University of Miami defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor sits atop the winter edition of the Canadian Football League Scouting Bureau. The Ottawa native also led the way in the fall edition of the top 20 prospects eligible for selection in the 2026 CFL Draft on April 28.
The CFL Scouting Bureau, comprised of CFL scouts, player personnel directors, and general managers from the league’s nine clubs, releases its rankings three times each year: in the fall, winter and spring.
Mesidor retains the top spot after a fantastic year that was capped off by a three-tackle, two-sack performance in Miami’s CFP national championship loss to Indiana. In 15 games last season, the 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman registered 60 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles, claiming All-ACC First Team honours in the process.
Versatile Boston College offensive lineman Logan Taylor slots in second, just like he did in the fall. The 6-foot-7, 308-pound blocker made 12 starts across the offensive line last season en route to an All-ACC Second Team nod. The Lunenburg, N.S. native also claimed All-ACC honourable mentions in 2023 and 2024 and allowed zero sacks on 364 pass blocking snaps in 2024. Overall, he’s made 46 starts in 49 collegiate games.
Mississippi State offensive lineman Albert Reese IV jumps up to No. 3 on the Scouting Bureau after starting the year at No. 5. The 6-foot-7, 330-pound blocker started in all nine games he played this season after starting in 12 contests in 2024 (10 at right tackle and two at right guard). Reese IV claimed the Kent Hull Trophy, which is awarded to the best offensive lineman in Mississippi. In 2023, the Edmonton native played in all 12 games and didn’t allow a sack in 79 snaps.
At No. 4 is the first of two Louisville defensive linemen, Rene Konga. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound tackle made 11 starts in 12 games in 2025, making 29 tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and six pass breakups while being named to the All-ACC Second Team. The Ottawa native has racked up 63 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and five sacks in 44 collegiate career games.
Rounding out the top five is fellow Louisville defensive lineman, Wesley Bailey. The Ottawa native made 12 starts in 2025, recording 39 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks and five quarterback hurries. In 48 career games, the 6-foot-5, 265-pound defender has collected 110 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 15.5 sacks.
CFL SCOUTING BUREAU: WINTER EDITION
Rank (Previous) | Name | POS | School | Hometown
1 (1) | Akheem Mesidor | DL | Miami | Ottawa
2 (2) | Logan Taylor | OL | Boston College | Lunenburg, N.S.
3 (5) | Albert Reese IV | OL | Mississippi State | Edmonton
4 (7) | Rene Konga | DL | Louisville | Ottawa
5 (3) | Wesley Bailey | DL | Louisville | Ottawa
6 (6) | Jett Elad | DB | Rutgers | Mississauga, Ont.
7 (10) | Dariel Djabome | LB | Rutgers | Longueuil, Que.
8 (–) | Nuer Gatkuoth | DL | Wake Forest | Edmonton
9 (12) | Malcolm Bell | DB | Michigan State | Montreal
10 (16) | Rohan Jones | TE | Arkansas | Montreal
11 (4) | Nick Cenacle | WR | Hawaii | Montreal
12 (13) | Darius Bell | OL | East Carolina | Hamilton, Ont.
13 (18) | Darius McKenzie | LB | South Alabama | Ottawa
14 (8) | Devynn Cromwell | DB | Michigan State | Toronto
15 (–) | Jonathan Denis | OL | Louisiana Tech | Homestead, Fla.
16 (19) | Aamarii Notice | DL | Coastal Carolina | Toronto
17 (9) | Nolan Ulm | WR | Eastern Washington | Kelowna, B.C.
18 (–) | Nate DeMontagnac | WR | North Dakota | Mississauga, Ont.
19 (11) | Giordano Vaccaro | OL | Purdue | Winnipeg, Man.
20 (–) | Émeric Boutin | FB | Laval | L’Assomption, Que.
Overall, 17 schools are represented in the rankings, while Louisville (Konga and Bailey), Rutgers (Elad and Djabome) and Michigan State (Bell and Cromwell) feature multiple players.
Two players in the rankings also began their careers in U Sports. Cromwell (No. 14) played three seasons at the University of Guelph before transferring to Texas Tech and then Michigan State, while Vaccaro (No. 19) spent three years at the University of Manitoba before continuing his career at Purdue.
Five of the eight first-round selections in the 2025 CFL Draft were listed in the winter edition of the 2024 CFL Scouting Bureau.
