Top eight specialists in 2026 CFL Global Draft

Edit: 3DownNation

The Canadian Football League’s Global program enters its seventh season in 2026, giving players from outside Canada and the United States a chance to carve out a professional career.

The 2026 CFL Global Draft will take place on Wednesday, April 29, at 1:00 p.m. ET, featuring two rounds of selections. In total, 91 players from outside the U.S. and Canada are eligible to be picked.

Since launching in 2021, All22 Global has become a leader in verified data collection and talent evaluation in the international football marketplace. For the past several months, a select group of All22 scouts, led by me and former Calgary Stampeders area scout Brett Morgan, has undertaken an extensive evaluation process for each of the top prospects.

Samit Bariana (QB & RB), Lorenz Leinweber (DL & LB), Alexander Durazo (OL), Zeljko Novak (TE & WR), Guglielmo Perasole (DB), Josh French (PK & PT), and Henry Yuan (intern) have contributed film-based reports to this project, which have then been cross-checked and combined with a proprietary formula to produce final prospect rankings.

As always, the CFL selection process will be influenced by the changing NFL landscape, which has seen an increased number of players receive opportunities through the International Player Pathway Program. Franchises also approach the draft with vastly different strategies, and there is information that our team may not be privy to, ranging from player interest levels to Visa concerns, that may influence the selection order. However, these are our objective rankings based on the best available data.

Here are our top eight available specialists. You can find our top position players by clicking here.

Note: The lead scout responsible for the initial report is named at the end of each description.

1) PT Brett Thorson, University of Georgia (Australia)

An AP second-team All-American with the Bulldogs, Thorson allowed just four returns last season thanks to his stunning 4.38-second average hang time and near-perfect placement. The right-footed punter has good follow-through on the ball and makes a clean connection, showing the variability to end-over-end or torpedo his kicks as needed. The six-foot-one, 237-pounder from Melbourne is an elite prospect, but has already signed with the Minnesota Vikings and may not ever become available to CFL teams. — Josh French

A rare non-Aussie to crack the punting glass ceiling, Laros possesses a strong right leg that 44.5 gross yards per punt last season and an average hang time of 4.39 seconds. The Capetown native isn’t quite as controlled with his punts as some others, but he also possesses elite traits as a kickoff specialist, averaging 68.9 yards last year and generating 49 touchbacks. The six-foot-two, 220-pounder signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and should have good odds to make the roster, reducing his CFL stock. — J.C. Abbott

Nicknamed the ‘Tokyo Toe,’ Matsuzawa was the most accurate kicker in college football last season, missing just twice, including once from outside of 50 yards. The self-taught kicker, who learned via YouTube before coming to the United States, is a consistent striker of the ball and finishes with good follow-through to generate lift. At six-foot-two and 205 pounds, he does not possess elite leg strength and maxes out just past 50 yards, but his accuracy is special enough to merit a contract from the Las Vegas Raiders. — Josh French

4) PK/PT Paul Geelen, Southern Illinois University (Netherlands)

We have yet to witness the emergence of a true, three-tool Global specialist in the CFL, which is part of what makes Geelen so intriguing. The six-foot-six, 205-pound Dutchman isn’t an elite punter, averaging 40.8 gross yards and 3.71 seconds of hang time last season, but he’s functional in that area while still going 15-of-17 on field goals with a long of 53 and averaging 61.2 yards on kickoff with 43 touchbacks. The native of Utrecht has a big enough leg that he earned a rookie mini-camp invite from the Denver Broncos, but his versatility will be even more prized north of the border. — J.C. Abbott

Signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent on Saturday, Bouwmeester possesses all of the traits of an elite punting prospect. The six-foot-three, 209-pound right-footer has averaged more than 44 gross yards and four seconds of hang time in each of the past three seasons, with a tight process and consistent follow-through. That should make the Bendigo native coveted by CFL teams despite the weight. —  Josh French

6) PT James Rendell, University of Notre Dame (Australia)

A towering figure at six-foot-six and 225 pounds, Rendell wasn’t asked to punt much last season, but made the most of limited opportunities by allowing just two returns. He has a fluid kicking motion and a strong plant foot in the pocket, generating consistent distance and good placement. He’s also unafraid to go back to his Aussie-style roots when needed, rolling out and kicking across his body to great effect. The Melbourne native has a mini-camp tryout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lined up, but will be in tough to unseat Laros. — Josh French

One of the strongest pure legs available, Andrews had a gross average of 46.5 yards per punt last season at UMass while still managing 41.3 net yards and 3.99 seconds of hang time. The six-foot-three, 250-pounder adheres to more of a traditional Aussie style and has been effective on the roll, but has a quick process when stationary to translate and has earned a mini-camp tryout with the New York Jets. — Josh French

Indiana’s national championship-winning offence left McCarthy with little to do last season, and his statistical production was underwhelming as a result. However, CFL teams got live exposure to the six-foot-five, 233-pounder at the specialist showcase in San Diego, where he out-booted the field with an average of 52.6 yards per punt and 4.65 seconds of hang time. That sensational performance and his excellent ball placement will stick with evaluators and have even improved the Melbourne native’s stock south of the border, resulting in a mini-camp tryout with the New England Patriots. —Josh French

Best of the rest: PT Nick Haberer, Vanderbilt (Australia) | PT Jack Burgess, Texas Tech (Australia) | PK Jesus Gomez, Arizona State (Mexico) | PT Oliver Straw, West Virginia (Australia) | PK Jude McAtamney, Rutgers (Northern Ireland) | PT Joshua Ferguson-Reynolds, Oregon (Australia) | PK Jacob Hathaway, Middle Tennessee State (Wales)