3DownNation top 100 CFL players: No. 10 to No. 6

January 29, 2021

Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com — Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com

10. DE Charleston Hughes, Saskatchewan Roughriders

There aren’t many pass rushers who remain dominant in their late-thirties, but most players aren’t Charleston Hughes.

The six-time CFL all-star has led the league in sacks five times, including each of the past four seasons. He won two Grey Cups with the Calgary Stampeders before being traded away in February 2018, ending up with Saskatchewan.

Hughes has remained an elite talent since, posting 85 tackles, 31 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and two touchdowns in 34 regular season games.

The Michigan native remains a pending free agent and is set to hit the market on February 9 with him and the Riders still far apart in contract negotiations.

9. LB Simoni Lawrence, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

When all is said and done, Simoni Lawrence will go down as one of the greatest defensive players in the history of the Ticats. He is one of the franchise’s most recognizable faces and will earn the status of an all-time legend if he is able to bring a Grey Cup to Hamilton.

The four-time East Division all-star currently sits second all-time in team history in tackles behind Rob Hitchcock (607). If the CFL plays a full season in 2021, it is likely that Lawrence will surpass Hitch.

Now 31, Lawrence is coming off his best season during which he recorded 98 tackles, four sacks, and three interceptions. He even set a new single-game CFL record when he made 17 tackles in a victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on September 27.

8. QB Trevor Harris, Edmonton Football Team

A change of scenery didn’t derail Harris’ production in 2019 as he passed for 4,027 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions in his first year with Edmonton. He was on pace for the CFL’s first 6,000-yard passing season since 2004, but missed five games due to injury late in the year.

The former East Division all-star will turn 35 before the 2021 season gets underway, but his mileage remains relatively low. He’s only taken a substantial number of starting reps for five CFL seasons and takes few hits thanks to his fast decision-making and quick release.

Though he is currently without a head coach and offensive coordinator, it’s a safe bet that Harris will be among the league’s passing leaders again in 2021.

7. RB Andrew Harris, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

You don’t become the CFL’s leading rusher three years in a row by accident, which is exactly what Harris managed accomplish from 2017-2019.

The Winnipeg native has been dominant since joining his hometown team in 2016, rushing for 4,779 yards and 22 touchdowns while making 306 receptions for 2,468 yards and ten scores. He became the CFL’s all-time leading rusher among Canadian players in 2019 and is only 962 yards away from reaching 10,000 on his career.

He will be 34 by the time the 2021 CFL season gets underway, but Harris has yet to show signs of aging. His yards-per-carry average has increased every year since 2015, a trend the Blue Bombers hope will carry into the upcoming season.

6. REC Bryan Burnham, B.C. Lions

Nobody makes more spectacular catches than Bryan Burnham, which is why the Tulsa product has been named a CFL all-star in three consecutive seasons.

The six-foot-two, 210-pound target has 368 receptions for 5,651 yards and 33 touchdowns since joining the Lions in 2014.

The 30-year-old is coming off his best CFL season during which he made 100 receptions for 1,492 yards and eleven touchdowns. He remains a pending free agent, however, with contract negotiations not going well.

3DownNation is unveiling its list of the top 100 active CFL players. To read the criteria for player eligibility, click here. The list to date can be found below.