The end of the 2024 CFL regular season is fast approaching, which means it is time to turn our attention to year-end awards.
Last week, the league unveiled a list of 128 players eligible to receive votes for Most Outstanding Rookie. It is a compelling list of first-year players without prior CFL or NFL experience, several of whom will have an argument to take home the hardware.
With All-CFL selections right around the corner, here is an amuse-bouche honouring the best rookies at every position this season.
Quarterback: Harrison Frost, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
After a 2023 season where several rookie quarterbacks had compelling campaigns, things have returned to normal with not a single start made by a first-year player in 2024. Some would lean toward Terry Wilson Jr. and his trio of short-yardage touchdowns at this spot, but Frost had the only notable passing performance among rookies when he went eight-of-12 for 95 yards and a touchdown in Week 11. Even though he has since lost his roster spot in favour of a rarely-used rushing package for fellow rookie Taulia Tagovailoa, I’d trust Frost to start over any other candidate.
Honourable mention: Terry Wilson Jr., WPG
Running back: Justin Rankin, Edmonton Elks
Both Rankin and Hamilton’s Greg Bell have had tremendous debut campaigns, but the former Indoor Football League star has been a true revelation since stepping into the Elks’ backfield. Through 10 games, he is averaging a league-leading 8.3 yards per carry, rushing for 717 yards and four majors. Only Brady Oliveira has produced more 100-yard games, making you wonder what Rankin could have accomplished with the benefit of a full season.
Honourable mention: Greg Bell, HAM
Fullback/Tight end: Jevoni Robinson, Hamilton Tiger-Cats**
The only thing crazier than Scott Milanovich wanting to bring tight ends back to the CFL is that the best solution turned out to be a six-foot-eight Jamaican basketball player. At 31 years old, Robinson has become a viable part of Hamilton’s offence and will go down in history as the first Global player to record a receiving touchdown. In 14 games, he has caught 18 passes for 182 yards and two scores.
Honourable mention: Clint Ratkovich, SSK
Receivers: Shemar Bridges, Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Ontaria Wilson Jr., Winnipeg Blue Bombers | Makai Polk, Toronto Argonauts | Charleston Rambo, Montreal Alouettes | Kalil Pimpleton, Ottawa Redblacks
2024 has been the year of the rookie receiver, with four newcomers expected to finish among the top 20 in the CFL. Bridges was a high-volume, chain-moving machine for the Ticats prior to his season-ending injury, finishing with 83 catches for 933 yards and four touchdowns. Wilson will undoubtedly lead the pack with 943 yards with one game remaining and is the most lethal deep threat with an average of 15 yards per catch. Polk and Rambo have quietly become top-tier starters with 798 and 773 yards respectively to this point. Meanwhile, Pimpleton has averaged 72 yards receiving across his five appearances and is already on the shortlist for the league’s most explosive playmaker.
Honourable mentions: Dohnte Meyers, SSK | Cam Echols, CGY | Kevens Clercius, WPG* | Ajou Ajou, SSK* | Keric Wheatfall, WPG | Nick Mardner, OTT *
Offensive linemen: Trevor Reid, Saskatchewan Roughriders | Josh Donovan, Montreal Alouettes | Brendan Bordner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Christy Nkanu, Calgary Stampeders* | Anthony Vandal, Toronto Argonauts*
This year’s best rookie offensive linemen aren’t equally spread across the five positions but it would have been a tragedy if all three of the league’s outstanding first-year tackles weren’t recognized. Reid (17 starts) and Bordner (14 starts) have proven they can be long-term stalwarts at left tackle, while Donovan (16 starts) has been holding it down on the right side for the Alouettes’ elite unit. Nkanu has lived up to billing as Calgary’s first-round pick by making nine starts at guard, while Vandal has stepped in seamlessly for eight starts on Toronto’s league-best o-line despite being Mr. Irrelevant in the 2023 CFL Draft.
Honourable mentions: Quinton Barrow, HAM | Nick Jones, SSK | Kendall Randolph, WPG | Jacob Brammer, SSK | Kory Woodruff, BC
Defensive linemen: Derek Parish, Toronto Argonauts | Noah Taylor, Edmonton Elks | Ralph Holley, Toronto Argonauts | Jamal Woods, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Argonauts have the best defensive line in the CFL, buoyed by a pair of rookies with deceptive resumes. Defensive tackle Ralph Holley may be tied for the CFL lead with seven sacks but he’s arguably much more elite as a run defender, while the four sacks collected by Derek Parish off the edge don’t do justice to his quality of play this year. In Winnipeg, Devin Adams has put up gaudier numbers in fewer games, but Jamal Woods has done the dirty work as a full-season starter at defensive tackle. Noah Taylor played just seven games for the Elks before getting hurt but showed some exciting flashes with 12 tackles and two sacks.
Honourable mentions: Clarence Hicks, CGY | Antonio Moultrie, MTL | Devin Adams, WPG | Jonah Tavai, BC | Charles Wiley, CGY | Jordan Williams, TOR |Trevon Mason, HAM | Justin Sambu, CGY*
Linebackers: Nick Anderson, Edmonton Elks | Ayinde Eley, B.C. Lions | Bryce Cosby, Montreal Alouettes
It has long felt like a foregone conclusion that one of the prolific receivers would win Most Outstanding Rookie, but can somebody please give Anderson some love? The Tulane product trails only Tyrice Beverette when it comes to defensive plays made this season and is now over 100 tackles with a game still to play. Over in B.C., ‘Ace’ Eley has stepped in admirably for the injured Josh Woods and will force some interesting offseason decisions after his 60-tackle campaign. Cosby has been the only rookie to spend considerable time at strong-side linebacker, racking up 55 defensive tackles, nine special teams tackles, a sack and two interceptions.
Honourable mentions: C.J. Avery, SSK | Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, MTL* | Ryan Baker, HAM* | Michael Ayers, WPG | Isaac Darkangelo, TOR
Defensive backs: Bentlee Sanders, Calgary Stampeders | Destin Talbert, Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Kordell Jackson Jr., Edmonton Elks | Devodric Bynum, Edmonton Elks | Tyler Richardson, Calgary Stampeders
It’s been a rough year for the province of Alberta in the CFL but they are heavily represented among the rookie DBs. For Calgary, Bentlee Sanders has done quality work at safety in his first season, while Tyler Richardson has pinch-hit with five starts at cornerback. That pales in comparison to the dynamic duo in Edmonton, where halfback Kordell Jackson has made four interceptions and cornerback Devodric Bynum has added five of his own. Halfback Destin Talbert is the lone representative from outside of Wild Rose Country, putting up 55 defensive tackles for the Ticat defence.
Honourable mentions: Ronald Kent Jr., BC | Ben Labrosse, CGY* |Robert Panabaker, HAM* | Cristophe Beaulieu, BC* | Mark Milton, TOR
Specialist: Nik Constantinou, Hamilton Tiger-Cats**
It is slim pickings among rookie specialists but the only viable selection is also a worthy one. Constantinou is fourth in the CFL with a net punting average of 36.7 yards, while also averaging 47.6 yards gross. The Aussie has hit five punts inside the ten and recorded six singles.
Honourable mention: Simon Chaves, TOR* | Carl-Heinrich Meyer, BC**
The post Presenting the 2024 CFL All-Rookie team appeared first on 3DownNation.
