
WATERLOO, ON – Wilfrid Laurier University men’s football player Godfrey Onyeka of Brampton, Ont., was among the Top 20 Canadian prospects for the 2018 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft as the league’s Scouting Bureau announced the first rankings of the year on Wednesday afternoon.
Onyeka has been named the fourth overall prospect and the top USports player in the first CFL Scouting Bureau List for the 2018 draft. This marks the second consecutive year in which a Laurier player is the top ranked USports athlete in the initial rankings, with Kwaku Boatang opening at sixth overall in 2016.
After helping the Golden Hawks win the Yates Cup in 2016, Onyeka returns to the field as Laurier’s starting defensive back in the 2017 season. With racking up awards such as being named a two-time USports Men’s Football First Team All-Canadian, a two-time OUA Men’s Football First Team All-Star and the 2014 OUA Men’s Football All-Rookie Team, it is no surprise that Onyeka is amongst the top twenty.
NOTES: Making it a family affair, Onyeka’s younger brother Kene Onyeka is ranked eight on the list. Another notable athlete on the list is David Knevel, the brother of Laurier’s quarterback Michael Knevel, who is ranked first.
CFL SCOUTING BUREAU AUGUST 30, 2017 LIST:
Rank Name Pos. University Hometown Ht. Wt.
1. David Knevel OL Nebraska Brampton, Ont. 6-9 315
2. Trey Rutherford OL Connecticut Markham, Ont. 6-5 312
3. Ryan Hunter OL Bowling Green North Bay, Ont. 6-4 325
4. Godfrey Onyeka DB Laurier Brampton, Ont. 6-2 200
5. Darius Ciraco OL Calgary Burlington, Ont. 6-4 295
6. Peter Godber OL Rice Toronto, Ont. 6-3 300
7. Tyrone Pierre REC Laval Ottawa, Ont. 6-3 210
8. Kene Onyeka DL Carleton Brampton, Ont. 6-3 235
9. Regis Cibasu REC Montreal Kinshasa, Congo 6-2 230
10. Julien Laurent DL Georgia State Toronto, Ont. 6-4 295
11. Christopher Amoah RB Laval Montreal, Que. 5-10 206
12. Rashaun Simonise REC Calgary */Okanagan Vancouver, B.C. 6-5 200
13. Andrew Pickett OL Guelph Kitchener, Ont. 6-4 300
14. Dakoda Shepley OL UBC Windsor, Ont. 6-5 295
15. Alex Taylor RB Western Winnipeg, Man. 5-10 205
16. Ryan Sceviour OL Calgary Calgary, Alta. 6-4 305
17. Keiler Cherry OL Acadia Lloydminster, Alta. 6-7 300
18. Jonathan B.-Glaou DL Montreal Lyster, Que. 6-0 227
19. Jackson Bennett DB Ottawa Cumberland, Ont. 6-0 214
20. Nelkas Kwemo LB Queen’s Montreal, Que. 6-3 226