Edit: 3DownNation
There are just five 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.
We have already ranked the quarterbacks, running backs, fullbacks, tight ends, receivers, offensive linemen, and defensive linemen. Make sure to check back tomorrow when we break down the defensive backs.
Today, we continue by examining the linebackers. This group of defenders may not stun you at the top, but the depth of talent grows on you the more you watch. There are plenty of quality special teamers available and more than a few potential overachievers who could develop into meaningful defensive contributors with time.
Linebacker
Photo courtesy: Rutgers Athletics
1) Dariel Djabome, Rutgers University (Longueuil, Que.)
A third-team All-Big 10 honouree in 2024 and an honourable mention last year, Djabome’s lack of elite speed probably removes him from the NFL conversation, which should be the CFL’s gain. The six-foot-one, 233-pound middle linebacker looks long and gangly thanks to his 33-inch arms, but flows well over the top with good lateral quickness and effective near-hip tracking. He’s a reliable wrap-up tackler upon arrival, though he won’t knock you back between the tackles and needs to take better advantage of his long levers when shedding blocks. Suspect coverage ability may limit his ceiling, but he has produced against elite competition in college and projects as a starting Mike in the three-down game.
2) Eric Rascoe, Angelo State University (San Antonio, Tex.)
Rascoe has played a year of pro ball already, suiting up in the Indoor Football League while he awaited his citizenship papers, and emerged from the CFL Combine as arguably the biggest winner. The six-foot-one, 210-pounder proved he has elite athletic traits across the board, dazzled teams in the interview room, and played with all the bounce and bend that made him a three-time first-team all-conference selection at the Division II level. Ideally, he should add a little bit of weight, but he has comfortably played heavier before and is the type of prospect teams would still be interested in signing if he counted as an American.
3) Darius McKenzie, University of South Alabama (Ottawa, Ont.)
McKenzie hasn’t been able to take full advantage of the draft process due to an ankle injury, but he’s expected to be ready to go soon and will be valued highly on the quality of his film alone. The six-foot-one, 224-pounder has a sharp mind for the game, allowing him to diagnose plays quickly and close on the ball carrier. Even without the benefit of testing, you can tell the All-SunBelt honourable mention is a solid all-around athlete, and he rarely misses tackles, even if he doesn’t blow up many opponents. He’ll need to get stronger to continue getting off blocks effectively at the next level, but he should provide quality depth in the middle for years to come.
4) Justin Pace, Queen’s University (Montreal, Que.)
If you like your linebackers with a nasty streak, then Justin Pace is your man. The 2024 first-team All-Canadian hunts like a shark in shallow waters and hits like he is trying to hurt you, sometimes crossing the line, as evidenced by his suspension last year. He’s surprisingly small considering the punch he packs, just six-foot and 218 pounds, and did not test particularly well, but was very effective dropping into coverage with the Gaels and picked off six passes. At the bare minimum, he’s got the ability to be a tone-setting special teamer.
Photo courtesy: Ottawa Gee-Gees
5) Marc Djonay Rondeau, University of Ottawa (Quebec City, Que.)
Rondeau posted some utterly ridiculous numbers for a linebacker at the CFL Combine, namely a nearly 11-foot broad jump, and is highly regarded by teams due to his explosiveness and range. The challenge is how exactly to deploy him, as the six-foot, 194-pound defender is small for a true linebacker and may lack the fluidity or ball skills to adopt a full-time role in the secondary. He can certainly fill in at strong-side linebacker, but may be best suited to the weakside if he can add some weight. Either way, he has a bright future covering kicks.
6) Osasere Odemwingie, University of Calgary (Calgary, Alta.)
Odemwingie’s objectively terrible testing numbers from the Combine were a substantial blow to his stock, but I remain a believer in his ability after watching him live at the College Gridiron Showcase. The six-foot, 220-pounder has a broad-shouldered frame that can handle the pounding between the tackles and has a natural instinct for the position, allowing him to get a head start and make plays that he shouldn’t physically be able to. Don’t be surprised if he falls in the draft, but don’t be shocked if he outperforms where he’s selected either.
7) Nicolas Roy, Université de Montréal (Montreal, Que.)
Roy has flown entirely under the media radar thus far because he suffered an injury in the RSEQ playoffs that stopped him from attending the Combine and may prevent him from taking part in training camp, but his talent can’t be ignored. The five-foot-11, 199-pound strong-side linebacker looks incredibly twitchy on film, with exceptional closing speed, torpedo-like tackling prowess, and the fluidity to cover in space like a DB. At the risk of same school scouting, the former RSEQ Defensive Rookie of the Year has shades of Redha Kramdi in his game and could be a true SAM in the CFL, though some of his testing from last year’s East-West Bowl doesn’t quite align with that projection.
8) Loik Gagne, Concordia University (Montreal, Que.)
The Stingers didn’t value Gagne as a full-time defensive player by the end of his tenure, but he’d be far from the first special teams demon to leapfrog starters and slip into the mid-rounds of a CFL draft. The five-foot-11, 215-pounder has strong measurables, chase-down speed that puts D.K. Metcalf to shame, and finishes with good form tackles. That gives the 2023 RSEQ all-star a clearer path onto a roster than most.
Photo courtesy: Montreal Carabins
9) Charles-Elliot Bouliane, Université de Montréal (Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que.)
A stocky five-foot-11, 229-pound backer, Bouliane is technically the least productive of the three Carabins players to appear on this list, but he’s secured the most accolades thanks to his special teams ability, earning two RSEQ all-star nods and an All-Canadian selection in 2023. He flies when coming downhill, with the strength to disengage blocks despite his shorter arms, but also showed good enough feet to be a valuable package player on two Vanier Cup-winning defences.
10) Josh Connors, Wilfrid Laurier University (Scarborough, Ont.)
Pound for pound, I think Connors is the most underrated player in this year’s draft. An exceptional linebacker at St. FX with quick feet and beautifully low pads, he earned AUS all-star honours in 2023, but he was forced to sit out in 2024 while transferring. The five-foot-11, 218-pounder didn’t get the full benefit of the jump in competition because he suffered a hand injury in 2025 that caused him to miss time and play with a club. He was still incredibly effective on special teams, though, chasing down kicks like his hair was on fire.
11) Jaxxon Brashear, University of Ottawa (Quebec City, Que.)
The son of longtime NHL enforcer Donald Brashear, Jaxxon has transformed from a cornerback when he first committed to the Gee-Gees into a six-foot-one, 227-pound linebacker. That build is everything you want and, just like his dad, Brashear isn’t afraid to whallop somebody, but the OUA all-star does not move fluidly and struggles to sort through traffic, which limits his overall value. He’ll have to carry on the family tradition of doing the dirty work to make a roster.
12) Benjamin Dobson, University of Calgary (Cochrane, Alta.)
Dobson doesn’t blow you away in any one area, but he’s got solid athletic measurables across the board, good closing speed, and a special teams body type at six-foot and 207 pounds. He’s a reliable tackler who finishes forcefully when he wants to and takes on blocks better than most smaller backers despite having relatively short arms.
Photo courtesy: York Athletics
13) Brody Clark, York University (Delta, B.C.)
Clark is a challenging evaluation due to the small sample size, as he saw action in just 11 U Sports games after beginning his career in the CJFL and suffering a wrist injury last season. The explosion and bend that he demonstrated in testing shines through on film, as the second-team OUA all-star plays with a hair trigger and is able to dip under blockers. However, even after beefing his body up to six-foot and 217 pounds, there are strength concerns when it comes to getting off the blocks he can’t beat.
14) Chase Henning, University of British Columbia (Salmon Arm, B.C.)
Henning was a second-team All-Canadian as a special teams player in 2024 and has the proven straight-line speed to get down the field on kickoff or punt. He’s got a solid build at six-foot and 207 pounds, but has sub-30-inch arms — short even in a group of linebackers without much length. That’s a concern for a player whose entire value is disengaging from blocks.
15) Mohamed Elshal, Université de Montréal (Tanta, Egypt)
It is unclear why Elshal elected not to attend the Invitational Combine after receiving an invite, but he is still hoping to compete at the next level. The six-foot-five, 220-pound Egyptian is the largest player in this group and was an impactful starter at middle linebacker for the Carabins, laying the lumber and occasionally getting into passing lanes. He isn’t a particularly fluid athlete, though, and is stiff to the point where his height becomes a detriment.
16) Olivier Ruest, Université Laval (Quebec City, Que.)
A strong special teamer for the Rouge et Or who did very limited work on defence, Ruest has some promising measurables, gets down the field first, and isn’t afraid to lower the boom. A transfer from Western, the five-foot-11, 216-pounder has played for two of Canada’s premier football programs and owns Yates Cup, Dunsmore Cup, and Vanier Cup rings.
Photo courtesy: Guelph Gryphons
17) Yunus Larry, University of Guelph (Hamilton, Ont.)
Yunus’ testing measurables look like they came from two different players: one who is long-limbed with explosive power and another who struggles to move with any type of burst. He can be a liability in space and would be better suited to playing on the line of scrimmage, where he can set the edge with his length, strength, and powerful hips, but good luck selling teams on a five-foot-11, 221-pound defensive end who doesn’t turn the corner well.
18) Colin McKellar, University of Regina (Vancouver, B.C.)
At six-foot and 218 pounds, McKellar claimed the title of the strongest linebacker available with 29 bench press reps at the Invitational Combine. He’s got decent movement skills to go with that raw power, particularly when moving laterally, but has never been a game-changer on the Rams’ defence. His ceiling is as a back-of-the-roster special teamer.
19) Jason Briones, Presbyterian College (Toronto, Ont.)
Briones posted disappointing testing results at the Invitational Combine that likely take him out of contention, but he was once an all-conference JUCO player and has a proven track record of special teams production in the FCS. The five-foot-10, 225-pounder will grind blocks to get to the ball, even if it takes him longer than most.
20) Dillon Schobourgh, Morehead State University (Toronto, Ont.)
Few Division I starters come through the draft with the level of production that Schobourgh has been able to achieve the last two years at Morehead State, but missed tackles plague his tape. At under five-foot-10 and 220 pounds, he has both disqualifying size and athletic ability for the CFL level despite two years as an established FCS player.
