Queen’s University OL Niklas Henning leaps into spring CFL scouting bureau rankings

Photo courtesy: James Paddle-Grant/Queen’s Athletics

University of Miami defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor checks in as the No. 1 rated prospect in the Canadian Football League spring scouting bureau rankings.

Mesidor has swept the top position across all three scouting bureau editions for the 2026 class. Joining him in the rankings for the first time are Boston College offensive lineman Kevin Cline, Queen’s offensive lineman Niklas Henning and Coastal Carolina receiver Malick Meiga.

The scouting bureau, comprising CFL scouts, player personnel directors and general managers from the league’s nine teams, releases its rankings three times each draft cycle, beginning in the fall to coincide with the collegiate season, in winter following collegiate regular seasons, and in spring following combine season.

CFL scouting bureau: spring edition
​*(previous rank)

1 (1) | Akheem Mesidor | DL | Miami | Ottawa
2 (2) | Logan Taylor | OL | Boston College | Lunenburg, N.S.
3 (4) | Rene Konga | DL | Louisville | Ottawa
4 (5) | Wesley Bailey | DL | Louisville | Ottawa
5 (3) | Albert Reese IV | OL | Mississippi State | Edmonton
6 (10) | Rohan Jones | TE | Arkansas | Montreal
7 (–) | Kevin Cline | OL | Boston College | Boca Raton, Fla.
8 (7) | Dariel Djabome | LB | Rutgers | Longueuil, Que.
9 (6) | Jett Elad | DB | Rutgers | Mississauga, Ont.
10 (9) | Malcolm Bell | DB | Michigan State | Montreal
11 (19) | Giordano Vaccaro | OL | Purdue | Winnipeg
12 (8) | Nuer Gatkuoth | DL | Wake Forest | Edmonton
13 (12) | Darius Bell | OL | East Carolina | Hamilton, Ont.
14 (–) | Niklas Henning | OL | Queen’s | Milton, Ont.
15 (11) | Nick Cenacle | REC | Hawaii | Montreal
16 (20) | Émeric Boutin | FB | Laval | L’Assomption, Que.
17 (–) | Malick Meiga | REC | Coastal Carolina | Montreal
18 (18) | Nate DeMontagnac | REC | North Dakota | Mississauga, Ont.
19 (15) | Jonathan Denis | OL | Louisiana Tech | Homestead, Fla.
20 (13) | Darius McKenzie | LB | South Alabama | Ottawa

The spring scouting bureau rankings include: seven offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, three receivers, two linebackers, two defensive backs, one tight end and one fullback. 17 schools are represented in the rankings. Boston College, No.2 Logan Taylor and No. 7 Kevin Cline, Louisville, No. 3 Rene Konga and No. 4 Wesley Bailey, and Rutgers, No. 8 Dariel Djabome and No. 9 Jett Elad, feature multiple players.

All eight first-round selections in the 2025 Canadian Draft were listed in the 2025 scouting bureau spring edition.

Top five

No. 1 | Akheem Mesidor | DL | Miami | Ottawa

2025: 15 starts, 60 tackles, 36 solo and 24 assisted, 15.5 tackles for a loss, 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles

2025 College Football Playoff National Championship game: three tackles, two solo and one assisted, and two sacks

All-Atlantic Coast Conference first team (2025)

All-Atlantic Coast Conference honourable mention (2022 and 2024)

All-Big 12 honourable mention (2021)

Played two seasons at West Virginia, then three at Miami

NCAA career: 65 games, 52 starts, 205 tackles, 121 solo and 84 assisted, 50.5 tackles for a loss and 33.5 sacks

No. 2 | Logan Taylor | OL | Boston College | Lunenburg, N.S.

2025: 12 starts, eight at right guard, three at left tackle and one at right tackle

Team captain (2025)

All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team (2025)

All-Atlantic Coast Conference honourable mention (2023 and 2024)

Played two seasons at Virginia, then three at Boston College

NCAA career: 49 games, including 46 starts

N0. 3 | Rene Konga | DL | Louisville | Ottawa

2025: 12 games, 11 starts, 29 tackles, 13 solo and 16 assisted, five tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and six pass breakups

All-Atlantic Coast Conference second team (2025)

Played three seasons at Rutgers, then two at Louisville

NCAA career: 44 games, 63 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and five sacks

No. 4 | Wesley Bailey | DL | Louisville | Ottawa

2025: 12 starts, 39 tackles, 17 solo and 22 assisted, seven tackles for a loss, six sacks and five quarterback hurries

Academic All-Big Ten (2024)

Played four seasons at Rutgers, then one at Louisville

NCAA career: 48 games, including 37 starts, 110 tackles, 48 solo and 62 assisted, 21 tackles for a loss and 15.5 sacks

No. 5 | Albert Reese IV | OL | Mississippi State | Edmonton

2025: Nine starts

Southeastern Conference offensive lineman of the week (Week 2 against Arizona State)

Kent Hull Trophy as best offensive lineman in Mississippi (2024)

NCAA career: 49 games, including 22 starts

The Ottawa Redblacks hold the first overall selection in the 2026 Canadian Draft, which will be conducted on Tuesday, April 28 beginning at 7 p.m. ET.