Gallimore tops December edition of Scouting Bureau Rankings

TORONTO — The Canadian Football League (CFL) Scouting Bureau has released the winter edition of the Top-20 prospects eligible for the 2020 CFL National Draft on April 30.

Three prospects from the CFL Scouting Bureau: Fall Edition – No. 4 Sage Doxtater, No. 5 Patrice Rene and No. 10 Daniel Joseph – were moved to the 2021 draft class due to changes in their NCAA eligibility.

The CFL Scouting Bureau, comprised of CFL scouts, as well as, player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s nine member clubs, releases its rankings three times each year in September, December and April.

WINTER SCOUTING BUREAU RANKINGS

(Player’s ranking from the CFL Scouting Bureau: Fall Edition in parentheses.

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TOP 5 PROSPECTS

1. NEVILLE GALLIMORE | DT | OKLAHOMA

Photo: Ty Russell/SoonerSports.com

Gallimore notched 25 tackles (17 solo and eight assisted), three sacks and 6.5 tackles for a loss during the regular season. The Sooners finished with an 9-1 record, including a victory over Baylor in the Big 12 Conference Championship game where Gallimore registered two tackles and a sack. The Sooners will face LSU in the Chick-fil-A  Peach Bowl on December 28 with the winner advancing to the College Football Playoff National Championship.

2. CHASE CLAYPOOL | REC | NOTRE DAME

Photo: Fighting Irish Media

Claypool led the Fighting Irish in receptions (59), receiving yards (891) and touchdowns (12). The Abbotsford, B.C., native tied a school record with four receiving touchdowns against Navy in November. Notre Dame will take on Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl on December 28. In addition to his duties on the offensive side, Claypool also plays as a gunner on special teams. Across his four-year career in South Bend, Ind., he has totaled 143 catches, 2,013 receiving yards and 18 touchdown receptions.

3. NATHAN ROURKE | QB | OHIO

Photo: Ohio University

Rourke finished the regular season with a career-high 2,676 passing yards on a 61.4 per cent completion rate, while amassing 32 touchdowns (20 passing and 12 rushing). The performance earned the Oakville, Ont., native an All-MAC first team selection. In three years as a Bobcat, including 36 starts (23-13, .639), he has accumulated 7,313 passing yards, 2,552 rushing yards and 108 touchdowns (60 passing and 48 rushing). Rourke will play his final collegiate game against Nevada in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on January 3.

4. CARTER O’DONNELL | OL | ALBERTA

Photo: University of Alberta

O’Donnell anchored an offensive line that averaged 399 yards of total offence and 5.2 yards per rush this season. The 6’6, 300-pound native of Red Deer, Alta., was named a U SPORT First Team All-Canadian for his efforts.

5. TOMAS JACK-KURDYLA | OL | BUFFALO

Photo: University of Buffalo

Jack-Kurdyla appeared in 11 games this season on an offence which averaged over 250 rushing yards and 5.0 yards per carry, while only allowing eight sacks. The 6’4, 300-pound Montreal native appeared in 47 games over a four-year collegiate career which will conclude in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl against Charlotte on December 20.

BY THE NUMBERS

• The winter rankings include:
  • 5 Receivers
  • 5 Offensive linemen
  • 4 Defensive linemen
  • 2 Quarterbacks
  • 2 Linebackers
  • 1 Defensive back
  • 1 Kicker
• 18 schools are represented in the winter rankings with a pair of schools featuring two prospects:
  • Laval (No. 6 Ketel Asse and No. 13 Adam Auclair)
  • Carleton (No. 18 Jesse Lawson and No. 20 Jack Cassar)
• There is an even 10-10 split between prospects playing in the NCAA and ones playing in U SPORTS
• Last year, 18 prospects identified in the winter rankings were selected in the CFL Draft with six being taken in the first round