A look at CFL players to watch for during the 2024 season
Global News
Here is a look at some CFL players worth watching this season.
Brady Oliveira has a tough act to follow.
The five-foot-10, 222-pound Winnipeg native was the CFL‘s top Canadian and outstanding player finalist last season after rushing for a league-high 1,534 yards – second-most ever by a Canadian after Calgary’s Jon Cornish ran for 1,813 yards in 2013. Oliveira also led the league in yards from scrimmage (2,016) and touchdowns (13).
Oliveira had a league-best seven 100-yard games rushing while recording career highs in catches (38) and receiving yards (482). That earned Oliveira a new two-year deal that will reportedly pay him $230,000 this season and $240,000 in 2025.
But Oliveira’s stellar campaign ended badly as the Montreal Alouettes defeated Winnipeg 28-24 in the Grey Cup. While the Bombers look to make a fifth straight championship appearance, they last won in 2021.
Here’s a look at other CFL players worth watching this season:
The six-foot-three, 233-pound running back signed with B.C. after being released by Montreal following five seasons with the CFL club. Twice Stanback has rushed for 1,000 or more yards and last season ran for 800 yards on 147 carries despite missing four games due to injury but still helped the Alouettes win the Grey Cup. He was the East Division’s top player in 2021.
The five-foot-nine, 208-pound running back ran for a career-best 1,009 yards (5.7-yard average) with eight TDs last season with Toronto while adding 16 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Now with Saskatchewan, Ouellette should help bolster a ground attack that last year was eighth in yards (84.4 per game) and last in average gain per rush (4.4 yards).
The five-foot-nine, 210-pound Butler chases a third straight 1,000-yard season. He ran for a career-best 1,116 yards last year to become the Ticats’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2009. If he can duplicate the feat in ’24, Butler would become the first Hamilton player to post consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since DeAndra’ Cobb in 2009-10.
