The 2026 CFL Combine wrapped up on Sunday in Edmonton, concluding four days of measurements, medical checkups, interviews, physical testing, and on-field competition.
Scouts and coaches arrived in town with a thorough understanding of every prospect, but the CFL’s unique format offers a chance to assess the entirety of a player’s makeup — his explosiveness, intelligence, toughness, and physicality.
Not everyone benefits from that added spotlight, but every year, some rise to the occasion. No one will hear their name called on draft day on the basis of the Combine alone, but the impressions made will stick in the minds of decision makers, prompting tweaks to boards around the league and driving some up into higher rounds.
Now that the dust has settled, here are eight prospects who helped themselves over the weekend.
REC Nate DeMontagnac, University of North Dakota
The number one receiver spot in the 2026 CFL Draft was one of the few legitimately up for grabs in Edmonton, and while no one seized it outright, DeMontagnac certainly made a compelling case. The six-foot-two, 186-pound target stood on his testing numbers from North Dakota’s pro day, but broke ranks with the other NCAA receivers by strapping on the pads on Day 2. His smooth route-running and suddenness out of breaks stood out, fuelling call-outs from top defensive back prospects hoping to raise their own stock. The Mississauga, Ont., native sat out Sunday with a minor injury, but had already proven what he needed to.
OL Niklas Henning, Queen’s University
It wasn’t exactly a secret that Henning was going to emerge from Friday’s testing session as one of the stars of the weekend. Loyal 3DownNation readers and listeners have known for months that he was the top name to watch this year, but he exceeded even those expectations with a performance that included a 4.9-second forty-yard dash — the fastest by a lineman in over a decade. The six-foot-six, 298-pound offensive lineman remains raw after converting from tight end two years ago, but was still the most effective tackle in attendance and cemented himself as a first-round pick. The only way that changes is if an opportunity arises south of the border, as NFL teams have already begun to kick the tires on the Milton, Ont., native.
QB/REC Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald, McGill University
Quarterback prospects, particularly ones being evaluated for a position change, don’t ordinarily live up to expectations at the Combine, but McGill’s dual-threat pivot is anything but ordinary. The six-foot-three, 213-pound athlete jumped out of the gym on Day 1, threw the ball noticeably better than his counterparts over the weekend, won reps as a receiver, and looked functional in special teams drills. If Jackson Tachinski, who struggled making the same transition last year, was worthy of an undrafted opportunity, Latendresse-Regimbald has decisively pushed himself into the Brad Sinopoli echelon of draftable athletic quarterbacks.
DL Tristan Marois, University of Colorado
Few of the top defensive line prospects in this year’s class were in Edmonton due to NFL opportunities, which created an opportunity for mid-round contenders to elevate themselves. Marois was the one to do it, proving to be arguably the most effective edge rusher on Saturday despite having barely played defence the past two seasons in Boulder. The six-foot-five, 249-pounder from Saint Bruno, Que., has the size teams covet and was already valued for his special teams ability, but showed that he this week that he can do more at the next level than he was allowed to under Coach Prime.
REC Jesulayomi Ojutalayo, Wilfrid Laurier University
Standing at six-foot-two and 217 pounds, Ojutalayo is the type of player you want walking off the bus first. His muscular frame, physical maturity, and outstanding athleticism were on full display at the Commonwealth Field House, where he finished in the top five of four of the six testing events. The hits kept coming once the helmets got buckled, and the Shelburne, Ont., native routinely flashed in one-on-ones, also impressing scouts by pushing through a rolled ankle on Sunday when he already distinguished himself. The Golden Hawks product isn’t the best pure receiver in this class, but his size and immense special teams value will see him drafted far higher than others with more offensive production.
LB Eric Rascoe, Angelo State University
Rascoe arrived in Edmonton as one of this year’s most mysterious prospects after obtaining his Canadian citizenship in January, but left as arguably the single biggest riser. The six-foot-one, 210-pound Indoor Football League defender blazed an impressive 4.56-second forty-yard dash, had teams falling in love during his interviews, and adapted to the three-down game effortlessly in his first exposure to it. As a result, the three-time Lone Star Conference all-star has now propelled himself from the second tier of depth linebacker prospects into the first tier of potential future starters.
LB Marc Djonay Rondeau, University of Ottawa
Rondeau may have been the best-kept secret in this draft class, but when you broad jump almost 11 feet, the cat gets out of the bag. There is no hiding the love that scouts have for the Gee-Gees’ undersized strong-side linebacker anymore, as he checked every athletic box and showcased his versatility to play deeper in the secondary if asked. The six-foot, 194-pounder from Quebec City may not fit the traditional mould of high-end CFL prospect, but the apples-to-apples comparison stood up to the quality of his tape.
DB Ethan Stuart, McMaster University
The three-cone and short shuttle drills are typically dominated by the small and undersized, which is why so many players who have won those events at past Combines fail to have meaningful careers. That will not be the case for Stuart, who claimed double title belts at a hefty six-foot, 224 pounds. Defensive backs that size almost automatically get moved to linebacker in the CFL because they can’t move well enough in space, but the Oakville, Ont., native showed this week that he has all the tools necessary to play safety or halfback at the next level. Don’t be shocked if that drives him up into the top 25 picks.
