8 Canadians who need to be named All-CFL

With the final two weeks of the regular season upon us, CFL players are putting the final touches on their 2026 resumés.

A total of 27 of those resumés will be named All-CFLers, rewarding the cream of the crop with league-wide recognition.

Here are eight Canadians knocking on the door of 2026 All-CFL presented by bet365 honours.

TYSON PHILPOT | MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Well, duh. I know.

But since my typing skills never get enough practice, I’ll run through the case here.

Tyson Philpot has already put together the most statistically spectacular season ever by a Canadian receiver, with records for yardage and receptions being set in Montreal’s Week 18 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The 26-year-old from Delta, BC is the runaway leader in receiving yardage in 2026, with 1,809 on 124 receptions (also first by a lot).

Philpot’s yardage total this year is the ninth-best ever recorded by a CFL receiver, and he is within striking distance of 2,000 yards, a feat that has been accomplished just three times before.

If he pulls in 228 yards worth of passes in his final two games, Philpot will set an all-time single season record, besting the 1994 mark of 2,036 set by Calgary receiver Allen Pitts.

Still not convinced (LOL)?

Philpot leads the league in yards after catch with 750 and is tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns with 13.

He’s twice been named a CFL Player of the Month and a Player of the Week six times.

JALEN PHILPOT | CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Not done with receivers yet. Not done with Philpots.

While his twin brother Tyson is a lock for All-CFL recognition among receivers, Calgary’s Jalen Philpot should also get very strong consideration for landing one of the five spots granted to pass-catchers.

In his best season yet, Philpot has caught 86 passes for 1,181 yards for the Stamps, that last total making him the sixth-most productive receiver in the CFL in 2026.

Tied for third with eight touchdown receptions, those 86 total receptions place him fifth. Philpot is tied for fifth in receptions of at least 30 yards, with eight, and he’s fifth, as well, in average gain at 13.7 yards per reception.

He’s also fifth in yards after catch, with 395, and was named a CFL Player of the Week in Week 16.

TYRELL FORD | EDMONTON ELKS

Corner Tyrell Ford is making a bid to get back to All-CFL status, something he missed out on in 2025 after earning the honour the previous season.

The 28-year-old Niagara Falls, Ont. native ranks fifth in the CFL in PFF’s (Pro Football Focus) pass coverage grading, at 84.2, just 2.5 points off the league lead.

Since the four men in front of him are all corners as well, you could be forgiven for thinking that might keep him off the board when the two All-CFL corners are announced.

But there is a bit more to consider.

Inside the top 10 with a total of 10 pass knockdowns, Ford leads not just corners but the entire CFL in interceptions, with seven, and he has chipped in with 49 tackles this season.

PETER NICASTRO | TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Centre Peter Nicastro has been a rock once again for the Argos in 2026, starting in every game Toronto’s played so far this season.

Being always available is something the 27-year-old native of Calgary had done in the previous two seasons as well, starting all 18 games in both 2024 and 2025.

Nicastro is second in the CFL in PFF’s pass blocking grades, with a heady 81.5, making him the top Canadian offensive lineman in the CFL in protecting the pocket. His grade is a full 15 points better than the second-ranked centre in the CFL.

Nicastro has been named an East Division All-CFLer on one occasion during his career, in 2021.

BRADY OLIVEIRA | WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira is looking to get back to All-CFL status after Calgary’s Dedrick Mills swiped the honour away from him in 2025, after consecutive Oliveira wins in 2023 and 2024.

The Winnipeg native has once again made sure it takes a village to tackle him on his way to a league-leading 1,307 yards, almost 300 yards ahead of the second-place holder, Edmonton’s Justin Rankin.

With 213 carries, Oliveira is averaging 6.1 yards per run, tops in the CFL among running backs.

The 29-year-old leads the CFL in rushes of 10 yards or more (39), is second among running backs with 307 receiving yards and he is third, overall, with a total of 1,614 yards from scrimmage.

VINCENT BLANCHARD | EDMONTON ELKS

A number of kickers have put together incredible seasons for themselves in 2026, and you can make an argument for Edmonton’s Vincent Blanchard as the flag-bearer for all of them.

In his third season with the Elks, the native of Quebec City leads all field-goalers with 52 of ‘em in 2026, missing only four attempts for a success rate of 92.9 per cent.

He’s made two walk-off winners this year, including a 57-yarder against Saskatchewan in Week 8.

Blanchard also leads the CFL with a kick-off average of 69.3 yards per.

Oh, and there’s the little matter of the 28-year-old setting a pro football record by going nine-for-nine on field goal attempts in the Elks’ Week 17 overtime win against Hamilton.

MATHIEU BETTS | BC LIONS

A two-time recipient (2023 and 2025), defensive lineman Mathieu Betts is at it again in 2026, pushing to be named an All-CFL defensive lineman once again.

The 31-year-old from Montreal is tied for third in sacks this season, with nine, and has added 23 tackles as well as two forced fumbles and two knockdowns.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) rankings, Betts is tied for third in total pressures with 55 this season.

He’s even better in overall pass rush grading, with his 91.6 landing him in second, just behind Calgary’s Clarence Hicks (92.2).

JESULAYOMI OJUTALAYO | CALGARY STAMPEDERS

Maybe I’m preaching to an empty church here, but I don't care. I’m just gonna continue to pump the tires on special teams tacklers every year when it comes to All-CFL honours.

This year, Calgary’s Jesulayomi Ojutalayo is having a terrific rookie season in getting downfield and stopping returners, leading the league with 26 coverage tackles, six ahead of the second place tackler, teammate Kelon Thomas.

The 23-year-old from Shelburne, Ont. was selected in the third round of the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft, 26th overall.

I looked back, season by season, to the year 2000 and returners were named the All-CFL special teams player each and every year and that includes the season (2009) in which Hamilton’s Dylan Barker tied the single-season record for special teams tackles with 37. By the way, Winnipeg’s Wade Miller set that record in 1994 and he, too, lost out to a returner (Well, it WAS Gizmo Williams) that year.

How about another spot on the All-CFL roster for cover guys?