With Canadian players in the spotlight more than ever in the NFL, the 2021 draft boasts another impressive group of prospects from the Great White North.
In 2020, Chase Claypool was the standout Canadian thanks to a stellar rookie season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who selected the Abbotsford, B.C., native 49th overall.
Who could be the next Canadian to impress in the NFL as a rookie?
With a strong possibility of at least six Canucks being selected in this year’s draft, which would set a new record after four were drafted in 2014, here’s a look at 2021’s top Canadian NFL prospects.
Jevon Holland, DB, Oregon
The Coquitlam, B.C., native was a consensus four-star recruit when he landed with the Oregon Ducks in 2018 and, in 2019 Holland registered 66 tackles and four interceptions in 14 games for Oregon. Holland opted out of the 2020 season, finishing his Ducks career with 108 tackles and nine interceptions in 27 career contests.
That 2019 campaign earned Holland a semifinalist nod for the Jim Thorpe Award as college football’s top defensive back and he was an All-Pac-12 second-team defender.
Holland doesn’t take for granted the position he’s in to represent his country and elevate the talent north of the border.
“Being a Canadian in the NFL process, I feel pride to represent Canada,” he said during a Zoom call ahead of the draft. “I feel pride to represent where I’m from because I don’t really hear of a lot of people coming out of Coquitlam being in the NFL.”
Many expect Holland to play free safety in the pros but he could also be used as a slot corner. Likely to be picked in the second round, Holland will be among the 45 players who will participate in the draft as a virtual attendee.
Benjamin St-Juste, DB, Minnesota
Draft projection: Rounds 3-4
St-Juste opened a lot of eyes with a solid performance at the Senior Bowl, showing off his impressive speed to go along with his six-foot-three, 200-pound frame. He followed that up with a great showing at Minnesota’s Pro Day, recording a 4.51-second 40-yard dash.
Like most Canadians, the Montreal native’s path to the NFL draft was unconventional as St-Juste went from playing football in his hometown to trying to find a way to get noticed by a Div. I school. He eventually earned a scholarship to play at Michigan before transferring to the University of Minnesota ahead of the 2019 season.
St-Juste earned academic All Big-Ten honours in his first season with Minnesota after leading the team with 10 pass breakups. The 23-year-old played in five of Minnesota’s seven games in 2020, while recording 14 tackles and breaking up three passes.
Most draft projections have St-Juste going in the third or fourth round.
Josh Palmer, WR, Tennessee
The Brampton, Ont., native had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, catching a 14-yard touchdown pass and leaving a strong impression on Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy.
Every year there’s 5-10 WR prospects that everyone talks about and every year there’s a handful of guys outside that group that become quality NFL starters. @Vol_Football WR Josh Palmer (@Flowercitysown) made plays all week and should’ve gotten everyone’s attention in Mobile. pic.twitter.com/FkdruiEbJI
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 16, 2021
Similar to Claypool last season, Palmer finds himself in a very strong class of receivers and the talent of the 2021 class could impact where he ends up being selected. However, Palmer’s ability to produce against some of the top cornerbacks in the draft in Patrick Surtain II, Jaycee Horn, Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell shouldn’t be ignored.
What also didn’t help Palmer’s draft stock was a struggling Tennessee offence in which he only produced 474 yards and four touchdowns on 33 receptions in 2020.
NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah believes Palmer will provide great value for a team as a third- or fourth-round target and can be a big part of an NFL offence if he works on his separation.
Chubba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
Hubbard was a highly touted recruit out of Alberta, receiving close to 30 scholarship offers before committing to play at Oklahoma State in 2016.
During the 2020 season, the Sherwood, Alta., native rushed for 625 rushing yards and five touchdowns in seven games before leaving school to focus on his preparation for the draft after suffering an ankle injury.
His 2020 season was nowhere close to the 2,094 yards he had on the ground during a monster 2019 campaign, earning him Big 12’s offensive player of the year honours. He was named the Jon Cornish Trophy winner that year as the top Canadian in the NCAA and finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting.
Hubbard was able to put his injury concerns behind him at Oklahoma State’s pro day, running a 4.36 40-yard dash. However, at the Senior Bowl, he was recorded running 4.50 and 4.48 seconds.
The Canadian Cowboy, Chuba Hubbard, ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at @CowboyFB pro day. pic.twitter.com/tQ1PnRl6MF
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) April 1, 2021
Many believe Hubbard should’ve declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, where he could have gone in the second or third round, but the Canadian instead decided to return to school. He’s still viewed as a mid-round pick this week, and if he can regain his 2019 form he could find himself in a featured role in an NFL backfield.
Alaric Jackson, OL, Iowa
The Windsor, Ont., native moved to Detroit when he was younger and became a star at Renaissance High School, receiving offers from Iowa and Michigan, choosing the former.
He returned for his senior year at Iowa in 2020 after having his 2019 season cut short by an injury in order to show what he could do when he was healthy.
Jackson played left tackle at Iowa but was asked to move to guard and right tackle at the Senior Bowl. Many believe playing inside would benefit Jackson due to struggles to contain pass rushers who try to beat him with speed on the outside.
The change of position isn’t an issue for Jackson as he believes the schemes Iowa run are similar to most NFL teams. He also understands that being versatile provides him with the best chance to continue his playing career.
“You’ve got to be able to move around a little bit,” he said after his pro day. “I’m positive I can do that 100 per cent Day 1.”
Amen Ogbongbemiga, LB, Oklahoma State
Born in Nigeria, Ogbongbemiga moved to Houston before settling in Calgary, where he played football at Notre Dame High School, one of the top schools in Alberta.
Looking to land a spot with a Div. I school, Ogbongbemiga worked a part-time job and got some help from his older brother, Alex, to save up enough money to attend recruitment camps and an unofficial visit with the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The hard work paid off as Ogbongbemiga earned a scholarship to play for the Cowboys and was eventually named a defensive captain by his teammates after two seasons as a special teams player and backup on defence.
During the 2020 season, Ogbongbemiga recorded 80 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 11 games, building off an impressive 2019 campaign where he had 100 tackles and five sacks.
Ogbongbemiga will look to become the first linebacker out of Oklahoma State to be drafted since Linc Harden was taken by the Dallas Cowboys in 1995.
Other Canadian prospects to watch: Terrell Jana, WR, Virginia; Sydney Brown, DB, Illinois.
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