Each season a host of fresh new faces try to make their mark in the Canadian Football League. Some go one step further, and become legends of the sport. One of the most enjoyable aspects of football is watching the ascension of these rising stars. In this article, we pick out three quarterbacks you should watch.  

Dru Brown, Ottawa Redblacks 

Dru Brown had quite a unique start to his football career. He did not play in high school and never had any offers from Division One. Instead, he started playing in his freshman year at the College of San Mateo. In the 2016 season, he was transferred to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. After battling for his starting place, he was named the most valuable player in a game against the Tennesse Blue Raiders.

After stints at Oklahoma and Winnipeg, Dru Brown transferred as a free agent to the Ottawa Redblacks in January 2024. He signed a two-year contract and has hit the ground running, showing great signs of promise for the team. Despite only five appearances to date, he was pivotal in a crucial win over Edmonton.  

Cameron Dukes, Toronto Argonauts

Duke’s football career started with the Linsay Wilson Blue Raiders in 2017. He played with them for four years, leading them to a national championship. In 2022 he made a switch to the Indoor Football League playing for the Vegas Knight Hawks.  

In 2023 he signed for the Toronto Argonauts, as the backup starter for Chad Kelly. He has since been elevated to the starting role due to his performance in training camp. It is expected he will play a pivotal part in their attempt at the Grey Cup, despite the return of Chad Kelly who has returned under center. However, the team is languishing fourth fancied in the betting odds at +650 according to a top online crypto sportsbook. This places them behind the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, BC Lions, and Montreal Alouettes in the favorite’s position at +210.  

Tre Ford, Edmonton Elks

Tre Ford now skims the border between rising and established stars. His early career was spent playing for the A.N. Myer Secondary School, where they won the Junior Metrobowl Championship and three OFSAA championships. In high demand, he then signed with the Waterloo Warriors. In his first season, he was awarded the U Sports Rookie of the Year trophy. In his second season, he became the starting quarterback and was named the OUA Most Valuable Player. 

His professional career began in 2022 when he nearly left Canada to go and play in the NFL. Luckily, he stayed and was drafted in the first round by the Edmonton Elks. He soon replaced veteran Nick Arbuckle in the fourth game of the season, managing to help the team turn around a three-game losing streak. To date, this has been a pattern that has repeated, with the Elks refusing to start him, losing matches, and then turning it around when he does. This season the Elks signed McLeod Bethel Thompson in his place, and had a losing streak before Ford started and took them to their first win of the season.