OTTAWA (CIS) – Nic Demski, a slotback from the University of Manitoba, is the top-ranked CIS player on the initial prospect list released by the CFL's Scouting Bureau in advance of the league's 2015 Canadian Draft.
 
The Scouting Bureau list was expanded from 15 to 20 prospects this year and 14 CIS standouts found their way on the first ranking of the season. Not surprisingly, the Laval Rouge et Or and Calgary Dinos, who faced off in the 2013 Vanier Cup final, each placed three members on the September list.
 
Demski, a 6-0, 215-pound senior in his fourth campaign with the Bisons, has been named an all-Canadian in each of his first three university seasons, twice as a kick returner and last year as a receiver. The Winnipeg product moved from running back to slotback last fall and enjoyed instant success at his new position, leading the Canada West conference with seven touchdown catches in eight league games and placing second in receiving yards (640).
 
The other CIS stars included on the initial Scouting Bureau list are Laval offensive lineman Danny Groulx (No. 4), Western defensive lineman Daryl Waud (No. 5), Calgary offensive lineman Sukh Chungh (No. 8), Regina receiver Addison Richards (No. 11), Wilfrid Laurier defensive back Chris Ackie (No. 12), Laval defensive lineman Brandon Tennant (No. 13), Calgary offensive lineman Sean McEwen (No. 14), McMaster linebacker Nicholas Shortill (No. 15), Laval offensive lineman Karl Lavoie (No. 16), Laurier defensive lineman Ese Mrabure-Ajufo (No. 17), Regina defensive back Tevaughn Campbell (No. 18), Calgary receiver Jake Harty (No. 19) and Western defensive lineman Rory Connop (No. 20).
 
Last May, Laval centre Pierre Lavertu became the eighth CIS player in as many years – and the 12th in the past 15 years - to be selected first overall in the CFL Canadian Draft when the Calgary Stampeders called his name at No. 1. He was ranked fourth, second and third, respectively, on the three Scouting Bureau lists published in 2013-14.
 
A record 59 CIS players (out of 65 total picks) were selected in the 2014 CFL Draft, including eight in the first round, also an all-time mark for CIS (tied with 1970 and 1972).
 
NOTES: The Scouting Bureau is comprised of CFL scouts, player personnel directors and general managers from the league's nine teams... Another player with ties to CIS made the initial prospect list of 2014. Running back Tyler Varga, ranked No. 2, was named the CIS rookie of the year with Western in 2011 before transferring to Yale in the NCAA.
 
CFL release: http://cfl.ca/article/full-rankings-demski-topped-ranked-receiver
CFL video: http://www.cfl.ca/video/index/id/102563
 
CFL SCOUTING BUREAU SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 LIST:
 
Rank   Name                           University                    Hometown                  Pos.     Ht.       Wt.                
1.         Brett Boyko                  UNLV                          Saskatoon, Sask.        OL       6-7       310
2.         Tyler Varga                  Yale                             Kitchener, Ont.            RB        5-11     220
3.         Nic Demski                 Manitoba                    Winnipeg, Man.          REC     6-0       215
4.         Danny Groulx              Laval                           Gatineau, Que.             OL       6-6       325
5.         Daryl Waud                 Western                       Hamilton, Ont.             DL       6-5       270
6.         Alex Mateas                 Connecticut                 Ottawa, Ont.                OL       6-4       309    
7.         Jacob Ruby                  Richmond                    London, Ont.               OL       6-7       315
8.         Sukh Chungh               Calgary                        Port Coquitlam, B.C.    OL       6-4       303
9.         Mehdi Abdesmad         Boston College            Montreal, Que.            DL       6-7       297
10.       Dillon Guy                   Buffalo                         Hamilton, Ont.             OL       6-4       317
11.       Addison Richards        Regina                         Regina, Sask.               REC     6-5       205
12.       Chris Ackie                  Laurier                         Cambridge, Ont.          DB       6-2       205
13.       Brandon Tennant         Laval                           Montreal, Que.             DL       6-2       305
14.       Sean McEwen              Calgary                        Calgary, Alta.               OL       6-3       297
15.       Nicholas Shortill          McMaster                     Nobleton, Ont.             LB       6-2       223
16.       Karl Lavoie                  Laval                           Quebec City, Que.       OL       6-4       285
17.       Ese Mrabure-Ajufo      Laurier                         Mississauga, Ont.         DL       6-4       260
18.       Tevaughn Campbell     Regina                         Toronto, Ont.               DB       6-0       185
19.       Jake Harty                   Calgary                        Calgary, Alta.               REC     6-2       210
20.       Rory Connop               Western                       Edmonton, Alta.          DL       6-5       282