Identical twins Chase, Sydney Brown lead second edition of CFL Scouting Bureau rankings

Graphic: 3DownNation (Photos: Illinois Athletics | AP/Charles Rex Arbogast)

The Canadian Football League has unveiled the second edition of the Scouting Bureau’s ranking of the Top-20 prospects eligible for the 2023 CFL Draft and University of Illinois running back Chase Brown continues to lead the pack.

The London, Ont., native retains his number one ranking from September, after a season in which he won the Jon Cornish Trophy as Canada’s top NCAA player. Brown rushed for 1,643 yards and amassed 13 total touchdowns on his way to being named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award as college football’s best running back. He was a consensus second-team All-American and is currently projected to be a mid-round NFL draft pick.

Taking the second spot behind the star ball carrier is his identical twin brother, Sydney Brown. The Illinois safety amassed 59 tackles, six interceptions, seven pass breakups, 3.5 tackles for a loss and one sack in 2022 on his way to being named a second-team All-American by USA Today.

Rounding out the top five were Ole Miss defensive end Tavius Robinson, Eastern Michigan guard Sidy Sow, and Syracuse tackle Matthew Bergeron. Both Brown brothers, Robinson and Bergeron have all been selected to attend the prestigious Reese’s Senior Bowl all-star game next month and are expected to be NFL Draft picks. Sow will be attending the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.

UBC defensive end Lake Korte-Moore comes in at number 10 as the top-ranked U Sports prospect, followed closely by Guelph cornerback Siriman Harrison Bagayogo at number 11. The full list can be read below.

CFL SCOUTING BUREAU: WINTER EDITION

RANK (PREVIOUS) NAME POSITION SCHOOL HOMETOWN
1 (1) Chase Brown RB Illinois London, Ont.
2 (3) Sydney Brown DB Illinois London, Ont.
3 (9) Tavius Robinson DL Mississippi Guelph, Ont.
4 (7) Sidy Sow OL Eastern Michigan Bromont, Que.
5 (-) Matthew Bergeron OL Syracuse Victoriaville, Que.
6 (4) Jared Wayne WR Pittsburgh Peterborough, Ont.
7 (2) Dontae Bull OL Fresno State Victoria, B.C.
8 (6) Lwal Uguak DL TCU Edmonton, Alta.
9 (10) Jonathan Sutherland DB Penn State Ottawa, Ont.
10 (20) Lake Korte-Moore DL UBC Ottawa, Ont.
11 (16) Harrison Bagayogo DB Guelph Bois-des-Filion, Que.
12 (11) Francis Bemiy DL Southern Utah Montreal, Que.
13 (-) Anthony Bennett DL Regina Weston, Fla.
14 (13) Clark Barnes WR Guelph Brampton, Ont.
15 (-) Michael Brodrique LB Montreal Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que.
16 (-) James Peter LB Ottawa Ottawa, Ont.
17 (19) Reece Martin DL Mount Allison Moncton, N.B.
18 (18) Jacob Taylor LB Alberta Beaumont, Alta.
19 (-) Quintin Seguin DL Charleston Southern Windsor, Ont.
20 (-) Phillip Grohovac OL Western Victoria, B.C.

In total, 18 different academic institutions are represented by players on the list, with Illinois and Guelph being the only teams with multiple prospects. 11 of the selection hail from the NCAA, while the remaining nine played collegiately in Canada.

Defensive linemen lead the way with seven players in the top 20, followed by four players on the offensive line. Three defensive backs and three linebackers earned inclusion alongside just two receivers, while Brown was the only running back.

The CFL Scouting Bureau rankings are assembled by polling CFL scouts, as well as the player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s nine clubs. The league will release its third and final ranking in the spring ahead of the 2023 CFL Draft, which will take place on Tuesday, May 2 beginning at 8 p.m. ET.