NFL Draft hopeful Theo Benedet headlines strong Canadian contingent at 2024 College Gridiron Showcase

Courtesy: Bob Frid/UBC Athletics

A contingent of nine Canadian players will be taking their talents to Texas this weekend to perform for NFL scouts at the 2024 College Gridiron Showcase (CGS), including two-time J.P. Metras Trophy winner Theo Benedet.

UBC’s six-foot-seven, 305-pound right tackle was the third person in history to be named Canada’s top collegiate lineman in consecutive seasons and the first offensive lineman ever to accomplish the feat. He has started every game for the Thunderbirds since his rookie season in 2019 and his impact helped usher the team to their first Vanier Cup appearance since 2015 this year.

Benedet was the lone Canadian invited to participate in the East-West Shrine Bowl in Las Vegas last February, earning distinction as the most well-rounded offensive tackle in attendance by rating in the 75th percentile or above in all pass set metrics according to advanced movement analysis. However, he surprised many scouts by making the decision to return to school, deferring both his CFL and NFL draft years to 2024.

The third-ranked prospect on the CFL’s Fall Scouting Bureau rankings is expected to receive considerable NFL interest this offseason, with 13 different franchises either inquiring about the All-Canadian or sending talent evaluators to UBC’s Point Grey campus. CGS will offer him a chance to compete for scouts against NCAA competition, with a chance to cement himself as a draftable prospect or earn an invite to a larger all-star game.

Also participating in the all-star event are Western strongside linebacker Lourenz Bowers-Kane, Bemidji State receiver Dhel Duncan-Busby, Hillsdale College running back Michael Herzog, McMaster defensive end Owen Hubert, Northwestern Oklahoma State defensive back Dawson Marchant, Concordia defensive back Dawson Pierre, and Buffalo offensive lineman Gabe Wallace.

Bowers-Kane has played 30 games over three seasons with the Mustangs, amassing 146 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. The five-foot-11, 207-pound defender was named a second-team All-Canadian in 2023. The native of Dartmouth, N.S. is the cousin of former Super Bowl-winning receiver Tyrone Williams.

Duncan-Busby was the 19th-ranked player on the CFL’s Fall Scouting Bureau list, having played 47 games over six years at Bemidji State. The six-foot-three, 210-pound receiver has hauled in 171 passes for 2,839 yards and 27 touchdowns, earning All-NSIC honours each of the past two seasons. The native of Toronto spent his high school years in Madison, Ohio.

Photo courtesy: Reva Ludwig/Hillsdale College Athletics

Herzog was named a Division II All-American and one of nine finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, known as the Division II Heisman, in 2023 after rushing for 21 touchdowns in his senior year with the Chargers. The five-foot-nine, 200-pound ball carrier converted from receiver early in his college career and has started the last two seasons, posting 430 carries for 2,273 yards and 29 touchdowns. The native of Windsor, Ont. is the younger brother of safety Zach Herzog, a seventh-round pick of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022.

Hubert has suited up in 27 games over four seasons with the Marauders, collecting 65 defensive tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three batted passes and a fumble recovery. The six-foot-four, 255-pound edge rusher was born in the U.S. but raised in Norwood, Ont.

Marchant began his collegiate career at Simon Fraser University, registering 27 tackles, eight pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 10 games in 2019. After playing the 2021 season with the Langley Rams and helping the team win a CJFL national championship, he returned to the NCAA Division II ranks with Northwestern Oklahoma State. In 21 games at cornerback, the Surrey, B.C. product has recorded 60 tackles, two tackles for loss, five pass breakups, an interception, and a blocked kick. He recently participated in the FCS Bowl in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Pierre is also coming off an outstanding performance at the FCS Bowl. The six-foot-two, 212-pound safety has been a defensive standout for Concordia in each of the past two seasons, earning RSEQ all-star honours in 2022. In 23 career games for the Stingers, the native of Longueuil, Que. has made 81 total tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and three interceptions.

Photo courtesy: University at Buffalo Athletics

Wallace was the second-ranked player on the CFL’s Fall Scouting Bureau, after playing 49 games for the Bulls and starting the last 37. The six-foot-six, 337-pound product of Salmon Arm, B.C. has experience starting at both tackle spots as well as left guard, earning third-team All-MAC selections each of the past two years.

Purdue offensive lineman Daniel Johnson will also be attending the event in an interview-only capacity. The seventh-ranked player on the CFL’s Fall Scouting Bureau was born in Kenya before immigrating to London, Ont., where he earned a scholarship to Kent State as a tight end. The brother of former CFL receiver George Johnson later converted to offensive line and played four seasons with the Golden Flashes, before joining the Boilermakers for his last two campaigns. The six-foot-six, 320-pound tackle has struggled to stay healthy in college, appearing in 25 games and making 13 starts between the two schools.

A fixture of the collegiate all-star circuit since 2014, CGS has helped launch hundreds of players to the NFL and CFL since its inception. A number of former first-round CFL draft picks have attended the event over the years, including Toronto Argonauts’ offensive lineman Peter Nicastro, Ottawa Redblacks’ defensive back Adam Auclair, Calgary Stampeders’ receiver Jalen Philpot, and Edmonton Elks’ quarterback Tre Ford. Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive end Lake Korte-Moore and Calgary Stampeders’ receiver Cole Tucker were both participants last year.

New scouting restrictions for NFL teams have caused a change to a new shortened format for the event in 2024, though representatives of all 32 franchises are still expected to be in attendance along with CFL clubs and those from the UFL. Players are set to arrive in Fort Worth on Friday for orientation and will take part in positional practices on Saturday, before a full scrimmage on Sunday, January 7.

3DownNation will be on hand to witness all the action for the third consecutive year. Check back on Monday for a full recap of all the Canadian performances, as well as interviews with each player in the lead-up to the 2024 CFL Draft.

JC Abbott
J.C. Abbott is a University of British Columbia graduate and high school football coach. He covers the CFL, B.C. Lions, CFL Draft and the three-down league's Global initiative.