Five 2025 CFL Draft Picks To Watch: Elite Athletes

With each offseason comes a new draft class, and each year, some players should pique the curiosity of CFL fans. This draft class has some of the best athletes we have seen in one draft class collectively in recent memory.

From prototypical pass rushers to promising young pass catchers, this class has a solid mix of elite-level athletes at the CFL level, as well as players whose production overshadowed their measurables. In this article, we will look at five of the most impressive athletes from the 2025 CFL Draft Class.

Table of Contents

1 2025 CFL Draft: 1st Overall Selection Damien Alford, WR 6’6 224 lbs

2025 CFL Draft: 1st Overall Selection Damien Alford, WR 6’6 224 lbs

The 2025 draft class started on a high note regarding impressive athletes when the Calgary Stampeders selected Damien Alford. Alford is a 6 foot six, 224-pound wide receiver who ran a 4.46 40-yard dash at his pro day. Despite his size, his three cone drill was in the low seven second range. His vertical leap was not quite as impressive at 32 inches. However he was able to put up 11 reps on the bench press.

Alford was selected this high primarily due to his potential as an athlete. Looking back at the final season of his college career, he played in four games did not record a single reception for the university of Utah. This undoubtedly cratered his stock in the NFL draft.

Through four seasons at Syracuse University, Alford racked up 167 receptions for 1297 yards and seven touchdowns. The hope was with one strong season at Utah he would’ve worked his way into being an NFL draft pick.

Unfortunately for Alford, his time at Utah did more damage than good, in my opinion. He was invited to the Chiefs’ rookie mini camp but ultimately did not stick with the team. However, with his size and speed, this is likely not his last NFL opportunity. One strong season in the CFL could change the entire outlook on him from the NFL.

2025 CFL Draft: 2nd Overall Selection Devin Veresuk, LB, 6’2 230 lbs

This is going to sound like a cop out answer, given that I am now pointing out the second overall pick in the draft as well, but the next name on this list is Devin Veresuk.

Veresuk was a longshot pick by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Not because he doesn’t belong, but because his athletic profile projects well to the NFL.

Veresuk competed at the University of Buffalo Pro Day with over 20 NFL teams in attendance. He impressed running a 4.47 40-yard dash, 4.47 short shuttle, 7.19 3-cone drill, 36-inch vertical, and 27 reps of 225 pounds. Weighing in at 6’2 232 pounds, Veresuk is a prototypical NFL athlete at linebacker. The fact that he signed with Hamilton so quickly is a huge win for the Ti-Cats.

2025 CFL Draft: 42nd Overall Selection Eric Cumberbatch, 6’2 195 lbs

The Redblacks took a flier on a player who had a very realistic chance of making it on an NFL roster. Attending New Orleans Saints rookie minicamp, Eric Cumberbatch as a defensive back checks nearly every box a scouting department could have from a CFL perspective:

Height? 6’2 3/8…Check

Weight? 202 pounds…Check

Speed: 4.51 40-yard dash…Check

Agility: 7.12 3-cone drill…Check

Strength: 14 reps…Check

Ability to High Point: 39 inch vertical…Check

Cumberbatch is the CFL equivalent of a Create-A-Player type prospect. A prototypical player for his position group who looks to have all the athletic potential in the world. He has players like Alonzo Addae, Justin Howell, and Ardarius Pickett to learn from, as well as former longtime professional defensive backs Myron Lewis and William Fields in the coaching staff.

Cumberbatch is very similar in the way he was used with the University of Ottawa, as the way we have seen Ardarius Pickett and Bennett Williams used for the Redblacks. At times he lined up as a strong side linebacker, other times he was utilized as a halfback, he even saw snaps out wide as a cornerback. Cumberbatch could turn out to be a defensive weapon long term in Ottawa, not far from he became a star for the Gee Gees.

2025 CFL Draft: 62nd Overall Selection Jonathan Senecal, QB 6’0 201 lbs

Montreal selected a player in round 7 who brings some high level tools to the table. Jonathan Senecal is a local prospect who attended the University of Montreal. At one point Senecal had committed to UConn, but after the 2020 season was cancelled he opted to stay in Canada with Montreal.

He would go on to win the Vanier Cup MVP in 2023 after a victory that saw him finish 16 of 17 for 170 yards, and 1 interception, with 6 carries for 53 yards and 1 touchdown. What makes Senecal so intriguing at the next level as a developmental prospect is his athleticism.

At the CFL Combine, Senecal ran a 4.68 40-yard dash, a 34.5-inch vertical leap, and a 7.14 3-cone drill. Senecal produced over 800 rushing yards in his USports career and could develop into a valuable dual-threat at the next level.

2025 CFL Draft: 20th Overall Selection Anton Haie, DB 5’11 190 lbs

I have said it before, and I will say it again: I like what the Calgary Stampeders did in this draft class. Not only were there two first round picks solid selections, but they selected defensive back Anton Haie, who is worth keeping an eye on. Often times what sets a defensive back apart is change of direction, and Haie has elite change of direction ability.

This skillset was highlighted by his performance at the CFL Combine. He put up the fastest 3-cone drill with a 6.62 second time, he also ran the second fastest short shuttle with a 3.96 second time. He was just one hundredth of a second off the fastest time. This was not the only area that he was among the best performers.

He had the 6th best vertical leap and finished third in the bench press for his position group. Haie is only 5’11 3/8 and 199 pounds, so he won’t win any height contests, but his athletic ability makes up for any “shortcomings” he may have elsewhere. The question marks about Haie revolve around his production during college.

Intriguing Undrafted Free Agents

Opemipo Oshinubi

Oshinubi went undrafted in this year’s draft class, and to this point has not yet signed with a team. Coming in just shy of 6’1 and 219 pounds, Oshinubi led the combine with a 4.41 40-yard dash, and also managed to put up the 5th most reps in the bench press, leading the combine for running backs. He also finished with a 33-inch vertical, a 9 foot 9 inch broad jump, and ran the short shuttle in the 4 second range.

Oshinubi played 7 seasons for the University of Alberta, and was a part of a running back committee. He did not initially see the field with Alberta for two seasons. Finally, in 2021, he saw his first touches and flashed early.

He collected 12 offensive touches for 94 yards, an average of 7.8 yards per touch. He also added value as a kick returner. Each season, he touched the ball more and more, but never seemed to be the bell cow back for the Golden Bears. He finished with just over 1,300 yards on 165 touches. He has the requisite athletic ability to be a star at the next level, but he needs to work on his balance after contact and focus on improving his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.

Maliek Cote-Azore

Cote-Azore led the combine with a 41-inch vertical leap and finished third in the 3-cone drill with a 6.81. At 5’10 183 pounds, he also put up a respectable 40-yard dash at 4.53, good enough for 7th best and 10 foot 10 inches in the broad jump, also good for third in the combine.

Cote-Azore finished in the top ten for nearly every drill, displaying elite level athleticism for the CFL level scoring a 7.8 out of 10 in his relative athletic score. He also participated in a regional combine, before putting up even better numbers on the national stage.

https://x.com/mathbomb/status/1904667832157126786?s=46

Sponsor: Upside

This content and so much more is brought to you by Upside. Upside is a free not strings attached app that will pay you cashback for the purchases you already make. Gas, Groceries, or a Good Meal, with just 3 clicks, you can earn CashBack today at HUNDREDS of locations. Use our code Sam363682 to save an additional 15 cents per gallon on your next fuel purchase. With discounts up to 25 cents per gallon, you could earn 40 cents back per gallon on your first purchase. Again use our code Sam363682 at sign up.

YouTube

Please also help us continue growing on our YouTube Channel by subscribing if you haven’t already. Also like and comment on any videos you enjoy! Thank you for your support and we hope you continue to tune in!