CFL Draft rankings move Mitchell to No. 1

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/04/2011 (5356 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s hardly a draft bible that anyone in the CFL adheres to or follows religiously.

But the draft guide the CFL Scouting Bureau releases every few months does provide a hint as to who might — big emphasis on MIGHT – be moving up and down the rankings. And, of course, this is of particular interest to Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans since the locals actually hold the first pick for the first time since leather helmets (1975, actually).

Not surprisingly, Rice offensive tackle Scott Mitchell has moved into the top spot in the rankings, replacing Baylor guard Phillip Blake, who fell to four. Mitchell participated in the CFL’s E-Camp in Toronto in early March and while he didn’t wow anybody with his strength (he did 18 reps on the bench; so-so for an O-lineman) he did impress with his footwork and his willingness to take reps at tackle, guard and centre. Blake, meanwhile, is heading back to university in the fall and is on the NFL radar screen for 2012 and that undoubtedly affected his ranking.

Calgary slotback Anthony Parker moved into the second spot, up from third, while St. Francis-Xavier linebacker Henoc Muamba moved up from 10th overall to third, followed by Blake, Tulsa O-lineman Tyler Holmes, defensive lineman Vaughn Martin (who is already in the NFL with San Diego), Calgary receiver Nathan Coehoorn, Alberta kicker Hugh O’Neill, Harvard receiver Marco Iannuzzi and Connecticut O-lineman Moe Petrus.

Winnipeg picks first and fourth in the first round and while they are keeping their cards close to their vest, we do know they speak highly of Mitchell and have interviewed/worked out Muamba, Coehoorn and Iannuzzi.

The complete list of the CFL Scouting Bureau’s Top 15.

–Ed Tait