Connect with us

CFL News

75+ Players to Follow and Consider for the 2023 CFL All-Star Fan Vote

The All-Star fan voting is now open until October 31. Several players from every team to watch the rest of the season from each team to consider voting for.

With such a wide range of talented players across the CFL, there are many who were not recognized on this list. That is not to say a player not listed does not deserve consideration. I simply cannot list everyone, as much as I would like to. The following are players who have stuck out to me as performing exceptionally well through this season.

Other Articles:
BC Lions vs Winnipeg Week 18 Preview
Predicting the Rest of the CFL Season
Mike Mitchell’s CFL Week 18 Power Rankings
BC Lions (10-4) Week 17 Preview
U Sports Canada West Football: Week 4 Team of the Week
U Sports Canada West Football: 2023 Team Previews
CFL 2nd Period All-Star Team (Weeks 8-14)
CFL Midseason All-Star Team, Awards
First Period CFL and Divisional All-Stars
@JonathanClink on Twitter

Jump to Team:

BC LionsEdmonton ElksCalgary StampedersSaskatchewan RoughridersWinnipeg Blue BombersHamilton Tiger-CatsToronto ArgonautsOttawa RedBlacksMontreal Alouettes

BC Lions

QB Vernon Adams Jr.

Vernon Adams Jr. has thrown for 300 yards or more in 7 of his last 8 games. He became the first CFL quarterback of the season to cross the 4,000-yard passing threshold last week when he threw for over 450 yards last week. He also became the second BC Lion to have 6 300+ yard passing games in a row. The only other BC Lion to accomplish such a feat was Doug Flutie in 1991. Currently, Vernon Adams Jr. is third among quarterbacks in his overall PFF grade behind Chad Kelly and Zach Collaros although he has a higher rushing grade than both of them. Adams Jr. also has 302 rushing yards on 44 rushes and a touchdown.

WR Keon Hatcher

Hatcher leads the league in yards per game with 91.9 receiving yards per game. He has 69 receptions for 1,103 yards and 6 touchdowns in 12 games. Last week he had 148 yards and a touchdown by halftime.

WR Alexander Hollins

Alexander Hollins has been a cornerstone for the BC Lions’ offense. He stepped up having some big games early in the season amidst injuries to other receivers such as Dominique Rhymes, Lucky Whitehead, and Keon Hatcher. Hollins is 10th in the league in receiving yards and 2nd in receiving touchdowns. Hollins has 65 receptions for 1,019 yards and 8 touchdowns over 15 games. Hollins has the 2nd highest overall grade among outside wide receivers by Pro Football Focus.

LT Jarell Broxton

Broxton has the 2nd highest grade among left tackles by PFF at 72. He has a 73.4 run-blocking grade and a 69.9 pass-blocking grade.

MLB Ben Hladik

Hladik is 5th in tackles in the CFL with 82. He also has 5 sacks and an interception. He is currently on a 4 game sack streak. Hladik could become the first Canadian BC Lion to reach 100 tackles in a season and the 4th to do so in the league.

DT Woody Baron

Baron has been named to the PFF Team of the Week 4 times this season. He is second on the team in sacks with 7 and also has 18 tackles and 2 passes defended.

DE Mathieu Betts

Betts has been quarterback-hunting this season. He leads the league with 15 sacks. He is closing in on the Canadian sack record which is set at 17. He is also tied for first in the CFL in forced fumbles with 3. Betts has the third-highest PFF grade among edge defenders with a grade of 76.2. He has a run defense grade of 57.8 and a pass rush grade of 76.2 which is currently the highest grade for an edge rusher in that category.

CB Garry Peters

Peters has 4 interceptions and 41 tackles this season. He is also tied for 2nd in passes defended with 10. Garry Peters has been named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week 5 times so far this season.

S Quincy Mauger

Mauger has been named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week 3 times so far this season which is the 2nd most among safeties next to Marc-Antoine Dequoy for Montreal. Mauger has 37 tackles, 3 sacks, an interception, and 4 passes defended.

K Sean Whyte

Sean Whyte has been the most accurate field goal kicker this season. He has made 41 of his 44 field goals and is 38 of his 39 extra points. He has made 17 of his 18 field goals between 40-49 yards.

Edmonton Elks

QB Tre Ford

Ford has been named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week in weeks 11 and 12. In 7 starts Ford has completed 101 of his 144 passes for 1,345 yards and 9 touchdowns with 4 interceptions. He has also rushed 52 times for 514 yards and 3 touchdowns. While I do not think his body of work constitutes putting him ahead of Vernon Adams Jr. or Zach Collaros he has been an exciting quarterback that has instilled hope in the Edmonton fan base. Ford’s overall PFF grade is currently 5th among quarterbacks.

RB Kevin Brown

Brown is 2nd in rushing yards and is first in yards per carry among starting runningbacks. He has rushed 165 times for 1,022 yards (6.2 average) and 4 touchdowns. He has also caught 25 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown.

WR Eugene Lewis

Eugene Lewis had 31 catches for 592 yards and 3 touchdowns in 9 games. Lewis is 11th in the league in receiving yards per game despite playing for a team that is last in passing yards per game. If Lewis can finish the season with some big performances there may be an argument to be made for him despite the time missed due to injury. Lewis is the 4th highest-graded outside receiver by PFF.

WR Kyran Moore

Moore has 57 receptions for 613 yards and 2 touchdowns over 15 games.

DE Jake Ceresna

Ceresna has been effective at pressuring the quarterback and has generated 10 sacks in addition to his 41 tackles and a forced fumble. He is tied for third in the CFL in sacks with A.C. Leonard and Mike Rose. Ceresna also has the third-highest PFF pass-rush grade among edge defenders.

DE A.C. Leonard

Leonard has 10 sacks, a forced fumble, and 37 tackles over 13 games. Leonard also has 2 receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown which both came on plays with some trickery in which Edmonton faked a QB sneak and had Leonard run out for a pass.

Calgary Stampeders

RB Dedrick Mills

Mills has rushed 134 times for 714 yards and 4 touchdowns over 13 games. He has also caught 20 passes for 120 yards. Mills is 4th in Overall PFF grade and is tied with A.J. Ouellette in rushing grade at 92.2 which is slightly ahead of Brady Oliveira’s 91.8 rushing grade.

WR Reggie Begelton

Begelton has had a massive season for the Stampeders. He has been leaned on heavily by Calgary since the season-ending injury to Malik Henry early in the season. Begelton has 82 receptions for 1,053 yards and 4 touchdowns over 14 games.

DT Mike Rose

Rose has been named to the PFF Team of the Week 5 times. He leads the team with 10 sacks and is tied for third in the league. He also has 21 tackles and a forced fumble over his 12 games.

LB Cameron Judge

Judge has 71 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and a forced fumble over 14 games. Judge is also the third-highest-graded inside linebacker by PFF at this time.

HB Kobe Williams

In 15 games Williams has 35 tackles, a sack, an interception, 2 forced fumbles, and 7 passes defended. Williams is currently the 4th highest-graded halfback by PFF. Calgary has allowed the 2nd fewest passing yards so far this season.

K Rene Paredes

Currently, Paredes has the highest PFF kicking grade. He has made 47 of his 54 field goals and 20 of his 21 extra points. Paredes has made 6 of his 7 field goals from beyond 50.

P Cody Grace

Grace has been named to the PFF Team of the Week 5 Times which is more than any other punter. Cody Grace was also listed at the top spot in the CFL Punter Power Rankings in Between the Goal Posts Week 17 Rankings. He has averaged 48 yards per punt over 101 punts. Grace has 30 punts inside the 20 and 9 punts inside the 10.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

WR Tevin Jones

Jones leads the team in receiving yards and is 8th in the league. He has 65 catches for 882 yards and 3 touchdowns.

WR Samuel Emilus

Emilus has 55 catches for 860 yards and 5 touchdowns. He leads the team in receiving touchdowns and is 9th in receiving yards in the league.

WR Shawn Bane Jr.

Bane Jr. is 10th in the CFL in receiving yards. He has 74 catches for 823 yards and 4 touchdowns.

C Peter Godber

Godber has the 2nd highest PFF grade among centers. He has a 66.8 run-blocking grade and a 76.9 pass-blocking grade so far this season from PFF.

DE Anthony Lanier II

Anthony Lanier II has the 2nd highest PFF Pass Rush Grade among edge defenders. Lanier has 5 sacks in just 8 games as well as 16 tackles. While injuries have largely limited his body of work and likely eliminated him from being realistically involved in the all-star conversation, he has been extremely impactful when playing. In week 9 he was the most impactful defensive player in my opinion when he had 3 QB hurries, 3 sacks, and 2 run stops.

LB Larry Dean

Dean is third in the CFL in tackles with 95. He also has 2 sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, and 4 passes defended. Dean has the 5th highest PFF grade among inside linebackers.

P Adam Korsak

Korsak has punted more than anyone else. He has 103 punts averaging 48.1 yards per punt and has 5 singles scored. He has 24 punts inside the 20 and 9 punts inside the 10. Korsak has the 2nd highest PFF grade among punters.

KR/PR Mario Alford

Alford has returned 76 punts averaging 11.7 yards per return. He has scored 3 touchdowns on punt returns this season.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

QB Zach Collaros

Collaros has the highest QBR in the league as of now. He has 3,738 yards over 14 games with 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Collaros has the 2nd highest PFF overall grade of 90.2 just behind Chad Kelly at 90.3.

RB Brady Oliveira

Oliveira leads the league with 1,359 rushing yards with 6 touchdowns and has averaged 6 yards per carry. He also has 380 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns over 29 receptions. Oliveira is the 2nd highest-graded running back with an 87.1 overall grade from PFF trailing only A.J. Ouellette who has a 90.2 grade.

WR Dalton Schoen

Last year’s CFL rookie of the year is currently leading the league in receiving yards and touchdowns. He has 66 catches for 1,136 yards and 10 touchdowns over 15 games. Schoen has the 2nd highest overall grade from PFF among slot receivers.

WR Nic Demski

Demski has the third-highest PFF overall grade among slot receivers. Demski has 60 catches for 963 yards and 6 touchdowns. He is 7th in the league in receiving yards.

C Chris Kolankowski

Kolankowski has the highest PFF grade among centers at 72.2. He has a 75.4 run-blocking grade and a  64.4 pass-blocking grade.

RT Jamarcus Hardrick

Hardrick has the 2nd highest PFF grade among right tackles at 72.9. He has a 71.4 run block grade and a  72.7 pass block grade.

DT Ricky Walker

Walker has the 4th highest overall PFF Grade among interior defensive linemen. Walker has 4 sacks and 31 tackles over 15 games.

DE Jackson Jeffcoat

Jeffcoat has the highest PFF grade among edge defenders in large part due to his 86.1 run defense grade. Jeffcoat has 5 sacks, 17 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 passes defended over 10 games.

DE Willie Jefferson

Jefferson has 18 tackles, 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 11 passes defended over 11 games. He leads the league in passes defended and is tied for first in forced fumbles.

CB Demerio Houston

Houston has a 6th sense in regards to timing his presence in the passing lane. He has 48 tackles, 4 passes defended, a league-leading 7 interceptions, and a touchdown.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

RB James Butler

Butler is third in rushing yards with 942 yards on 195 carries (4.8 yards per carry) and 7 touchdowns. Butler also has 51 receptions for 403 yards and a touchdown. He has the third-highest overall PFF grade among running backs.

WR Tim White

White is 5th in the league in receiving yards and has caught 65 passes for 1,028 yards and 6 touchdowns.

LG Brandon Revenberg

Revenberg has the highest PFF grade among left guards. He has a 78 overall grade with an 80 run block grade and a 77.6 pass blocking grade. As of right now, he has the highest grade among all offensive linemen.

DT Casey Sayles

Sayles has the 3rd highest grade among interior defensive linemen at 80. He has an 84.9 pass rush grade. Sayles has 5 sacks, 42 tackles, and 2 passes defended over 15 games. Sayles has a very high pass-rush grade for an interior defensive lineman at 84.9.

DE Malik Carney

Carney has the 5th highest PFF grade among edge defenders. He has 5 sacks, 49 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, and a pass defended over 14 games.

CB Richard Leonard

Leonard has the highest PFF grade among corners. He has 44 tackles, 7 passes defended, 3 interceptions, and a sack over 14 games.

S Stavros Katsantonis

Katsantonis has 48 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions, 4 passes defended, and a touchdown over his 15 games. He also has the 4th highest PFF grade among safeties.

Toronto Argonauts

QB Chad Kelly

Kelly leads the league in yards per pass attempt at 10.4. Kelly has 3,396 passing yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also has 189 rushing yards on 34 rushes and 8 rushing touchdowns. Kelly has the highest PFF grade among quarterbacks.

RB A.J. Ouellette

Ouellette has averaged 5.8 yards per carry on 154 rushes for 894 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also has 16 receptions for 163 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ouellette has the highest PFF grade among running backs.

WR DaVaris Daniels

Daniels has 775 receiving yards on 39 receptions and 7 touchdowns over 14 games played.

RG Peter Nicastro

Nicastro has the highest PFF grade among right guards at 70.2. He has a 73.8 run block grade and a 66.2 pass block grade.

RT Dejon Allen

Allen has the third-highest PFF grade among right tackles at 71.6. He has a 71.4 run block grade and a 72.7 pass block grade.

DE Folarin Orimolade

Orimolade has been one of the better pass rushers on the season. He has 9 sacks, 32 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles on the season. He has the 4th highest PFF pass-rush grade currently among edge defenders.

LB Wynton McManis

McManis has 70 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and a touchdown over his 13 games played. He has been named to the PFF Team of the Week 4 times and has the highest PFF grade among inside linebackers.

HB Robertson Daniel

Daniel has the 2nd highest PFF grade among halfbacks. He has 55 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions, 4 passes defended, and a touchdown over 10 games.

CB Qwan’tez Stiggerz

Stiggerz has the 4th-highest PFF grade among corners. He also has 39 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 5 passes defended over 13 games.

CB Jamal Peters

Peters has 25 tackles, 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes defended over 10 games played. He has the 5th highest PFF grade among corners.

KR/PR Javon Leake

Leake has returned 64 punts averaging 15.5 yards per return. He has scored a touchdown on 4 punt returns.

Ottawa RedBlacks

QB Dustin Crum

Crum has the 4th highest PFF grade among quarterbacks with a grade of 90. He has an 80.3 rushing grade and an 83.6 passing grade from PFF. Crum has completed 70.4 percent of his passes averaging 8 yards per attempt. He has 2,581 passing yards with 7 touchdowns and 9 interceptions over 12 games. The Cookie Monster has been very dangerous on the ground and is currently the leading rusher among quarterbacks with 655 rushing yards on 87 rushes and 9 touchdowns.

RB Devonte Williams

Williams has rushed 144 times for 782 yards (5.4 average) and 2 touchdowns over 12 games. He also has 30 receptions for 286 yards. Williams has the 5th highest PFF grade among running backs.

WR Justin Hardy

Hardy leads the RedBlacks in receiving yards. He has 74 receptions for 792 yards and 2 touchdowns over 15 games.

WR Jaelon Acklin

Acklin was an East Division All-Star last season. He has had a somewhat slower start to his season but has worked his way up to 728 yards on 55 catches over 15 games and has 1 touchdown.

DE Bryce Carter

Bryce Carter is the 2nd highest-graded edge defender by PFF with an 80.8 grade. He has 27 tackles, 11 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles over 14 games.

DE Lorenzo Mauldin IV

Mauldin has 26 tackles, 5 sacks, and a forced fumble over 14 games played. He has been named to the PFF Team of the Week in week 14 and 15.

CB Brandin Dandridge

Dandridge has 24 tackles, 4 interceptions, a forced fumble, 7 passes defended, and 2 touchdowns over 12 games. Dandridge has also scored a touchdown on a punt return.

Montreal Alouettes

WR Austin Mack

Mack has the third-highest PFF grade among outside wide receivers. He has made a massive impact in his first season in the CFL. He has 1,057 yards on 70 catches and 4 touchdowns over 13 games played.

LT Nick Callender

Callender has the highest PFF grade among left tackles at 75.2. He has a 73.1 run block grade and a 71.3 pass block grade.

LG Pier-Olivier Lestage

Lestage has the 2nd highest PFF grade among left guards at 75.4. He has an 82.1 run block grade and a 74.3 pass block grade.

RT Landon Rice

Rice has the highest PFF grade among right tackles at 75.8. He has a run block grade of 76.8 and a pass block grade of 69.6.

DT Mustafa Johnson

Johnson has been generating pressure against passing plays at a rate that is rarely seen among interior defensive linemen. He has the highest PFF grade among interior defensive linemen at 81.8 and has a pass-rush grade of 84.7.

DE Shawn Lemon

Lemon missed the start of the season after being released by BC before Montreal signed him. In 10 games he has contributed 22 tackles, 7 sacks, 4 passes defended, and 2 interceptions. Despite the games missed, he is tied for 8th in the CFL in sacks.

LB Tyrice Beverette

Tyrice Beverette has been a versatile beast for Montreal. In 15 games he has amassed 74 tackles, 5 sacks, and 4 passes defended. Beverrette has primarily played weak-side linebacker but has also been a strong-side linebacker for a game. Beverette currently has the 4th highest PFF grade among inside linebackers. Beverette is also the third highest-graded player on special teams plays.

HB Reggie Stubblefield

Reggie Stubblefield has played 9 games and has been highly impressive in them. He has 35 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, and is tied for the most passes defended on the team with 6. Stubblefield played his first 6 games at halfback before moving to cover linebacker for the last 3 after Ciante Evans returned from injury. He has the third-highest PFF grade among halfbacks.

S Marc-Antoine Dequoy

Dequoy has the highest PFF grade among safeties. He has 50 tackles, 5 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 6 passes defended, and 2 touchdowns over 15 games played.

P Joseph Zema

Zema has the third-highest PFF grade among punters. He has averaged 47.9 yards per punt over 82 punts. Zema has 22 punts inside the 20 and 7 inside the 10.


Continue the CFL Football discussions on our offical CFL Discord Channel
author avatar
Jonathan Clink Reporter
Jonathan Clink joined CFL News Hub in early April of 2023. His primary responsibilities are covering the BC Lions and Montreal Alouettes. He self awarded himself the CFL Rookie Journalist of the Year in 2023 following the 2023 CFL season. He also proclaims himself to be a "really cool guy". He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and lived a large portion of his childhood in Northwest Ontario. He currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan and misses being being able to have 4 months of skating every winter. Clink has written over 240 articles for CFL News Hub. He was the publication's boots on the ground at the 2023 Grey Cup in Hamilton. Clink has always had an obsession for sport and has a background in other sports as well having played hockey all his life and soccer, basketball, and lacrosse in high school. As a young child he used to log his hockey statistics after every game which is either an indication that he was destined for the role or perhaps and indication that he is rather strange.
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in CFL News

CFL News Hub