Edit: 3DownNation
There are just three 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. 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, defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs. Make sure to check back tomorrow when we unveil our Top 25 list.
Today, we continue by examining the specialists. While it’s no longer a given that CFL teams employ any Canadians in the kicking game, there are a couple of legs worthy of careful consideration this year. And with a few teams vulnerable at long snapper, that area can’t be ignored, either.
Kicker/Punter
Photo courtesy: Alex Binaei/Windsor Lancers
1) Brady Lidster, University of Windsor (St. Thomas, Ont.)
In the modern age of Global punters, it is primarily Canadian placekickers who have retained their value, and Lidster is the best of the bunch this year, thanks to his leg strength. The first-team All-Canadian has hit at a respectable 75.7 percent clip from distance in his career and has made several from outside of 50 yards, including a 55-yard game-winner in 2024. With the goal posts set to move back in 2027, teams will be on the lookout for distance kickers to develop, and the Lancers’ all-time leading scorer has the ability to handle kickoffs as well, averaging 61.9 yards per kick last year, while also being a passable punter.
2) Michael Horvat, McMaster University (Hamilton, Ont.)
Resumes don’t get much more glamorous than Horvat’s, as his two-tool ability as a kicker and punter has resulted in six total OUA all-star selections and three All-Canadian nods. He’s been very accurate on field goals from inside of 50 yards, hitting on 82.4 percent of his attempts, but his real prowess lies in punting the football. His career average is an exceptional 46.1 gross yards, and he consistently gets over four seconds of hang time, putting his team in good positions with 45 punts placed inside the 20-yard line. In another era, the five-foot-10, 185-pound boomer would have been worth a substantial draft pick, but with so many Aussies available, he’ll have an uphill climb these days.
3) Ryan Harris, Washington State University (Vancouver, B.C.)
A walk-on for the Cougars, Harris committed to transfer to the University of Arizona in January, but has since been quietly added to the draft for reasons that are unclear. The six-foot, 207-pound punter doesn’t have an overwhelming leg, averaging just 40.7 yards in his lone season of play, but will be in consideration due to his success at limiting returns with good hang-time and placement. He’s also got strong kickoff ability, averaging 62.5 yards last year, and may still improve given that he was a regular student just three years ago.
4) Nathan Walker, York University (Bowmanville, Ont.)
When you play for the Lions, you get to practice your punting a whole heck of a lot, and Walker got better by leaps and bounds during his tenure. The second-team OUA all-star saw his average blossom to 45 yards per punt in 2025, and his hang-time at the CFL Specialist Showcase was sensational. While size doesn’t make or break a specialist, his six-foot-four, 210-pound frame is biomechanically advantageous, though he can’t place-kick, unlike other more versatile prospects.
5) Zachary Copeland, University of Ottawa (St. Thomas, Ont.)
The Gee-Gee has put forth a strong rate of production in both kicking roles over the past few years, averaging 42.9 yards per punt and connecting on 73 percent of his field goals with a career-long of 49 yards. Unfortunately, his longer process time in getting the snap to his foot is cause for concern, as he has had four punts blocked and been credited with six fumbles.
6) Joey Sciandra, Carleton University (Montreal, Que.)
If you watched the Panda Game this year, you’ll remember Sciandra as the punter who earned MVP honours amidst a low-scoring contest. His placement can be exemplary at times, as that performance showed, though the six-foot, 215-pounder lacks the pure leg strength of others.
7) Joel Pipke, University of Calgary (Calgary, Alta.)
A second-team All-Canadian punter last season with the Dinos, Pipke has averaged 41.6 yards per kick, but wasn’t among the group that attended the CFL Specialist Showcase this year. That feels like an omission, though he lacks versatility or an overwhelming cannon to unseat a Global boot.
Long snapper
Photo courtesy: U Sports
1) Christopher Liberta, Concordia University (Laval, Que.)
With teams like B.C. and Calgary unproven at the position, look for Liberta to go higher than anticipated. The six-foot-one, 220-pounder may not be in the same tier as a Luke Burton-Krahn from a few years ago, but he’s clearly the best pure snapper available with excellent velocity and placement. The only concern is what happens after the snap, as he is a very limited athlete and looks like he’s jogging through water on the way to cover kicks.
2) Orin Schellenberg, University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alta.)
Schellenberg was one of the best overall physical testers at the CFL Invitational Combine and has chipped in as a receiver for the Golden Bears, catching four career touchdowns. He can get that snap back and still be first downfield to make a tackle, contributing 12 at the U of A, but his narrow five-foot-10, 203-pound frame creates concerns from a blocking standpoint.
3) Conner Franzisi, Western University (Keswick, Ont.)
A lunchpail, effort rushing defensive end with 11 career sacks, Franzisi was a long-snapper at Alabama A&M University early in his career and has continued to do it on the punt team with the Mustangs. The six-foot-one, 239-pounder is closer to the size prototype, but lacks some zip on his ball and hasn’t proven he can snap on field goals.
4) Nicholas Ciriello, Geneva College (Port Colburne, Ont.)
The seventh-most productive linebacker in Division III last season in terms of total tackles, Ciriello was always around the ball and earned second-team all-conference honours. He is not a viable candidate to continue that at the next level due to average athletic measurables and a disqualifyingly small frame, but he does have some snapping ability to fall back on. Even then, teams will be wary of entrusting the five-foot-eight, 214-pounder with any role whatsoever.
5) Cole Weddell, University of Waterloo (Niagara Falls, Ont.)
At six-foot-one and 209 pounds, Weddell is a true snapper who handled no other duties for the Warriors. That specialization should be an advantage, but his accuracy has not been consistent enough to invest in further.
