Canadians to watch in NCAA football: Rourke, Ayomanor look to shine

Two familiar names highlight the list of Canadians to watch in NCAA football this season.

However, Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke and Stanford wide receiver Elic Ayomanor both will be adjusting to major changes this season.

Rourke, the younger brother of B.C. Lions QB Nathan Rourke, has transferred to Indiana from Ohio of the Mid-American Conference. The Canadian is expected to start on a far bigger Big Ten stage for the Hoosiers.

Meanwhile, Ayomanor's Cardinal will compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference as the Pac-12 no longer has full league status.

Both players have NFL aspirations, along with several other promising Canadians in the NCAA ranks.

"In terms of U.S. schools getting their eyes on these kids, there are so many more Canadian kids getting U.S. high school opportunities," Calgary Stampeders CFL Draft co-ordinator Dwayne Cameron said in an interview. "So when U.S. (college) scouts are looking at these kids, they don't really care that they're Canadian at that point of time because they're seeing them competing against U.S. kids. They don't have to project 'do I think this kid can really play down here?' They can already tell based on the competition they going against on a week-to-week basis."

Montreal Alouettes assistant general manager Pier-Yves Lavergne has similar thoughts.

"At this point, they don't care where you're from," he said. "They just want the best football players."

We enlisted the help of Cameron and Lavergne to assess some of the top Canadians ahead of the first full week of the NCAA season, which kicks off Thursday.

Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke (senior, Oakville, Ont.)

Like brother Nathan, Rourke started his NCAA career at Ohio. But unlike Nathan, he'll finish elsewhere. Rourke is expected to become just the third Canadian to start at QB in Power 5 (now Power 4) conference play since 2000.

Curt Cignetti, who previously guided a rising James Madison program, is the new Hoosiers coach and has done well with quarterbacks. He'll have his work cut out at Indiana as the Hoosiers are a combined 9-27 the past three years in a brutally tough conference, which features reigning national champ Michigan and Ohio State.

The six-foot-five Kurtis Rourke, voted the top prospect for next year's CFL Draft, should be an upgrade at QB, however.

"He looks very good, he's way bigger than his brother," Lavergne said. "(He transferred) to (increase) his chances of getting in the NFL. It's going to be interesting to see how he transitions from the MAC conference to the Big 10. He's going to be a good one."

Indiana opens at home on Saturday against Florida International.

Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor (redshirt sophomore, Medicine Hat, Alta.)

After sitting out his 2022 freshman season due to injuries, Ayomanor broke out in a big way last year.

The six-foot-two Ayomanor had 62 catches for 1,013 yards for a weak Stanford team, earning the Jon Cornish Trophy as Canadian NCAA player of the year.

The Albertan played his best game against Coach Prime, Deion Sanders, and Colorado, hauling in 13 balls for 294 yards.

Ayomanor is getting buzz as a potentially high NFL Draft pick if he declares next year.

"He's a tremendous talent," Cameron said.

"He's pro ready, He's going to be a direct-to-NFL player. He's a top-15 wide receiver at this point of time. He's probably going to be at least a mid-round NFL draft pick when he chooses to come out."

Like Indiana, Stanford has gone 9-27 the past three years.

Stanford entertains TCU in its season opener on Friday night.

Miami DL Akheem Mesidor (fifth-year redshirt junior, Ottawa)

Mesidor was limited to three games last year before undergoing surgery on both of his feet.

In 2022, after transferring from West Virginia, Mesidor led the Hurricanes with seven sacks.

Coaches and teammates have raved about Mesidor's performance at camp.

If he can prove he's healthy and produce for a top-25 team, the NFL should come calling.

"He's a man amongst boys," Cameron said. "When you watch his film, he just looks different from all the other defensive linemen we're evaluating, in terms of the quickness, the twitchiness. He definitely stands out on film as far as having the explosive get-off and being able to bend and contort himself more than some of the other guys can. He's a guy who has what I would refer to as urgent athleticism."

The Hurricanes get a good test to start with Saturday's opener at Florida against the Gators.

Boise State S Ty Benefield (sophomore, Vancouver)

Benefield started five games as a true freshman and finished the season with 33 tackles, three sacks and an interception.

He saved his best for last, making eight tackles in the L.A. Bowl against UCLA.

Benefield is the son of former CFL star linebacker/defensive end Daved Benefield.

"He can be as good as he wants, and it’s my job as the coach to get him there," defensive co-ordinator Tyler Stockton told the Idaho Statesman. "He has such a high ceiling, and I need to make sure he reaches all of his potential while he’s here."

Boise State, featuring Heisman Trophy contender Ashton Jeanty at running back, is at Georgia Southern on Saturday.

Colorado State DL Nuer Gatkuoth (redshirt sophomore, Edmonton)

Gatkuoth was named to The Athletic's freshman all-American team last season.

He finished with 53 total tackles, including 6.5 for a loss.

Colorado State is at No. 4 Texas on Saturday.

Boston College OL Logan Taylor (redshirt junior, Bridgewater, N.S.)

The six-foot-seven, 308-pound Taylor earned an honourable mention all-ACC spot at left tackle in his first year at Boston College last season after transferring from Virginia.

BC finished 13th in the country in rushing last season.

"Everything we've heard about him is very good," Lavergne said. "If he (declares for the draft next) year, from a CFL point of view, he's going to be in demand. ... It's very hard for a CFL team, and NFL teams to find tackles. I wouldn't be surprised if see him at some point in the NFL."

Boston College is at Florida State on Monday night.

UNLV DB Jett Elad (senior, Mississauga, Ont.)

One of five finalists for the Cornish trophy last year, Elad made 52 tackles in 2023 and returned a fumble 62 yards for a touchdown.

Elad is ranked 11th among prospects for next year's CFL Draft.

Before UNLV, Elad played for Ohio and a junior college in Kansas.

UNLV is at Houston on Saturday.

Utah WR Damien Alford (senior, Montreal)

The six-foot-six Alford transfers from Syracuse, where he had 610 receiving yards on 33 catches last season.

The Utes have been a bowl team the past three years, whereas Syracuse was spinning its wheels before making a coaching change this off-season.

Alford is No. 2 in the 2025 CFL Draft rankings.

Utah hosts Southern Utah on Thursday night.

Eastern Michigan WR Nolan Ulm (senior, Kelowna, B.C.)

Ulm was second on the team with 564 receiving yards last season.

He is sixth in the 2025 CFL Draft rankings.

Eastern Michigan is at UMass on Saturday.

Other Canadians to watch

LSU DL Paris Shand (senior, Toronto)

BYU DL Isaiah Bagnah (redshirt senior, Lethbridge, Alta.)

Rutgers DL Wesley Bailey (senior, Ottawa)

Louisville DL Rene Konga (senior, Ottawa)

Texas Tech DB Devynn Cromwell (senior, Toronto)

Arkansas State DL Nate Martey (senior, Ottawa)

Coastal Carolina WR Malick Meiga (senior, Saint-Jerome, Que.)

Team to watch

Rutgers has seven Canadians on the roster.

The New Jersey-based Scarlet Knights, who play in the Big Ten, open at home against Howard on Thursday.