicker, last year’s rookie sensation Lewis Ward, made the list as he represents the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
The new season kicks off Thursday night when Saskatchewan Roughriders visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Tim Hortons Field.
DISTRIBUTION BY TEAM
BC Lions – 8
Edmonton Eskimos – 8
Hamilton Tiger-Cats – 7
Saskatchewan Roughriders – 7
Winnipeg Blue Bombers – 6
Calgary Stampeders – 5
Montreal Alouettes – 4
Toronto Argonauts – 3
Ottawa REDBLACKS – 2
DISTRIBUTION BY POSITION
Wide Receiver – 10
Defensive Back – 9
Defensive Line – 8
Offensive Line – 7
Quarterback – 5
Linebacker – 5
Running Back – 5
Kicker – 1
1. BO LEVI MITCHELL | QB, CGY
Photo: The Canadian Press
2. MIKE REILLY | QB, BC
Photo: The Canadian Press
3. ADAM BIGHILL | LB, WPG
Photo: David Chidley/CFL.ca
4. MICAH JOHNSON | DL, SSK
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
5. ANDREW HARRIS | RB, WPG
Photo: Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
6. JEREMIAH MASOLI | QB, HAM
Photo: Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
7. WILLIE JEFFERSON | DL, WPG
Photo: BlueBombers.com
8. BRANDON BANKS | WR, HAM
Photo: Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
9. DELVIN BREAUX | DB, HAM
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
10. STANLEY BRYANT | OL, WPG
Photo: Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
11. TREVOR HARRIS | QB, EDM
Photo: The Canadian Press
12. WILLIAM POWELL | RB, SSK
Photo: Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
13. DEREL WALKER | WR, TOR
Photo: Shannon Vizniowski/CFL.ca
14. CHARLESTON HUGHES | DL, SSK
Photo: Matt Smith/CFL.ca
15. BRAD SINOPOLI | WR, OTT
Photo: Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
16. LARRY DEAN | LB, EDM
Photo: Esks.com
17. BRYAN BURNHAM | WR, BC
Photo: The Canadian Press
18. LUKE TASKER | WR, HAM
Photo: Arthur Ward/CFL.ca
19. GREG ELLINGSON | WR, EDM
Photo: The Canadian Press
20. ED GAINEY | DB, SSK
Photo: Arthur Ward/CFL.ca
21. MATT NICHOLS | QB, WPG
Photo: The Canadian Press
22. SIRVINCENT ROGERS | OL, EDM
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
23. SJ GREEN | WR, TOR
Photo: Shannon Vizniowski/CFL.ca
24. HENOC MUAMBA | LB, MTL
Photo: Dominick Gravel/MontrealAlouettes.com
25. TED LAURENT | DL, HAM
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
26. BRANDON REVENBERG | OL, HAM
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
27. TJ LEE | DB, BC
Photo: Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
28. JA’GARED DAVIS | DL, HAM
Photo: Ticats.ca
29. DEREK DENNIS | OL, CGY
Photo: Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca
30. ALMONDO SEWELL | DL, EDM
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
31. KAMAR JORDEN | WR, CGY
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
32. BRENDON LABATTE | OL, SSK
Photo: Matt Smith/CFL.ca
33. DAVON COLEMAN | DL, BC
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
34. ERIC ROGERS | WR, CGY
Photo: David Chidley/CFL.ca
35. CJ GABLE | RB, EDM
Photo: Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
36. DON UNAMBA | LB, EDM
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
37. SUKH CHUNGH | OL, BC
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
38. DARVIN ADAMS | WR, WPG
Photo: The Canadian Press
39. SOLOMON ELIMIMIAN | LB, SSK
Photo: Riderville.com
40. TAYLOR LOFFLER | DB, MTL
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
41. JAMES WILDER JR. | RB, TOR
Photo: Shannon Vizniowski/CFL.ca
42. NICK MARSHALL | DB, SSK
Photo: Arthur Ward/CFL.ca
43. DON JACKSON | RB, CGY
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
44. AARON GRYMES | DB, BC
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
45. TOMMIE CAMPBELL | DB, MTL
Photo: Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
46. LEWIS WARD | K, OTT
Photo: Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
47. ANTHONY ORANGE | DB, EDM
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
48. JOEL FIGUEROA | OL, BC
Photo: Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
49. ODELL WILLIS | DL, BC
Photo: Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
50. CIANTE EVANS | DB, MTL
Photo: David Chidley/CFL.ca
