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 is presented in two parts. Yesterday, I unveiled my offensive selections. Today, we wrap things up with 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.
Edge defender
First team: Nuer Gatkouth, Redshirt Freshman, Colorado State University (Edmonton, Alta.)
The Rams boasted one of the best pass rushers in all of college football in All-American Mohamed Kamara, but the man working opposite him will take home those same honours for his own country. Gatkuoth racked up 53 total tackles, adding 6.5 tackles for loss, two batted passes, a forced fumble, and an interception in 10 games to earn a spot on The Athletic’s freshman All-American team. Don’t let his 0.5 sacks fool you either, the six-foot-four, 230-pound edge led all Canadians with 29 quarterback pressures this year and received an impressive 75.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in his first year of action.
Wesley Bailey, Redshirt Junior, Rutgers University (Ottawa, Ont.)
A 12-game starter for the Scarlet Knights, Bailey’s numbers were slightly below his 2022 season but earned him promotion nonetheless. The six-foot-five, 255-pound defender collected 24 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three batted passes and 24 pressures while playing in a division that saw him face three top-10 programs, including No. 1 Michigan. He will now clash with the Miami Hurricanes in the Pinstripe Bowl, a team that lost their own star Canadian pass rusher, Akheem Mesidor, to a season-ending injury in Week 2.
Second team: Isaiah Bagnah, Redshirt Senior, Brigham Young University (Lethbridge, Alta.) | Paris Shand, Redshirt Junior, Louisiana State University (Toronto, Ont.)
Third team: Carter Maurice, Junior, University of Minnesota-Morris [D3] (Boissevain, Man.) | Nathan Carabatsakis, Redshirt Sophomore, Robert Morris University [FCS] (Winnipeg, Man.)
Defensive interior
First team: Nate Martey, Junior, Arkansas State University (Orleans, Ont.)
It’s not every day that walking away from an Ivy League education proves to be a smart decision, but Martey has certainly improved his stock after transferring from Princeton last offseason. The six-foot-one, 288-pound defensive tackle amassed 35 tackles with the Red Wolves this year, including eight tackles for loss and six sacks — both tops amongst Canadians. With 16 total pressures, he helped earn his team a spot in the Camellia Bowl against Northern Illinois.
Kail Dava, Super Senior, Tennessee Tech University [FCS] (Mississauga, Ont.)
Dava is expected to miss a substantial chunk of his rookie year in the CFL after undergoing surgery for a torn rotator cuff, so hopefully one final appearance on the All-Canadian team will brighten his spirits. In nine games, the six-foot-three, 290-pound lineman notched 15 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, along with eight quarterback pressures. He remains an excellent gap-stuffer, receiving an 81.2 run defence grade from Pro Football Focus.
Second team: Samuel Obiang, Super Senior, Towson University [FCS] (Ottawa, Ont.) | Daniel Okpoko, Super Senior, San Diego State University (Saskatoon, Ssk.)
Third team: Aamarii Notice, Redshirt Sophomore, University of Idaho [FCS] (Toronto, Ont.) | Ebenezer Dibula, Redshirt Junior, Bethune-Cookman University [FCS] (Ottawa, Ont.)
Linebacker
First team: Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, Super Senior, University of Memphis (Levis, Que.)
Wherever you look while watching the Tigers, Cantin-Arku is never far from the action. At six-foot-three and 240 pounds, he racked up 72 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 11 pressures, a sack, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception to earn a 79.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and honourable mention All-AAC honours. The Jon Cornish Trophy finalist also blocked a field goal against Boise State and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown, a feat he’ll be looking to replicate in the Liberty Bowl against Iowa State.
Melique Straker, Senior, Arkansas State University (Brampton, Ont.)
Straker’s selection makes Arkansas State one of only two schools to have multiple players on the All-Canadian first team and it is extremely well-deserved. The former Carleton Raven notched 79 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions this year, leading all Canadians with 30 defensive stops — plays which would be considered failures for the offence. The five-foot-10, 210-pound backer is special in pass coverage, receiving an 83.6 grade in that phase of the game from Pro Football Focus.
Second team: Jaylen Smith, Junior, University of North Texas (Hamilton, Ont.) | Darius McKenzie, Redshirt Junior, University of Maine [FCS] (Ottawa, Ont.)
Third team: Dariel Djabome, Sophomore, Rutgers University (Longueuil, Que.) | Jefferson Bretanys-Desca, Freshman, Lincoln University [D2] (Ottawa, Ont.)
Flex defender
First team: Jett Elad, Redshirt Senior, University of Nevada-Las Vegas (Mississauga, Ont.)
A former All-Canadian selection during his time at Ohio, Elad had a brief sojourn in the JUCO ranks before returning to the NCAA with UNLV this season. It was as if he never left, as the six-foot-one, 205-pound slot corner amassed 55 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and a fumble recovery by being constantly around the action. He was named a finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy as a result and received a 70.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, a mark he may get to improve in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Kansas.
Second team: Matthew-Michael Assivero, Freshman, Bates College [D3] (Ottawa, Ont.)
Third team: McIntyre Pahl, Senior, St. Lawrence University [D3] (West Vancouver, B.C.)
Cornerback
First team: Trae Tomlinson, Sophomore, University of Richmond [FCS] (Winnipeg, Man.)
A lockdown player for an FCS playoff contender, Tomlinson blossomed in his second year with the Spiders. The five-foot-10, 175-pound Manitoban collected 47 total tackles through 13 games, adding three tackles for loss, six pass breakups, a forced fumble and an interception. That earned him a 72.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
Malcolm Bell, Redshirt Sophomore, University of Connecticut (Montreal, Que.)
You can always rely on UConn to provide some quality talent for the All-Canadian team and Bell is the cream of their crop for the second year in a row. The six-foot-one, 184-pound coverman made 28 total tackles this season, including 1.5 tackles for loss, all while batting away four passes and forcing a fumble. That was good enough for a 69.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
Second team: Dawson Marchant, Redshirt Senior, Northwestern Oklahoma State University [D2] (Surrey, B.C.) | King Ambers, Redshirt Senior, Texas A&M University-Commerce [FCS] (Pickering, Ont.)
Third team: Ethan Yip, Junior, College of William & Mary [FCS] (Surrey, B.C.) | Callum Hyland, Junior, Southern Virginia University [D3] (Lethbridge, Alta.)
Safety
First team: Ty Benefield, Freshman, Boise State University (Vancouver, B.C.)
The only true freshman on this All-Canadian roster, Benefield stepped right out of high school and into a do-it-all role for the Broncos. The six-foot-two, 201-pound defensive back played 12 games en route to a Mountain West championship, collecting 38 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass breakups and an interception. The son of former CFL all-star Daved Benefield received a 74.5 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in his first season, including a sparkling 80.6 coverage grade heading into an LA Bowl matchup with UCLA.
Arthur Hamlin, Redshirt Senior, Colgate University [FCS] (Ottawa, Ont.)
Two years removed from beating Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Hamlin has earned his second and final appearance on this list before trying his hand at the professional ranks. In 10 games, the six-foot, 195-pound defender collected 32 tackles, a tackle for loss, six pass breakups and an interception. That earned him a 69.9 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus to go along with an impressive 74.0 special teams grade.
Second team: Josh Baka, Sophomore, Kent State University (Ottawa, Ont.) | Cyrus McGarrell, Redshirt Junior, Northern Illinois University (Windsor, Ont.)
Third team: Ethan Ball, Redshirt Junior, University of North Dakota [FCS] (Regina, Sask.) | Shakespeare Louis, Junior, Robert Morris University [FCS] (Ottawa, Ont.)
Special teamer
First team: Michael Chris-Ike, Super Senior, Delaware State University [FCS] (Hamilton, Ont.)
If you were filled with justified outrage over the omission of some talented Canadian running backs from the offensive honourable mentions, you should be happy to find them here. Though Western Illinois’ Ludovick Choquette was more productive offensively, it is Chris-Ike who gets the first-team spot for his work in kick coverage. The six-foot-two, 225-pound bruiser notched a whopping nine special teams tackles this year in as many games, edging out his fellow ballcarrier for the Canadian lead by three takedowns.
Second team: Ludovick Choquette, Senior, University of Western Illinois [FCS] (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.)
Third team: Kieran Koltun, Redshirt Sophomore, Texas Wesleyan University [NAIA] (Kelowna, B.C.)
Honourable mentions: ED Edwin Kolenge, R-FR, Boston College (Montreal, Que.) | ED Carter Hooper, R-SO, UConn (Toronto, Ont.) | DI Rene Konga, R-JR, Rutgers (Ottawa, Ont.) | DI Jacob Spencer, R-JR, Saginaw Valley State [D2] (Brantford, Ont.) | LB Terrence Ganyi, R-SR, Maine [FCS] (Montreal, Que.)
