I recently filed my ballot for the 2021 edition of the CFL on TSN Top 50 Players list, which will air on Wednesday.
Though the final list will feature 50 players, each ballot has only 40 slots.
Voters are required to meet the following positional minimums: five offensive linemen; four defensive linemen; four linebackers; four defensive backs; three running backs; two receivers; one quarterback; and one kicker.
Only players who are currently on rosters can receive votes. If a player is a free agent, in the NFL or retired, they are not to receive consideration.
Ballots were due on Friday, so releasing mine before the results are unveiled on TSN this upcoming week will not affect the final rankings.
Lists like this are challenging to put together because it feels like comparing apples to oranges. How do you rank a star kick returner against an all-star left guard? It’s really tricky.
I also find it tough to balance past production against future potential. Do you pick the aging veteran because they’ve been great in the past or the rising star because you think they’ll explode? It’s a tough choice.
With that said, here’s my list. Feel free to roast me on Twitter for any selections or oversights you find egregious.
- QB Bo Levi Mitchell, CGY — 50 points
2. REC Brandon Banks, HAM — 45 points
3. DE Willie Jefferson, WPG — 40 points
4. OT Stanley Bryant, WPG — 38 points
5. REC Derel Walker, EDM — 36 points
6. DE Ja’Gared Davis, HAM — 35 points
7. QB Trevor Harris, EDM — 34 points
8. RB Andrew Harris, WPG — 33 points
9. LB Simoni Lawrence, HAM — 32 points
10. DE Charleston Hughes, TOR — 31 points
11. DT Dylan Wynn, HAM — 30 points
12. REC Shaq Evans, SSK — 29 points
13. RB William Stanback, MTL — 28 points
14. G Brandon Revenberg, HAM — 27 points
15. REC Greg Ellingson, EDM — 26 points
16. LB Cameron Judge, TOR — 25 points
17. REC Bralon Addison, HAM — 24 points
18. OT Chris Van Zeyl, HAM — 23 points
19. LB Henoc Muamba, TOR — 22 points
20. QB Jeremiah Masoli, HAM — 21 points
21. DE A.C. Leonard, SSK — 20 points
22. SAM Patrick Levels, MTL — 19 points
23. RB William Powell, SSK — 18 points
24. DT Ted Laurent, HAM — 17 points
25. QB Michael Reilly, B.C. — 16 points
26. HB Marcus Sayles, B.C. — 15 points
27. DE Kwaku Boateng, EDM — 14 points
28. REC Bryan Burnham, B.C. — 13 points
29. REC Eric Rogers, TOR — 12 points
30. CB Nick Marshall, SSK — 11 points
31. DT Almondo Sewell, MTL — 10 points
32. OT Ucambre Williams, CGY — 9 points
33. LB Adam Bighill, WPG — 8 points
34. QB Cody Fajardo, SSK — 7 points
35. QB Vernon Adams Jr., MTL — 6 points
36. C Sean McEwen, CGY — 5 points
37. HB Ciante Evans, HAM — 4 points
38. CB/KR Frankie Williams, HAM — 3 points
39. DT Micah Johnson, SSK — 2 points
40. K/P Boris Bede, TOR — 1 points
Here are the players who received serious consideration for my ballot but didn’t crack the list due to limited space. I’ve listed them in alphabetical order by last name.
S Tunde Adeleke, HAM; SAM Anthony Cioffi, B.C.; REC DaVaris Daniels, TOR; LB Larry Dean, SSK; REC Lemar Durant, B.C.; QB Dane Evans, HAM; HB Ed Gainey, SSK; KR Janarion Grant, WPG; DE Jackson Jeffcoat, WPG; G Brendon LaBatte, SSK; DT Cleyon Laing, OTT; REC Eugene Lewis, MTL; OT Ryker Mathews, B.C.; LB Dexter McCoil, TOR; ST Mike Miller, WPG; REC Kyran Moore, SSK; DT Mike Moore, EDM; G Matt O’Donnell, EDM; K Rene Paredes, CGY; REC DeVier Posey, HAM; HB Loucheiz Purifoy, SSK; HB Greg Reid, MTL; CB Shaq Richardson, TOR; OT SirVincent Rogers, EDM; LB Jameer Thurman, CGY; SAM Don Unamba, OTT; SAM Jamar Wall, CGY; K Lewis Ward, OTT.
