B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke tops TSN Top 50 CFL players list for 2026

Photo courtesy: Jeff Vinnick/B.C. Lions

Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke has been named the CFL’s top player entering the 2026 season, according to TSN Top 50 voters.

The 28-year-old native of Victoria, B.C., threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts in 2025, his first full year in the CFL since 2022. The dual-threat passer also rushed 61 times for 564 yards and 10 scores, finishing the season as the league’s eighth-leading rusher.

Rourke went 11-5 as a starter, leading the Lions to a second-place finish in the West Division, and was named All-CFL. He took home the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian Award for the second time in his career, while becoming the first Canadian quarterback since 1969 to win Most Outstanding Player.

Multiple 3DownNation contributors completed ballots for the voting, which was conducted by members of the national media. Voters selected 40 players each, meeting certain positional quotas. Only players currently under CFL contract were eligible.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders led the way with nine players on the list, including quarterback Trevor Harris at number eight. Both the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Redblacks had three selections each.

24 players appeared on the list this year after being entirely absent in 2025, including three members of the top 10. B.C. receiver Keon Hatcher and Saskatchewan offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick return to the list this year, while Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander appears for the first time in his career.

The top-ranked player from 2025 to miss this year’s list was Winnipeg defensive end Willie Jefferson, who fell from the 12th spot. Other notable players to fall out of the list were Toronto offensive lineman Ryan Hunter, Ottawa receiver Eugene Lewis, and Winnipeg receiver Tim White.

The full TSN Top 50 list can be found below. Rankings from 2025 can be seen in the brackets.

1) QB Nathan Rourke, B.C. Lions (7)

2) QB Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3)

3) REC Kenny Lawler, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (14)

4) DL Mathieu Betts, B.C. Lions (31)

5) REC Keon Hatcher, B.C. Lions (NR)

6) LB Tyrice Beverette, Montreal Alouettes (4)

7) RB Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1)

8) QB Trevor Harris, Saskatchewan Roughriders (24)

9) QB Davis Alexander, Montreal Alouettes (NR)

10) OL Jermarcus Hardrick, Saskatchewan Roughriders (NR)

11) RB Dedrick Mills, Calgary Stampeders (NR)

12) REC Justin McInnis, B.C. Lions (6)

13) OL Jarell Broxton, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (NR)

14) DB Rolan Milligan Jr., Saskatchewan Roughriders (2)

15) RB Justin Rankin, Edmonton Elks (NR)

16) QB Vernon Adams Jr., Calgary Stampeders (8)

17) DB Tevaughn Campbell, Saskatchewan Roughriders (NR)

18) LB Wynton McManis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5)

19) REC Samuel Emilus, Saskatchewan Roughriders (NR)

20) DL Julian Howsare, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (NR)

21) LB Jameer Thurman, Saskatchewan Roughriders (43)

22) REC KeeSean Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders (NR)

23) DL Malik Carney, Edmonton Elks (NR)

24) QB Chad Kelly, Toronto Argonauts (11)

25) DL Clarence Hicks, Calgary Stampeders (NR)

26) REC Tyson Philpot, Montreal Alouettes (26)

27) DB Stavros Katsantonis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (NR)

28) OL Brandon Revenberg, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (35)

29) QB Zach Collaros, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10)

30) DL Folarin Orimolade, Calgary Stampeders (21)

31) SAM Adarius Pickett, Toronto Argonauts (15)

32) DB Jamal Peters, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (49)

33) RB James Butler, B.C. Lions (NR)

34) OL Logan Ferland, Saskatchewan Roughriders (37)

35) LB Darnell Sankey, B.C. Lions (40)

36) DL Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, Montreal Alouettes (NR)

37) RB A.J. Ouellette, Saskatchewan Roughriders (NR)

38) SAM C.J. Reavis, Ottawa Redblacks (44)

39) DB Evan Holm, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (NR)

40) DL Jake Ceresna, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (13)

41) REC Tyler Snead, Montreal Alouettes (NR)

42) LB A.J. Allen, Ottawa Redblacks (NR)

43) REC Damonte Coxie, Toronto Argonauts (NR)

44) DB Tyrell Ford, Edmonton Elks (9)

45) REC Nic Demski, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (NR)

46) RET/DB Trey Vaval, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (NR)

47) OL Pier-Olivier Lestage, Montreal Alouettes (50)

48) DB Adrian Greene, Calgary Stampeders (NR)

49) OL Coulter Woodmansey, Edmonton Elks (NR)

50) REC Justin Hardy, Ottawa Redblacks (18)