TORONTO — Rule changes designed to improve player health and safety and eliminate illegal contact as a challengeable play will be in place when the Canadian Football League kicks off its regular season next month.

The league’s Board of Governors has now approved the changes which were first proposed by the CFL’s Rules Committee earlier this year.
“The governors have again emphasized the importance of player safety to our league, as well as the need to protect game flow on behalf of our fans,” said Darren Hackwood, the CFL’s Senior Director of Officiating.

Here is a summary of the changes to the CFL rule book:

• Illegal contact on a receiver can no longer be a play coaches can challenge (and send to video review).

• The replay official will automatically review “potential touchdowns” – plays marked down short of the line when it when it appears obvious a touchdown has been scored.

• It will be illegal for any player to deliver a forcible block on an opponent while moving back towards his own goal line, sometimes referred to as “blindside” block.

• Low blocks that occur outside of the “tackle box” – the area that extends from tight end to tight end and from the quarterback or kicker to two yards beyond the line of scrimmage – are outlawed.

• The definition of spearing is widened to include any situation where a player delivers a blow with his helmet as the initial or primary point of contact. (This does not apply to a low running ball carrier.)

• A loophole in the “sleeper” play rule is closed by making it illegal for a player who enters the game and remains outside the numbers to receive the ball in any manner, including a kick or lateral.

• What constitutes a quarterback making a legal pass behind the line of scrimmage is now defined as the passer having at least one of his feet on or behind the line of scrimmage instead of requiring that the release point of the ball be behind the line of scrimmage.

• The so-called “force out rule” is eliminated: a receiver catching a ball has to place at least one foot inbounds regardless of whether he was contacted in mid-air.

• The penalty for “pyramiding” – the practice of using another player to elevate one’s self to block a kick – is increased from five yards to ten yards.

• Allow the Replay Official to correct the game clock after a challenge to what the clock should read as a result of the challenge.

The Rules Committee, which includes several coaches and general managers as well as veteran official Al Bradbury and representatives of the Canadian Football Players Association, met in Winnipeg during Mark’s CFL Week last March.
The Board of Governors, which meets regularly throughout the year, includes the owners of privately held teams and the chairpersons of community-led teams.

The Canadian Football League (CFL) Scouting Bureau today published its third and final edition of the top-20 ranked prospects eligible for the 2018 CFL Draft.

SCOUTING BUREAU RANKINGS CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS: 

What: Teleconference with top prospects for the 2018 CFL Draft
When: Thursday, April 12, 2018
2:00 p.m. ET
Call-In Number:  1-800-898-3989 / 416-406-0743
Passcode: 3585954#

On the Call:

• Mark Chapman (#2, REC, Central Michigan) – highest-rated skilled position player and jumped eight spots from the winter scouting bureau.
• Dakoda Shepley (#3, OL, University of British Columbia) – highest-rated U SPORTS player.
• Mark Korte (#6, OL, Alberta) – Jumped six spots from the winter scouting bureau.

TOP 5 PROSPECTS

Bowling Green Falcons offensive lineman Ryan Hunter overtook David Knevel for the number one spot in the final rankings. Hunter started all 12 games for the Falcons at left tackle that protected a true freshman quarterback Jarret Doege, who posted one of the greatest seasons in program history for a true freshman. The North Bay native was a Mid American Conference (MAC) Distinguished Scholar-Athlete and Academic All-MAC in his final season.

Central Michigan receiver Mark Chapman rose from tenth to second in the final rankings after showing a very strong National Combine in Winnipeg earlier this year. He led the Chippewas in both receptions (54) and receiving yards (805) and had five majors during the 2017 season which saw him earn third-team All-MAC honours. He’s the highest rated skilled position player in the rankings and one of four receivers in the top-20.

University of British Columbia offensive lineman and Windsor native Dakoda Shepley rose eight spots to the third position in the rankings. At the National Combine Shepley displayed his strength when he recorded 27 reps of 225 lbs. – the most of all the combine participants. He also posted the fastest 40-yard time of all offensive lineman at the combine with a time of 5.27 seconds. Shepley was also named a Canada West All-Star in 2017 for the Thunderbirds

Offensive lineman Trey Rutherford from University of Connecticut drops two spots to fourth in the rankings. The Connecticut Husky started in all 12 games in 2017 on the offensive line, and has experience as a fullback during the 2015 season. The Markham native helped UConn’s offence rush for 200 yards in seven separate games.

Brantford native David Knevel remained rounds out the top-5. The 6”9 senior at Nebraska showed the ability to play both guard and tackle during his senior year and helped Nebraska quarterback Tanner Lee eclipse 3,000 yards passing. During his tenure Knevel appeared in 31 games for the Cornhuskers, including eight in 2017.

BY THE NUMBERS

The rankings include: nine offensive linemen, four receivers, three defensive backs, two defensive linemen, a linebacker and a running back.

A total of 16 schools are represented on the list, with only two schools (Calgary and Laurier) having multiple players on the list. Nine U SPORTS schools and seven NCAA schools are represented in the rankings.

2017 CFL Draft first overall selection Faith Ekakitie was ranked 5^th on the 2017 Spring Scouting Bureau.

Last year’s spring rankings saw 19 of 20 prospects selected in the CFL Draft, with six being selected in the first round.

September Rankings
December Rankings

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