Canadian Scouting System Lists Mayes, Schad as Top Players

Washington State speedster Rueben Mayes and mammoth Queen’s offensive tackle Michael Schad head up a list of 20 prospects identified by the Canadian Football League Central Scouting department as prime candidates for the league’s 1986 college draft.

The CFL published the names, listed alphabetically, in a release mailed to the media late last week, but its scouting office has been providing the nine CFL clubs with weekly updates and periodic in-depth looks at Canadian university and U.S. college prospects.

The 1986 draft is scheduled to be held Feb. 18 in Toronto.

The list prepared by Central Scouting, in its first year of operation under former CFL and National Football League defensive back Joe Womack, contained the names of 10 linemen, six runners or receivers, two defensive backs and one punter. One other player was listed as both a tight end and offensive lineman.

“I think it’s a good crop, I really do,” Womack said.

Eight of the prospects played for U.S. colleges while the remaining 12 played at Canadian universities.

Both Mayes and the 6-5, 282-pound Schad are considered top CFL prospects. But their statistics, Mayes’s on the field and Schad’s measurements, have attracted attention south of the border.

Mayes, a native of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, rushed for 1,637 yards last season as a junior and set a single-game rushing record in the NCAA when he ran for 357 yards against Oregon. The Cougars, however, have slipped to a 2-6 record this season and Mayes has been limited to 737 yards.

“He’s having a good year,” head Coach Jim Walden said of Mayes. “It’s not his fault we’ve struggled.”