Young new talent is inevitable every year in football, but the influx of first-year star power in 2015 may have raised the bar.
Rookie quarterbacks looked like long-time veterans last year as Jonathon Jennings, Rakeem Cato and James Franklin ushered in a future generation of star CFL quarterbacks.
Not to be outdone, 2015 was a banner year for rookie receivers as well. Derel Walker won Most Outstanding Rookie in just half a season’s work, while Vidal Hazelton and Terrence Toliver powered the Argos’ and Ticats’ passing offences respectively.
Many of the top players in the CFL will be sophomores next season as a new generation of talent has arrived, and with that we look at which BC Lions sophomores have already broken out, and which may not have but should be on your radar.
Sophomore Star: Jonathon Jennings
Jennings may just be the brightest of sophomore stars after putting on a dominant display as a 23-year-old rookie in 2015. He took over the Lions mid-season following injuries to Travis Lulay and John Beck and by the time Lulay was ready to return, Jennings simply couldn’t be moved.
The Lions have a future franchise quarterback in Jennings, who last year with his strong arm and quick legs completed more than 66 per cent of his passes and threw 15 touchdowns to just seven interceptions over six starts.
WATCH: Jennings moonlights as a receiver, catching a pass from Austin Collie to top our Plays of the Year list!
Keep an Eye On: Shaquille Murray Lawrence
The Lions’ third round draft pick of 2015 was seldom used last season but the upside is there. With pending free agent Andrew Harris potentially headed out of town, could Murray-Lawrence be on track to become the next great Canadian running back?
The 22-year-old Scarborough, Ont. native set a record-breaking time of 4.41 at last year’s combine (before having it broken by Tevaughn Campbell shortly after) after enjoying a strong career at UNLV – but does he have what it takes to be a premier running back?
Sophomore Sleeper: Ese Mrabure-Ajufo
A year after the Lions turned heads and selected the pass rush specialist Mrabure-Ajufo with their fifth overall pick, the 23-year-old Wilfrid Laurier grad has played in only two CFL games and registered one sack.
Saying he’s due for a breakout year in 2016 is a stretch, but the Mississauga, Ont. native wasn’t expected to grow into a superstar overnight. Mrabure-Ajufo still has a high ceiling and could begin to at least make an impact in 2016, especially working closely with the man who drafted him in Wally Buono, making him a legitimate sleeper candidate.
Here’s there CFL’s pick for the top sophomores to watch in 2016:
1. Jonathon Jennings
2. Derel Walker
3. Sukh Chungh
4. Nic Demski
5. Khalil Bass
6. Diontae Spencer
7. Daryl Waud
8. Lemar Durant
9. Jeff Knox Jr.
10. John Ojo