More than 150 U SPORTS alumni set for 2025 CFL season
As the Canadian Football League kicks off its 2025 season tonight, a total of 152 U SPORTS graduates were among those named to CFL teams’ opening day rosters. The 152 U SPORTS alumni comprise 31 per cent of the 489 players currently in the CFL (including active roster and those on injured lists)
Among the four U SPORTS conference, Ontario University Athletics leads the way with 56 graduates on CFL rosters, with 48 from Canada West, 34 from the RSEQ and 14 from Atlantic University Sport.
All 27 U SPORTS football teams have at least one alumnus currently in the CFL, with Laval and Montréal leading the way with 12 each, while Calgary has 11 alumni and Alberta, Guelph and Laurier each boast 10 alumns at the CFL level.
Among CFL teams, the Saskatchewan Roughriders leads the way with 20 U SPORTS alumni on its roster.
The list of U SPORTS alumni is led by a pair of Lois and Doug Mitchell Award winners: Matthieu Betts, a linebacker with the BC Lions, who won four major U SPORTS football awards during his career at Laval from 2015-18 and was named the U SPORTS Athlete of the Year for 2018-19; and Edmonton Elks quarterback Tre Ford, who won the Hec Crighton Trophy in 2021 and won the Lois and Doug Mitchell Award for 2021-22.
With more than 150 U SPORTS graduates taking their game to the professional level. U SPORTS continues to be a leading source of talent for the CFL.
U SPORTS ALUMNI BY CFL TEAM
|
CFL |
Total |
U SPORTS |
Pct. |
|
BC |
56 |
13 |
23.21% |
|
Calgary |
56 |
19 |
33.93% |
|
Edmonton |
52 |
18 |
34.62% |
|
Hamilton |
54 |
19 |
35.19% |
|
Montreal |
56 |
15 |
26.79% |
|
Ottawa |
58 |
17 |
29.31% |
|
Saskatchewan |
56 |
20 |
35.71% |
|
Toronto |
48 |
15 |
31.25% |
|
Winnipeg |
53 |
16 |
30.19% |
U SPORTS ALUMNI BY U SPORTS TEAM
SCHOOL
Acadia 2
Alberta 10
Bishop's 1
Calgary 11
Carleton 5
Concordia 3
Guelph 10
Laurier 10
Laval 12
Manitoba 3
McGill 3
McMaster 3
Montreal 12
Mount Allison 2
Ottawa 4
Queen's 5
Regina 7
Saint Mary's 6
Saskatchewan 9
Sherbrooke 4
STFX 3
Toronto 2
UBC 8
Waterloo 5
Western 7
Windsor 3
York 2
CFL PLAYERS BY ORIGIN
U SPORTS 152
FBS “Power 5” 127
FBS “Group of 5” 101
FCS 63
Division II 28
Division II 6
CJFL 5
NAIA 3
Europe 2
Mexico 1
No College 1