Welcome to a new, short, three-part series featuring the best players currently playing in the Canadian Football League who graduated in the CIS. We will split the series into three articles: offence, defence, and the offensive linemen — since there are so many good linemen who played in the CIS.
Today we will look at the best offensive players, players who contribute to their team’s points total (including kickers). It’s tough to make it big as a “national” (formerly known as a non-import) player at the wide receiver position, but those who do are fan favourites and key players on their respective rosters.
The list is presented in alphabetical order by last name. Their alma mater will be followed by their current team and the year they got drafted.
Top CIS Alumni in the CFL: Offence
Rob Bagg, WR, Queen’s University, Saskatchewan Roughriders, undrafted in 2007
For a Canadian who went undrafted in the 2007 CFL draft, Rob Bagg has done pretty well for himself in Saskatchewan. Bagg participated in the Roughriders’ 2007 training camp but chose to go back to school. In his 2008 rookie season, Bagg made his first reception in the Banjo Bowl and collected 341 yards by the end of the campaign, though he failed to find the end zone.
2009 was his career year with 804 yards and five touchdown passes, helping to lead his team to the Grey Cup–which they lost. He was almost as successful in 2010 (688 yds, 3 TDs), but missed most of 2011 and 2012 to due knee injuries. Last year he bounced back to 430 yards and four majors, and has so far collected 604 yards in this year’s campaign. An instrumental piece on the Roughriders’ receiving corps, Bagg is irreplaceable and the Riders will surely not regret signing him as a free agent back in 2008.
Andy Fantuz, WR, Western University, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 2006
Picked third overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Fantuz is one of the best Canadian University wide receivers to play in the league. In his rookie season, Fantuz had three touchdowns off of 408 yards, followed by 978 yards and seven touchdowns in his sophomore season, leading the Roughriders to a Grey Cup victory. Fantuz led the league in receiving yards in 2010, catching 87 passes for 1380 yards and scoring six times.
That resulted in an unsuccessful tryout with the Chicago Bears before he returned to the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2012. He continues to be a force there and is arguably the face of the franchise. One championship and unfortunately three Grey Cup losses later, Fantuz is a future Hall-of-Famer.
Chris Getzlaf, WR, University of Regina, Saskatchewan Roughriders, 2007
The 33rd overall pick by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats has certainly exceeded the potential scouts identified back in 2007. His career started slowly, on and off the Tiger-Cats’ and Roughriders’ practice rosters in 2007 followed by only 247 receiving yards in 2008. His career really exploded in 2009 when had 946 catching yards and five TDs, followed by 1071 yards and doubling his touchdown totals in 2010.
Getzlaf reached the 1000-yard mark last year, passing it by 45 yards while scoring seven times on his way to his first Grey Cup. Getzlaf remains one of the CIS’s best products at his position; his reputation in the CFL is similar to his brother, Ryan Getzlaf’s, in the NHL:extremely productive, hard-working and reliable. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats surely are regretting their decision to release Getzlaf in 2007.
Chris Milo, K, Université Laval, Saskatchewan Roughriders, 2011
One of the most successful kickers in CIS history for the Laval Rouge Et Or, Milo kicked his way to the most points in Quebec’s history (385) along with the most field goals (69) in his career; his totals in both categories were good enough for third all-time in the CIS. After two Vanier Cups, Milo translated his championship-developed skills when he joined the Roughriders in 2011, second on the depth chart behind fellow Italian-Canadian Luca Congi (who spent most of the season injured). He also tied the CFL record for the longest punt with a 108-yard bomb down Taylor Field on a windy Saskatchewan day in September, 2011.
Last year as the Roughriders’ full-time kicker, Milo went an astonishing 46 for 52, producing 186 points for his club. The Montreal native scored on three field goals in the Grey Cup last year. Underrated as a kicker, he has won many games from his right foot.
Honourable Mentions (in order of how honourable they are): Andre Durie, Rene Parades, Dave Stala, Nate Coehoorn, Sam Giguere, Julian Feoli-Gudino.
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Main Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images
