CFL scouts are about to get very busy.
The NCAA football season kicks off Saturday, and the growing influence of Canadians in the U.S. college ranks will keep talent evaluators channel surfing on many Saturdays.
As has been the case for quite some time, some of the top Canadians this year likely won't be seen in the CFL for years, if ever.
Three Canadians were listed in The Athletic's ranking of the top 100 players for the upcoming NCAA season — LSU safety Ty Benefield (No. 98), Rutgers running back Antwan Raymond (No. 75) and Texas offensive tackle Melvin Siani (No. 90).
Here's a look at those three, along with other Canadians to watch this year:
LSU S Ty Benefield
The son of former CFL star linebacker Daved Benefield was born and raised in Vancouver, where his dad played for the Lions, before moving south to pursue his own football career. The senior safety took a step up by transferring to LSU, an SEC school ranked 11th in the AP's pre-season poll, this off-season after playing the past three years at Boise State.
Benefield was first-team Mountain West last year and helped Boise State advance to the College Football Playoff in 2024. He's ranked No. 1 in the CFL's rankings for next year's draft, but it would be stunning if he ends up in the Canadian league. Benefield is considered a prospect to go in the top two rounds of next year's NFL Draft.
Rutgers RB Antwan Raymond
The winner of the Jon Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian in NCAA football last season, the Montreal-born Raymond returns to Rutgers for his junior season. He rushed for 1,241 yards and 13 touchdowns last year for a Rutgers team that was well down the pecking order in the powerful Big Ten.
Raymond and receiver KJ Duff give the New Jersey school two tremendous talents on offence, but Rutgers once again will be an underdog in most conference games.
Texas OT Melvin Siani
The six-foot-six, 317-pound Hamilton native transferred to Texas from Wake Forest, where he did not allow a sack last season in his freshman or sophomore year. The Longhorns enter the season ranked fifth in the country.
Siani is considered a candidate to enter the NFL Draft next year as an underclassman. He'll get plenty of time in front of scouts playing with Texas star QB Arch Manning and fellow offensive tackle Trevor Goosby, one of the top O-lineman prospects for next year's NFL Draft.
The Longhorns visit LSU on Nov. 14 in an SEC showdown featuring two top Canadians.
Syracuse LB Antoine Deslauriers
The Montreal native earned a starting role for Syracuse in his freshman season. He tied for the team lead with 60 tackles, becoming the first freshman in program history to achieve that feat.
Notre Dame OT Will Black
The six-foot-seven, 316-pound native of London, Ont., is expected to start at left tackle for a Notre Dame team ranked fourth in the country. He'll be protecting star quarterback CJ Carr. Black played three games last year.
Notre Dame is at Syracuse on Nov. 28 in another interesting game for Canadian fans.
Texas Tech DL Bryce Butler
The six-foot-four, 320-pound Toronto native transferred to Texas Tech this year for his fifth season after spending the past two at Washington. He's ranked No. 2 on next year's CFL Draft list. He made at least one tackle in 10 of his games last season.
Kentucky QB Callum Wither
The Toronto native transferred to Kentucky for his final year of eligibility after starring for Wilfrid Laurier in U Sports last year and spending three years at Ohio. Wither has earned praise from the coaching staff and appears to be in the driver's seat for the backup role behind Kenny Minchey
North Texas RB Nick Osho
The Burnaby, B.C. native is third on the CFL Draft list for next year. He spent the past two years at lower-level Indiana State. Osho rushed for 685 yards and eight touchdowns last year.
USC DL Floyd Boucard
A lower-body injury affected Boucard in his freshman season, but he still played a key role as a rotational defensive lineman for a good chunk of the year. The Montreal native is expected to see more snaps this season for a USC squad ranked 14th in the country. The Trojans open Saturday against San Jose State.
USC is at Rutgers to face Raymond and his Scarlet Knights on Sept. 19.
Looking ahead to 2027
Tennessee commit David Gabriel Georges of Terrebonne, Que., is the No. 2-ranked running back recruit in the NCAA in the 2027 class. He's been attending the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Georges recently raised the eyebrows of Arch Manning, whose cousin Marshall, the son of Peyton Manning, also plays for Baylor.
“They have a really good running back. He looks yoked," Arch Manning said of the muscular Georges. "What are they feeding those guys?”
Georges chose Tennessee over Ohio State this past summer.
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