We rank the Top 10 Canadian Football League futures currently competing in Division 1 of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
These players are currently active or participated in FBS college football during the 2025 season. Rankings are based on comprehensive scouting evaluations, projected CFL scheme fit, probable availability based on NFL opportunities, and forecasted performance potential should they transition to the CFL.
| 1 | QB |
Diego Pavia
|
Vanderbilt |
| 2 | WR | Chase Roberts | BYU |
| 3 | WR | Dillon Bell | Georgia |
| 4 | LB | Mac Harris III | USF |
| 5 | DB | Nick Anderson | Wake Forest |
| 6 | QB |
Joey Aguilar
|
Tennessee |
| 7 | RB | Ismail Mahdi | Arizona |
| 8 | LB | Jackson Kuwatch | Miami(Ohio) |
| 9 | T | Ethan Onianwa | Ohio St |
| 10 | DE | Daniel Rickert | Virginia |
1. Diego Pavia QB
Height / Weight: 5’10” / 209 lbs
College: Vanderbilt Commodores
- Best suited for a spread offense that allows for improvisation.
- Above-average accuracy when throwing on the move.
- Profiles as a change-of-pace quarterback.
- Well-built with the durability to absorb contact; strong leadership traits.
- Limited deep-ball effectiveness, but has outstanding completion rate on intermediate throws.
- Productive runner, though lacking top-end speed.
3DF Scout: “With the way NFL teams are now developing quarterbacks, he could be selected late in the draft with the expectation that he improves his processing and consistency. He’s a competitor who will likely carry a chip on his shoulder throughout his career, and could eventually arrive in the CFL with something to prove. Sound familiar to another undersized quarterback with limited arm strength?—- Love him or hate him, I see him as a future CFL quarterback who simply finds ways to win games. The real question is how long it will take before he gets that opportunity.”
Player Comparison: CFL path comparable to “you know who,” with the on-field upside of a quarterback who can lead his team to championships and contend for MOP honors.
2. Chase Roberts WR
Height / Weight: 6’3” / 206 lbs
College: Brigham Young Cougars
- Lived in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 2019–2021 while serving an LDS mission.
- Highly productive and reliable chain-mover with outstanding hands.
- Possesses great size, though not a burner; plays faster than his timed speed suggests.
- Uses frame and technique effectively to beat defenders and excels at contested catches.
- Runs excellent intermediate routes and is nearly impossible to cover in that area of the field.
- Needs improvement on deep routes, particularly in locating the ball and refining positioning.
3DF Scout: “There’s something about BYU and its receivers. Ben Cahoon—a BYU Cougars football alum who went on to a Hall of Fame CFL career—illustrates the kind of potential Chase Roberts possesses. These receivers may not post elite testing numbers, but they consistently produce. Like Cahoon, Roberts wins with elite hands and efficiency. He understands situational football—the timing, spacing, and intent behind each route—an instinctive trait that can’t be coached. He simply has it. He will draw NFL draft interest, and if so, that would likely come at the CFL’s expense. ”
Player Comparison: Ben Cahoon with better measurables.
3. Dillon Bell WR
Height / Weight: 6’0” / 212 lbs
College: Georgia Bulldogs
- Explosive receiver with a running back–type frame.
- Excels in motion-based, CFL-style mismatch concepts (end-arounds, sweeps)
- Physical throughout the route and after the catch; difficult to bring down
- Has yet to reach his full potential as a receiver
3DF Scout: “I’ve been a Dillon Bell fan since watching him play high school football in Houston. The very traits that drive his success are also why he’s often undervalued and underutilized as a true volume receiver. He projects to be highly effective in a creative offensive system that manufactures touches and maximizes his versatility. At times, he can take over a game—and that’s the level of impact I expect from him in the CFL.”
Player Comparison: Nic Lewis
4. Mac Harris III LB
Height / Weight: 6’0” / 232 lbs
College: South Florida Bulls
- Converted linebacker; originally recruited as a defensive back.
- Highly productive, including a triple-digit tackle season with consistent impact plays.
- Relentless pursuit defender who is consistently around the football.
- Elite blitz ability with strong timing; regularly creates disruption and finishes plays.
- Highly physical player; an outstanding and reliable tackler.
- Capable in coverage; can carry receivers downfield with ball-hawking instincts.
3DF Scout: “I’ve followed his entire career at USF since recruiting him myself under unusual circumstances. I’m a believer in him—he brings high-end character, and his skill set aligns well with what selective CFL defensive coordinators look for. He has the potential to be elite in key areas while remaining a disruptive, high-impact presence overall. His versatility—being moved around the defense and tracking ball carriers sideline to sideline—consistently creates issues for opposing offenses.”
Player Comparison: Wynton McManis
5. Nick Anderson ROVER
Height / Weight: 5’11” / 198 lbs
College: Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- His game is defined by physicality, effort, and a strong commitment to stopping the run.
- Plays with clear intent and aggression at the line of scrimmage.
- Effective underneath with solid coverage skills and reliable tackling ability.
- High-character player with strong locker room presence and natural likeability.
- Can also be utilized effectively as a special teams returner.
3DF Scout: “A decision needs to be made between playing safety or linebacker. Nick is at his best when the field is condensed, with defined responsibilities in blitz packages, run support, or attacking underneath routes. I am confident his strengths will earn him time in the NFL on special teams, and ideally the CFL will become a viable option where he can develop into a strong contributor, which would be an excellent outcome.”
Player Comparison: Brandon Dozier–type hybrid defender, though Nick is more effective when deployed near the line of scrimmage rather than in deeper coverage roles.
6. Joey Aguilar QB
Height / Weight: 6’3” / 224 lbs
College: Tennessee Volunteers
- Transfer quarterback who surprised critics with an exceptional start at Tennessee in 2025.
- His top wide receiver is Chris Brazzell II, whose father, Chris, played wide receiver in the CFL.
- Displays effective pocket awareness and confidence when extending plays with his mobility.
- Best suited for a pass-heavy spread offense.
- Excels in rhythm passing; climbs the pocket well and uses his strong frame to absorb contact.
3DF Scout: “Used the transfer portal to establish himself in 2025 after a controversial offseason for Tennessee’s quarterbacks. He got off to a strong start and emerged as the team’s leader at the position. Primarily a thrower, he’s often labeled a system QB under Josh Heupel, but he has the skill set and competitiveness to compete at the next level. His profile projects especially well to the CFL, where the rules could help maximize his effectiveness.”
Player Comparison: Anthony Calvillo and Ricky Ray both succeeded through accuracy, timing, quick diagnosis, and an exceptionally high level of field awareness. Joey’s best-case scenario is to leverage those same strengths while adapting to the CFL game and developing into an elite quarterback.
7. Ismail Mahdi RB
Height / Weight: 5’9” / 182 lbs
College: Arizona Wildcats
- Born in a refugee camp in Kenya and raised in Texas, where he played football at Plano East.
- Explosive in open space and capable of being unstoppable when he gets into the secondary.
- Also a threat out of the backfield with exceptional hands, dangerous on screens and simple checkdowns.
- Has a physical edge, but primarily wins by making defenders miss through elusiveness.
- Projects as a CFL receiver weapon, particularly in motion-based route concepts that maximize his space ability.
3DF Scout: “Scouted Ismail myself in H.S and was known then to be highly intelligent, mature, and well-respected teammate. He is an exceptional talent who, when given the ball, can simply be allowed to do his thing. He is not a player who will grind out yards for four quarters, but rather a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. There is an NFL pathway, which could impact his CFL availability. However, he is too talented not to be closely monitored for a potential CFL arrival.”
Player Comparison: A blend of Archie Amerson and Charles Roberts.
8. Jackson Kuwatch LB
Height / Weight: 6’4” / 230 lbs
College: Miami (Ohio) RedHawks
- Transferred from Ohio State and had limited playing experience prior to the 2025 season.
- Possesses great size and demonstrates solid tackling ability.
- Shows a strong ability to read and react, getting underneath blockers to make tackles.
- Plays with high effort and relentless pursuit.
3DF Scout: “Many scouts are undervaluing Jackson, which could work to the CFL’s advantage. He rarely looks out of place, even when going up against elite talent at Ohio State in practice. He has the potential to be a tackling machine at the next level, and with more experience in coverage, there’s little doubt he can develop that aspect of his game. If he were Canadian, he would be more widely recognized by CFL scouts. ”
Player Comparison: CFL All-Star that leads the league in tackles.
9. Ethan Onianwa OL
Height / Weight: 6’6” / 334 lbs
College: Ohio State Buckeyes
- Played four seasons at Rice University before transferring to Ohio State in 2025.
- Appeared in all 14 games for Ohio State in 2025.
- Possesses a massive build with long arms.
- Moves defenders in the run game and shows surprisingly good quickness to the point of attack.
- Has experience at both tackle and guard.
3DF Scout: “He appeared in 14 games but was not a starter. In practice, he consistently faced some of the top defensive linemen and held his own. He is a massive mauler in the run game, and I’m confident he can perform well at tackle by holding off CFL pass rushers. He could be the type of diamond in the rough that every team looks for.”
Player Comparison: Potential to develop into a dominant run blocker and Lineman of the Year candidate.
10. Daniel Rickert LB
Height / Weight: 6’2” / 234 lbs
College: Virginia Cavaliers
- Transferred from Tennessee Tech and played one season at Virginia.
- Consistently works through contact and remains active in plays.
- Displays relentless effort that translates pressures into sacks.
- Can line up at defensive end and also has the size to play linebacker.
- Performed well in 2025 against NFL-caliber offensive lines.
3DF Scout: “Looking at his stats and watching his games, the two don’t always align. His effort in getting into the backfield disrupts opponents so effectively that it allows his teammates to succeed and produce the numbers that don’t directly reflect his impact. Virginia had a strong defensive season, and he was a major reason for that success. He may have what it takes to transition and excel at linebacker.”
Player Comparison: Adam Bighill, who is capable of playing both linebacker and defensive end.