2026 CFL Draft position rankings: quarterbacks & running backs

Graphic: 3DownNation

There are just 10 days remaining until the 2026 CFL Draft, with hundreds of players waiting to see their pro football dreams realized on Tuesday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

As always, 3DownNation will be your go-to source for extensive coverage of all eight rounds. Analysts J.C. Abbott and Ben Grant will be live on YouTube and Facebook for the entirety of the selection process, while John Hodge will keep you up-to-the-minute by breaking down every pick as it happens on the LIVE blog.

In the lead-up to the festivities, our team has collaborated on prospect rankings at every position, which will culminate in the unveiling of our annual Top 25. These evaluations are our own, taking into account film study, physical measurables, Combine performance, and anonymous feedback from CFL scouts and coaches. Players are ranked based on the strength of their on-field projection, with off-the-field factors such as health or legal concerns included as context in the write-up.

Today, we begin in the backfield by examining the quarterbacks and running backs. Though they are arguably the two most exciting positions in any draft, this year’s class is light on impact players in either category. However, there are still some intriguing names to monitor.

Make sure to check back tomorrow when we break down the fullbacks and tight ends.

Quarterback

1. Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald, McGill University (Montreal, Que.)

McGill’s dual-threat pivot is almost certainly destined to play a different position at the next level, which we’ll examine in greater detail when ranking the receiver prospects in a few days. Nonetheless, the six-foot-three, 213-pound athlete is also the best quarterback in this class, with unique play-making ability and more than enough arm talent to check the box. Latendresse-Regimbald can be too quick to rely on his legs and suffers from inconsistent accuracy as a result of his scrambling style, but there is a reason why he has amassed over 10,000 combined yards since joining the Redbirds in 2022. The Montreal native’s tough running ability could be deployed as a third-string, short-yardage QB early in his career while he transitions into other areas, much as Brad Sinopoli did years ago.

2. Christian Veilleux, Georgia State University (Ottawa, Ont.)

A former three-star recruit who landed his first NCAA scholarship offer at 15, it wasn’t long ago that Veilleux was viewed as a potential NFL prospect. That is no longer the case, as his collegiate career has seen him drop down the levels from Penn State to Pittsburgh and finally Georgia State while being benched multiple times in the process. There is little to suggest that his poor decision-making, failure to protect the football, and erratic accuracy will suddenly correct themselves once he’s cashing a paycheque. However, the Ottawa native’s pedigree is nearly unprecedented in the CFL Draft. Given his prototypical six-foot-four, 222-pound frame and strong athletic measurables for a pocket passer, there is still an argument to be made for rolling the dice in the later rounds.

3. Anton Amundrud, University of Saskatchewan (Lloydminster, Alta.)

In a just world, the third quarterback slot at the 2026 CFL Combine would have been Amundrud’s after he posted a 70 percent completion rate and erased early career concerns over turnovers with a sparkling 14:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio last season. Unfortunately, any slim chance that the Huskies’ star signal caller had of a pro career was derailed when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in late October. The good news is that the cancer is now in remission, and the six-foot-one, 212-pounder is planning to be back on the field in Saskatoon in time for training camp, making him arguably the toughest player available in the draft.

4. Josh Janssen, University of Ottawa (Chilliwack, B.C.)

Size draws attention at any position in the CFL Draft, and quarterback is no exception. Janssen’s six-foot-six, 222-pound frame is undoubtedly what earned him a ticket to the CFL Combine in Edmonton. While the former Valley Husker has been fairly efficient since making the jump to U Sports, posting a 66.2 completion percentage over two seasons, he still hasn’t established himself as an elite passer at that level. Without any unique athletic traits to make him worthy of a positional conversion in the CFL, the Gee-Gees can rejoice in getting their QB back for a final campaign.

5. Alex Vrekeen, Queen’s University (Kingston, Ont.) 

Much like Amundrud, Vreeken’s play improved by leaps and bounds last season, as he nearly tripled his previous career-high in yardage while throwing for 24 touchdowns and just six picks. That earned the six-foot-three, 216-pound pivot a second-team OUA all-star selection and helped the Gaels to an elusive Yates Cup victory. The Kingston native is a decent mover for the position and has enough juice in his arm, but falls short of legitimate CFL prospect status.

6. Gunnar Gray, University at Buffalo (San Diego, Cal.)

Quarterbacks who have started games at the NCAA Division 1 level are ultra rare in the CFL Draft, which makes Gray worthy of a passing mention. The six-foot-three, 217-pound passer was primarily a backup over three seasons in Buffalo, but did lead the team in a narrow loss to UConn this past season. You have to go back to his days at San Diego Mesa College to find any other compelling tape. The birthright Canadian was a two-time all-conference selection there, which is noteworthy despite the fairly low level of junior college competition.

Running back

1. Isaiah Smith, University of Guelph (Burlington, Ont.)

Physically, Smith is everything you want and more in a running back prospect. The six-foot, 230-pound ball-carrier has tree-trunk legs, elite length, and demonstrated impressive explosiveness in the testing. He’s been a productive part of a tandem backfield for most of his career and shone as a receiving outlet out of the backfield this past season, though his imposing size hasn’t always resulted in the dominance you’d expect between the tackles. Even so, no other RB comes close to matching his scintillating combination of projectable traits, putting him at the top of this group by a considerable margin despite having less yardage than several of his contemporaries.

2. Weagbe Mombo, University of Windsor (Toronto, Ont.)

Mombo was a dual-sport athlete at Windsor and proved his prowess on the track by running a 4.55-second forty-yard dash at the CFL Combine. That’s an impressive set of wheels for a five-foot-11, 215-pound ball carrier, and you see it come through on tape, as the second-team OUA all-star’s burst is second to none with a career average of 8.7 yards per carry. He is a patient, upright runner who can lull you to sleep before slicing deep through the defence, though he also invites trouble and can be too eager to bounce outside. Like so many U Sports backs, his future will hinge on whether CFL teams believe he can improve as a blocker and shoulder the special teams responsibilities that will be required of him.

3. Liam Talbot, University of Windsor (London, Ont.)

One of the players elevated from the Invitational Combine, Talbot primarily served as Mombo’s backup last season, but ran faster and posted top-tier testing numbers across the board. The five-foot-11, 210-pounder proved he hits the gym by putting up 24 reps on the bench press and welcomes contact far more eagerly than the larger players above him on this list. Given his versatile skillset and wealth of experience on special teams, both covering kicks and returning them, it would not shock me if some CFL teams had the Lancers’ second-stringer ahead of the starter on their draft boards.

4. Charles Asselin, University of Ottawa (Cantley, Ont.)

A 2024 OUA all-star, Asselin still managed to lead the country in total yards per game last season, despite his offensive production being nearly halved. The five-foot-10, 201-pound back isn’t a pull-away burner, but has great lateral quickness that allows him to make defenders miss while maintaining a north-south trajectory. There is a lot to like about his effort level and running style, though his smaller frame and lack of special teams value at the next level will be difficult for scouts to look past.

5. Malcolm Bussey, St. Francis Xavier University (Hammond Plains, N.S.)

Hands-down the most productive running back available this year, Bussey is a three-time All-Canadian and holds St. FX’s all-time rushing yardage record. His patience, vision, and determination have allowed him to dominate in the Atlantic conference, though concerns about his lack of elite explosiveness have only been exacerbated by an injury that cost him the entire 2024 season. The former New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year has an average build at five-foot-10 and 196 pounds and posted pedestrian testing numbers, which will give teams further trepidation when projecting a significant jump in the level of competition.

6. Donavin Milloy, University of Guelph (Hamilton, Ont.)

The more productive half of the Gryphons’ thunder and lightning duo, Milloy is a home-run hitter who averaged more than 8.3 yards per carry in his university career. Unfortunately, the Hamiltonian didn’t get a chance to show off what could have been top-of-the-class athletic testing because he is rehabbing from ACL surgery and won’t be ready until at least August. That will likely result in him going undrafted and contribute to serious concerns about his durability, as the daintily-built scat back has had difficulties staying healthy at under five-foot-nine and 182 pounds.

7. Jhavaun Blake, Gannon University (Kelowna, B.C.)

A pure body projection, Blake didn’t see the field much at the Division II level, flip-flopping between running back and linebacker. That versatility could be an advantage in the eyes of CFL scouts, as the six-foot, 217-pounder offers clearer special teams upside than many of the players listed ahead of him. He checks most of the necessary measurable boxes for a core teamer and passes the eye test, with an Adonis-like physique that has earned him over 5,000 subscribers on YouTube as a fitness influencer.

8. Quentin Scott, Wilfrid Laurier University (Brampton, Ont.)

A two-time thousand-yard rusher with multiple second-team OUA all-star selections, Scott sat out the 2024 season and failed to match his previous production when he returned to the field last year. The five-foot-eight, 205-pounder is deceptively elusive and possesses solid contact balance, but lacks both the frame and physical measurables to be sold as a legitimate CFL prospect.