CFL promotes eight prospects from 2026 Invitational Combine

Photo courtesy: Thomas Skrlj/CFL.ca

Eight players have booked their tickets to the CFL National Combine after strong showings at the Invitational in Waterloo, including three from the University of Windsor.

Lancers running back Liam Talbot, receiver Tyriq Quayson, and defensive back Ethan John all received promotion to the main event in Edmonton. Joining them were Calgary receiver Matt Sibley, Manitoba offensive lineman Victor Olaniran, Calgary offensive lineman Chris Pashula, Guelph defensive back Gianni Green, and Queen’s defensive lineman Steven Kpehe.

Talbot has appeared in 29 games at Windsor as part of the backfield rotation, rushing for 641 yards and four touchdowns in 88 carries. The five-foot-11, 210-pound back added 18 receptions for 158 yards and a major, returned 61 punts for 612 yards and a score, fielded 27 kickoffs for 570 yards, and made 12 special teams tackles.

The native of London, Ont., won the forty-yard dash in Waterloo with a time of 4.51 seconds, while running a 4.29-second short shuttle and a 7.12-second three-cone. He vertical jumped 34 inches, broad jumped nine-feet-six-inches, and put up 24 reps of 225 pounds on the bench.

Quayson was a track star at Wilfrid Laurier University and earned the team MVP in 2024, before transferring to Windsor for a better football opportunity last season. Between the two programs, the six-foot-one, 196-pound receiver has played 27 games, making 31 receptions for 359 yards and five carries for 86 yards. He has also returned 27 kickoffs for 518 yards and 31 punts for 383 yards, plus one major.

The Maple, Ont., product won the vertical jump with a leap of 35.5 inches, finished second in the broad jump at 10-foot-four-inches, and ran a 4.54-second forty-yard dash that tied for third fastest. He also produced a 7.26-second three-cone, a 4.41-second short shuttle, and 15 reps on the bench press.

John hails from Felton, Minnesota, but qualifies as a National after finishing his career at Windsor after stops at North Dakota State College of Science and Antelope Valley Community College. In 29 U Sports games, he made 197 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two sacks, 10 pass breakups, and one interception.

The five-foot-nine, 187-pound halfback put up an impressive 23 reps on the bench, while jumping 31 inches in the vertical and 10-feet-one-and-a-half-inches in the broad. He ran a 4.59-second forty-yard dash, a 4.15-second short-shuttle, and a 7.4-second three-cone.

Sibley played 28 games for the Dinos, leading the team in receiving this past season. The five-foot-10, 187-pound target has caught 105 career receptions for 1,302 yards and seven touchdowns, while returning 27 kickoffs for 585 yards and 100 punts for 808 yards.

The native Calgarian ran a 4.62-second forty-yard dash, 7.27-second three-cone, and a 4.28-second short shuttle. He repped the bench press 16 times, jumped 30.5 inches in the vertical, and leapt nine-feet-two-and-a-quarter-inches in the broad.

Olaniran has appeared in 29 games for the Bisons, despite suffering a serious upper-body injury that threatened his career and caused him to miss the entire 2022 season. The Winnipeg, Man., product recently attended the Dream Bowl all-star game in Texas.

The six-foot-two, 297-pound right tackle did not run the forty-yard dash, but put up 18 reps on the bench and produced a seven-foot-10-and-one-eighth-inch broad jump. He vertical jumped 18.5 inches, ran an 8.56-second three-cone, and posted a 5.12-second short shuttle.

Pashula has played 30 games for his hometown Calgary Dinos, primarily at left guard. He first worked his way into the starting lineup as a freshman.

The six-foot-three, 313-pound blocker posted an impressive nine-foot-one-inch broad jump for a big man, while putting up 25 reps on the bench press and a 26.5-inch vertical. He also ran a 5.53-second forty-yard dash, an 8.19-second three-cone, and a 4.72-second short shuttle.

Green has suited up in 35 games for the Gryphons and emerged as a key contributor at cornerback. The six-foot, 202-pound coverman has made 88 tackles, one tackle for loss, two forced fumbles, 14 pass breakups, and seven interceptions, including four picks in one game against Carleton this year.

The Mississauga, Ont., native ran a 4.52-second forty-yard dash — second fastest at the event — along with a 7.13-second three-cone and a 4.41-second short shuttle. He did not bench press, but jumped 31.5 inches in the vertical and nine-feet-seven-and-an-eighth-inches in the broad.

Kpehe has suited up in 35 games at defensive end for Queen’s, making 38 total tackles, four tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, and a batted pass.

The London, Ont., product measured in at a hair under six-foot-one and 245 pounds, producing an impressive 35-inch vertical, 4.7-second forty-yard dash, and 25 reps on the bench press. He also leapt nine-foot-four-and-a-half-inches in the broad, with a 7.9-second three-cone and a 4.56-second short shuttle.

More than 80 prospects took part in the Invitational Combine on Friday, which was hosted at the University of Waterloo’s Feridun Hamdullahpur Field House. The leaderboard from each event can be found here.

Last year, 10 players who attended the Invitational Combine were drafted by CFL teams.

The CFL National Combine will take place over three days in Edmonton, Alta., from March 27 to 29. The 2026 CFL Draft is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. EST.