Over the course of 2023, more than 200 Canadians competed south of the border across all levels of college football, many in key roles. For the fifth straight season, I’ve tracked each of those players all season long to assemble my annual All-Canadian selections, highlighting the best and brightest that our country has to offer.
As always, the team has been selected based on the quality of a player’s performance throughout the year and is not to be treated as an evaluation of their pro prospects or objective talent. While the strength of competition is taken into consideration, excellent production at a lower level will be privileged over below-average play for a larger program.
In that regard, the loss of the Simon Fraser University program has resulted in a significant shrinkage in the pool of available talent. To compensate, players from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) — a collegiate athletic body separate from the NCAA — will be eligible for selection for the first time. That may contradict the title of this list, but I make the rules here.
For the sake of readability, the 2023 All-Canadian team will be presented in two parts. We’ll begin today with the offence, make sure to check back in tomorrow when I reveal the defence.
*Note: In order to remain consistent, player eligibility has been listed as normal, without regard to the 2020 COVID exemption. As a result, many seniors or redshirt seniors may have the option to return to school for an additional season.
Quarterback
First team: Kurtis Rourke, Redshirt Senior, Ohio University (Oakville, Ont.)
It was a down year for Kurtis Rourke coming off of a torn ACL late in his exceptional 2022 season but his status as the best Canadian collegiate passer remained unchallenged. Overall production decreased for the Jon Cornish Trophy finalist, with him tossing just 11 touchdowns compared to five interceptions through 11 games and crossing the 300-yard plateau only twice all season. However, he still tossed for 2,207 yards as a second-team All-MAC selection.
Rourke earned an 83.0 season grade from Pro Football Focus, boasting an adjusted completion percentage of 71.7 taking into account drops from his receivers. The second-leading passer in Bobcats’ history will not be with the team when they face Georgia Southern in the Myrtle Beach Bowl, as he has entered the transfer portal in the hopes of increasing his NFL Draft stock by playing out his final year of eligibility in a major conference.
*Editor’s note: Rourke committed to Indiana University shortly after this article was published.
Second team: Marcus Reeb, Super Senior, University of Minnesota-Morris [D3] (Toronto, Ont.)
Third team: Christian Veilleux, Redshirt Sophomore, University of Pittsburgh (Ottawa, Ont.)
Running back
First team: Michael Herzog, Redshirt Senior, Hillsdale College [D2] (Windsor, Ont.)
Canada has been spoiled by the exploits of dominant Power Five running backs in recent years with Chase Brown and Chuba Hubbard toting the rock, but little-known Michael Herzog might finish his career with just as many accolades. The five-foot-nine, 200-pound converted slot receiver is one of nine finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II equivalent of the Heisman, after rushing 230 times for 1,333 yards and 21 touchdowns in 11 games this year. The Great Midwest Athletic Conference MVP isn’t the first member of his family to land on my All-Canadian first team, following in the footsteps of his older brother, safety Zach Herzog.
Second team: Jordon Benjamin, Sophomore, Kenyon College [D3] (Montreal, Que.)
Third team: Avery McCuaig, Senior, Southern Oregon University [NAIA] (Calgary, Alta.)
Tight End
First team: Tanner McLachlan, Redshirt Senior, University of Arizona (Lethbridge, Alta.)
Second-team selection Theo Johnson has long been regarded as the better NFL prospect but when it comes to production from Canadian tight ends, none are better than McLachlan. The former walk-on transfer from Southern Utah has been an integral part of the Wildcats’ passing attack, collecting 42 receptions for 500 yards and four touchdowns as an honourable mention All-PAC 12 selection. The six-foot-five, 240-pound Jon Cornish Trophy finalist broke Rob Gronkowski’s all-time career receptions record for an Arizona tight end this season and has a chance to match his best single-season mark with five catches in the Alamo Bowl.
Second team: Theo Johnson, Senior, Penn State University (Windsor, Ont.)
Third team: Rohan Jones, Sophomore, University of Maine [FCS] (Montreal, Que.)
Wide receiver
First team: Elic Ayomanor, Redshirt Freshman, Stanford University (Medicine Hat, Alta.)
Ayomanor was barely on anybody’s radar entering this season but that changed big time in Week 7, when he broke Stanford’s single-game receiving record with a 294-yard, three-touchdown performance in an overtime win over Colorado. The six-foot-two, 210-pound target hasn’t looked back since, racking up 62 receptions for 1,013 yards and six touchdowns to win the Jon Cornish Trophy as Canada’s top NCAA player. He was also named an honourable mention All-PAC 12 selection and earned a place on The Athletic’s freshman All-American team.
Dhel Duncan-Busby, Super Senior, Bemidji State University [D2] (Toronto, Ont.)
This should be Duncan-Busby’s third time cracking the All-Canadian list but hopefully first-team status can make up for two previous omissions. The Toronto-born and-raised receiver has flown under the radar for much of his college career due to being listed as hailing from Madison, Ohio, where he spent his high school years. Not so any longer, as the six-foot-three, 210-pound target cracked the CFL’s Top 20 Scouting Bureau rankings in September before notching 49 receptions for 825 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games this year, earning first-team All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honours.
Keelan White, Redshirt Senior, University of Montana [FCS] (North Vancouver, B.C.)
Eastern Washington’s Nolan Ulm and Syracuse’s Damien Alford both made compelling cases for first-team status but it’s not their fault that Montana keeps winning in large part because of White’s play. In 13 games, the six-foot-two, 185-pound pass catcher has hauled in 47 receptions for 739 yards and four touchdowns — including the overtime game-winner in the FCS quarter-finals. White has been the leading receiver and scored in each of the Griz’s two playoff contests, with a chance to make it three straight against powerhouse North Dakota State in this weekend’s semi-finals.
Second team: Nolan Ulm, Senior, Eastern Washington University [FCS] (Kelowna, B.C.) | Damien Alford, Redshirt Junior, Syracuse University (Montreal, Que.) | Xavier Gaillardetz, Redshirt Freshman, East Tennessee State [FCS] (Trois-Rivieres, Que.)
Third team: Joey Corcoran, Redshirt Sophomore, University of New Hampshire [FCS] (Montreal, Que.) | Michael Monios, Redshirt Senior, University of Maine [FCS] (Montreal, Que.) | Nick Cenacle, Sophomore, University of Hawaii (Montreal, Que.)
Offensive line
*Note: Due to an uneven distribution of talent, offensive line selections have been made irrespective of which position they play. The best five have been chosen for the first team.
First team: Logan Taylor, Redshirt Sophomore, Boston College (Bridgewater, N.S.)
Since arriving in Chestnut Hill in the offseason as a transfer from the University of Virginia, Taylor has become a stalwart left tackle. The six-foot-seven, 308-pound blocker started all 12 games for the Eagles, allowing just three sacks and 19 total pressures to earn a 70.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus — a full 15-point improvement from last season. The honourable mention All-ACC selection’s next test will be a clash with Southern Methodist in the Fenway Bowl on December 28.
Kyle Hergel, Super Senior, Boston College (Toronto, Ont.)
Taylor wasn’t found anywhere this season without his veteran left guard and fellow countryman Kyle Hergel, so it is appropriate that the pair find themselves united once again on the All-Canadian offensive line. Regardless of where he’s played throughout his college career — North Dakota, Texas State, and now Boston College — the six-foot-two, 315-pound blocker has found a spot on this roster. This season, he allowed just three pressures and surrendered no sacks on 429 pass sets to earn a dazzling 87.5 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus and honourable mention All-ACC status.
Anim Dankwah, Redshirt Senior, Howard University [FCS] (Brampton, Ont.)
Born in Accra, Ghana, the six-foot-eight, 362-pound Dankwah picked up the game of football after immigrating to Ontario and it turns out he’s pretty well-suited for it. A first-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection, he held down the left tackle spot for the Bison in 10 contests and allowed just 11 pressures and two sacks. That was good enough for an 80.2 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus and a selection as a HBCU (historically Black college and university) All-American. Howard will have a chance to win an HBCU national championship in the Celebration Bowl this weekend, before performing for NFL scouts at the East-West Shrine Bowl in January.
Isaiah Adams, Senior, University of Illinois (Ajax, Ont.)
Adams could be the first Canadian off the board in the upcoming NFL Draft and has already accepted his invitation to the prestigious Senior Bowl all-star game. That is despite the six-foot-five, 320-pound playing almost his entire senior season out of position at right tackle instead of his usual left guard spot. The Wilfrid Laurier transfer had some blemishes in pass protection as a result, allowing 31 pressures and nine sacks through 12 games, but remained an elite road-grader with a 73.2 run-blocking grade according to Pro Football Focus. That was good enough for an All-Big Ten honourable mention selection.
Eric Schon, Senior, College of the Holy Cross [FCS] (Barrie, Ont.)
A second-team All-Patriot League selection, Schon started 11 games at left guard for the FCS playoff-qualifying Crusaders. He pitched a clean sheet for the season, allowing just 13 pressures and no sacks for a 70.9 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. Now the six-foot-three, 311-pound blocker is moving up in the world, recently entering the transfer portal for a shot at the FBS.
Second team: Gabe Wallace, Super Senior, University at Buffalo (Salmon Arm, B.C.) | Rusty Staats, Super Senior, Texas Tech University (Ottawa, Ont.) | Mateo Lucero, Freshman, Wagner College [FCS] (Brampton, Ont.) | Nicolas Cruji, Redshirt Freshman, University of Maine [FCS] (Mississauga, Ont.) | Nolan Latulippe, Freshman, University of Albany [FCS] (Ottawa, Ont.)
Third team: Leif Magnuson, Redshirt Junior, University of Arizona (Saskatoon, Ssk.) | Darius Bell, Redshirt Sophomore, University of Maine [FCS] (Hamilton, Ont.) | Christopher Emslie, Junior, Fitchburg State University [D3] (Toronto, Ont.) | Kaden Charles, Freshman, Dickinson College [D3] (Scarborough, Ont.) | Noble Arterberry, Sophomore, Hillbert College [D3] (Welland, Ont.)
Specialist (Kicker, Punter, or Long Snapper)
First team: P Anthony Venneri, Sophomore, University at Buffalo (Hamilton, Ont.)
The only Canadian punter in the FBS, Venneri has only improved from his strong freshman season. The former Western University linebacker commit boomed 52 punts and pinned 17 inside the 20-yard line, generating a net 40.7 yards per punt. With 3.84 seconds of average hang-time, opponents averaged just 5.2 yards per returned off the Canadian’s kicks.
Second team: P Nikolas Hunchak, Junior, Montana State University-Northern [NAIA] (Saskatoon, Ssk.)
Third team: LS Andrew Goodman, Sophomore, Bryant University [FCS] (Montreal, Que.)
Honourable mentions: RB Fabrice Mukendi, JR, Bryant [FCS] (Ottawa, Ont.) | TE/QB Quincy Vaughn, SR, North Dakota [FCS] (Hamilton, Ont.) | WR Josh Fillion, R-FR, New Hampshire [FCS] (Quebec City, Que.) | WR Dylan Djete, SO, Wofford [FCS] (Levis, Que.) | OL Mahdi Hazime, R-JR, Houston Christian [FCS] (Toronto, Ont.) | OL Daniel Johnson, S-SR, Purdue (London, Ont.) | LS Nicholas Ciriello, SO, Geneva College [D3] (Port Colbourne, Ont.)
