Blue Bombers roster - 2024-2025

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Blue Bombers agree to terms with linebacker Jonathan Jones
January 30, 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the Club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran American linebacker Jonathan Jones.

Jones (5-11, 230; Toledo; born: November 11 18, 1997, in Ocoee, FL) joins the Blue Bombers after spending the last three years with the Toronto Argonauts (he was released on January 16th, 2025).

Jones appeared in 12 games last season with the Argos, six of them starts, and registered 29 tackles, eight more on special teams and one forced fumble. He missed the last five regular season games and playoffs with a hamstring injury.

Jones started games at both middle and weak-side linebacker over his three seasons with Toronto and appeared in 36 games with 88 defensive tackles, as well as 26 on special teams, eight sacks, three interceptions and one forced fumble.

Jones split his college days between Notre Dame and Toledo and as a member of the Rockets was named second-team All-MAC in 2021.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/01/30/blue-bombers-agree-to-terms-with-linebacker-jonathan-jones/

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Blue Bombers agree to terms with defensive end James Vaughters
January 31, 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the Club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran American defensive end James Vaughters.

Vaughters (6-1, 256; Stanford; born: June 27, 1993, in Chicago, IL) joins the Blue Bombers after spending the last two years with the Calgary Stampeders. He was released by Calgary on January 27, 2025.

Vaughters appeared in all 18 games with the Stamps in 2024, registering 32 tackles and five sacks – tied for second on the team – while adding two forced fumbles. He had five sacks in six games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending arm injury.

Vaughters originally joined the Stampeders in 2017 and in his two stints with the team – 2017-18; 2023-24 – he appeared in 57 games, accumulating 97 tackles, 21 sacks and three forced fumbles.

After his first run with Calgary, Vaughters signed in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears. He appeared in 17 games over two seasons with the Bears through 2020 and then suited up for 10 more with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021.

Vaughters played four seasons at Stanford (2011-14) as a linebacker, appearing in 54 games, 18 of them starts.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/01/31/blue-bombers-agree-to-terms-with-defensive-end-james-vaughters/

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Transactions:

2025-01-31   WPG   LAWSON, Dexter   DB   A   Appalachian State   ADD   Active Roster
2025-01-31   WPG   JONES, Jonathan   LB   A   Toledo   ADD   Active Roster
2025-01-31   WPG   VAUGHTERS, James   DL   A   Stanford   ADD   Active Roster

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign defensive back Dexter Lawson Jr.
January 31, 2025 - Michael Heilman

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed defensive back Dexter Lawson Jr. on Friday according to the CFL Transactions page.

Dexter Lawson Jr. is five foot ten and weighs 190 pounds. The 25-year-old from Bloomfield, Connecticut, signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on May 3, 2023. He played nine games that season making 29 tackles, one tackle on special teams, and one interception. In 2024, Lawson Jr. made 16 tackles and one tackle on special teams in four games. The Ticats released him on July 24, 2024.

Collegiately, Lawson Jr. played four seasons at Central Connecticut State (2018-21) making 74 tackles (45 solos, 29 assists), six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, eight interceptions for 85 yards, 13 pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 29 games for the Blue Devils.

Lawson Jr. was named a Hero Sports First-Team Sophomore All-America honoree in 2019 after making 31 tackles (18 solos, 13 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions for 75 yards, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 13 games.

Then, Lawson Jr. transferred to Appalachian State in 2022 making 26 tackles (6 solos, 20 assists), one tackle for loss, three interceptions for one yard, eight pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 12 games, of which ten were starts for the Mountaineers.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2025/01/31/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-defensive-back-dexter-lawson-jr/

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Blue Bombers re-sign two-time All-CFL receiver Dalton Schoen
February 1, 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with receiver Dalton Schoen. He was scheduled to become a free agent on February 11.

Schoen (6-1, 210; Kansas State; born: October 13, 1996, in Overland Park, KS) returns to the Blue Bombers for a fourth season in 2025. He was limited to just three games in 2024 after suffering a season-ending knee injury in a loss to the B.C. Lions. Over those two-plus contests, Schoen pulled in 14 passes for 159 yards.

His two seasons prior to 2024 were among the most prolific in Blue Bombers and Canadian Football League history. In 34 games over 2022-23, Schoen racked up 141 receptions for 2,663 yards and 26 touchdowns while being named a West Division and CFL All-Star in each season.

In 2023, Schoen had 71 receptions for 1,222 yards and 10 touchdowns, finishing third in the league in yardage, first in receiving touchdowns and third in second-down conversion catches with 30.

His rookie year of 2022 was sensational, as he led the league with 1,441 receiving yards on 70 receptions while tying for the league lead in touchdowns with 16. Those numbers helped him earn him the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie honours.

Schoen's 1,441 yards in 2022 was the seventh-highest total in club history (Milt Stegall holds the club record of 1,896, set in 2002) and set a team record for touchdowns by a first-year Blue Bomber.

Over 37 CFL games, all with the Blue Bombers, Schoen has 244 receptions for 2,822 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Schoen came to the Blue Bombers after first signing in the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 and following looks from Kansas City and Washington.

Schoen was a walk-on at Kansas State, climbing up the depth chart to eventually start as a sophomore and become a key target over his final three years. He finished his college career ranked seventh in school history in yards per reception (17.05) and 15th in career receiving yards (1,569). He finished with 92 receptions for 1,569 yards and nine touchdowns over 34 games from 2017-2019.

He was a 2019 Honorable Mention All-Big 12 and a member of the First Team Academic All-Big 12 from 2017-19.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/02/01/blue-bombers-re-sign-two-time-all-cfl-receiver-dalton-schoen/

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Farhan Lalji @FarhanLaljiTSN
Fairly team friendly deal for Schoen. 175k in hard money plus significant playtime & performance incentives. @CFLonTSN

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Blue Bombers re-sign offensive lineman Eric Lofton
Feb 3 2025

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has signed American offensive tackle Eric Lofton to a one-year contract extension.

Lofton (6-4, 293, Temple; born: March 6, 1993, in Lumberton, NJ) returns to Winnipeg for a second consecutive season and third overall after also spending 2022 with the club.

Lofton started all 18 games plus the Western Final and Grey Cup at right tackle last season for the Blue Bombers and was part of a unit that helped running back Brady Oliveira capture his second straight rushing title while quarterback Zach Collaros set a career high in passing yards.

In 2023, Lofton started 14 games at tackle for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and he has also spent two seasons (2019-20) with the Edmonton Elks, suiting up for two games. He started his CFL career with the Ottawa Redblacks, dressing in four games during the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

The New Jersey native played five collegiate seasons (2011-2015) at Temple University. He appeared in 37 games, making starts at right tackle, right guard and left guard.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/02/03/blue-bombers-re-sign-offensive-lineman-eric-lofton/

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Transactions:

2025-02-03   WPG   LOFTON, Eric   OL   A   Temple   ADD   Active Roster
2025-02-03   WPG   SCHOEN, Dalton   WR   A   Kansas State   ADD   Active Roster
2025-02-03   WPG   Allen, Cam   DB   A   Purdue   ADD   Active Roster

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign defensive back Cam Allen
February 3, 2025 Michael Heilman

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed defensive back Cam Allen on Monday according to the CFL Transactions page.

Cam Allen is six foot one and weighs 195 pounds. The 25-year-old from Bluefield, Virginia, signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. The Broncos released him on May 15, 2024.

Collegiately, Allen played five seasons at Purdue (2019-23) making 203 tackles (157 solos, 46 assists), eight tackles for loss, 13 interceptions for 171 yards, one touchdown, 31 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and one blocked kick in 56 games, of which 31 were starts for the Boilermakers.

In 2023, he made 30 tackles (25 solos, 5 assists), one tackle for loss, three interceptions for five y yards, and nine pass breakups in 12 games. He was named a three-time Big Ten Honorable Mention, Third Team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele, and Fourth Team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2025/02/03/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-defensive-back-cam-allen/

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Canadian FB/LB Bailey Feltmate retires from CFL to pursue coaching, nursing
By John Hodge -February 4, 2025

Pending CFL free agent Bailey Feltmate has retired from professional football to accept a coaching position at Dalhousie University.

The six-foot-two, 240-pound native of Moncton, N.B., spent this past season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, recording one catch for five yards and eight special teams tackles over eight regular-season games, helping the team reach a fifth straight Grey Cup.

The 27-year-old was originally a second-round pick in the 2020 CFL Draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He spent three seasons with the team, making four defensive tackles and 35 special teams tackles over 43 regular-season games.

Feltmate will serve as the special teams coordinator with the Dalhousie Tigers this fall while also studying nursing at the school. The team competes in the Atlantic Football League (AFL) alongside the Holland College Hurricanes, University of New Brunswick Red Bombers, and Saint John Falcons. Dalhousie won last year's Moosehead Cup after going a perfect 6-0 in the regular season.

"I am thankful for every opportunity that Winnipeg and Hamilton have given me over the past four years! I have gained so much appreciation for this sport and the opportunities it presents itself with," wrote Feltmate in an exclusive statement to 3DownNation.

"Football will always be a part of my life and I will forever be grateful for the impact it has made on me not only as a football player but as a man. It has shaped me into the person I am today and I will take these lessons into the next chapter of life as a nurse and coach."

Feltmate played collegiately at Acadia University where he won two Loney Bowls and was twice named a second-team All-Canadian at linebacker.

https://3downnation.com/2025/02/04/canadian-fb-lb-bailey-feltmate-retires-from-cfl-to-pursue-coaching-nursing/

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Each CFL team's additions and subtractions in free agency
By John Hodge -February 4, 2025

The CFL's free agency negotiation window has been open for just over 48 hours, and more than 30 players have switched teams after agreeing to terms on new contracts.

These deals can't be officially ratified until free agency officially gets underway on Tuesday, Feb. 11, but we've taken the liberty of listing each team's signings, agreements, trades, releases, and expected losses thus far this offseason.

Please note that re-signings are not reflected below, nor are players who remain pending free agents. "N" denotes National players (ie. Canadians), "A" denotes American players, and "G" denotes Global players.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Acquired: LB Jonathan Jones (A), REC Dillon Mitchell (A), DL James Vaughters (A)

Agreed to terms: REC Gavin Cobb (N), DB Josh Hagerty (N), REC Reggie White Jr. (A)

Released or agreed to terms elsewhere: OL Liam Dobson (N), DB Tyrell Ford (N), DL TyJuan Garbutt (A), Celestin Haba (A), REC Kenny Lawler (A), REC Drew Wolitarsky (N)

The Blue Bombers got a headstart on free agency by scooping up three players who had been released elsewhere — Jones, Mitchell, and Vaughters, all of whom could be starters come Week 1. Cobb and Hagerty are nice Canadian depth pieces, though it's hard to overlook how much talent has left Bomberland. Lawler is arguably the league's best receiver, while Ford and Dobson are high-level Canadian starters.

https://3downnation.com/2025/02/04/each-cfl-teams-additions-and-subtractions-in-free-agency-thus-far/

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Transactions:

2025-02-04   WPG   Vaval, Trey   DB   A   Minnesota State Mankato   ADD   Active Roster

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign defensive back Trey Vaval
February 4, 2025 Michael Heilman

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed defensive back Trey Vaval on Tuesday according to the CFL Transactions page.

Trey Vaval is six foot and weighs 170 pounds. The 24-year-old from Blue Springs, Missouri, signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2024. In 2024, he made five tackles (5 solos) in three preseason games. The Falcons released him on August 25, 2024.

Collegiately, Vaval played two seasons at Missouri Western State University (2019, 2021) making 45 tackles (36 solos, 9 assists), three tackles for loss, one interception for 20 yards, four pass breakups, 52 kick returns for 1,326 yards, two touchdowns, and 35 punt returns for 582 yards in 22 games for the Griffons.

He was named First Team All-MIAA, AFCA All-American, the Don Hansen All-Super Region Three Co-Freshman of the Year, and the Agent Barry Live United Bowl MVP.

Then, he transferred to Minnesota State University (2022-23) making 69 tackles (52 solos, 17 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions for 27 yards, 14 pass breakups, five blocked kicks, 27 kick returns for 617 yards, one touchdown, 45 punt returns for 704 yards, and one touchdown in 25 games for the Mavericks.

In the 2023 NCAA Championship Game against Augustana, Vaval made three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist), half tackle for loss, one pass breakup, one blocked kick, five kick returns for 127 yards, one touchdown, and one punt return for 22 yards. He was named a two-time First Team All-NSIC and an All-American Honorable Mention by Don Hanson.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2025/02/04/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-defensive-back-trey-vaval/

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Transactions:

2025-02-06   WPG   Brini, Latavious   LB   A   Arkansas   ADD   Active Roster
2025-02-06   WPG   Avery, Isaiah   DB   A   Portland State   ADD   Active Roster

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign LB Latavious Brini and DB Isaiah Avery
February 6, 2025 Michael Heilman

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed linebacker Latavious Brini and defensive back Isaiah Avery on Thursday according to the CFL Transactions page.

Latavious Brini is six foot two and weighs 215 pounds. The 26-year-old from Miami Gardens, Florida, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2023. In 2023, Brini made four tackles (3 solo, 1 assist) in three preseason games for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Toronto Argonauts signed Brini as a free agent on January 8, 2024, and released him on May 16, 2024. Then, Brini signed with the Montreal Alouettes on May 22, 2024. He played in two preseason games making four tackles and earning himself a spot on the practice squad. The Alouettes released him on June 17, 2024.

Collegiately, Brini played four seasons at Georgia (2018-21) making 50 tackles (33 solos, 17 assists), six tackles for loss, one interception, and ten pass breakups in 30 games for the Bulldogs. He helped the Bulldogs win the Peach Bowl in 2020.

Then, Brini transferred to Arkansas in 2022 making 55 tackles (32 solos, 23 assists), four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, two pass breakups, and one interception in 13 games for the Razorbacks.

Isaiah Avery is six foot and weighs 180 pounds. A native of Antioch, California, attended the San Francisco 49ers rookie minicamp in 2024.

Collegiately, Avery played one season at the City College of San Francisco in 2018 making 32 tackles (27 solos, 5 assists), one tackle for loss, one interception for 83 yards, one touchdown, and six pass breakups in 10 games for the Rams helping them appear in the Golden State Bowl.

Next, he transferred to Liberty (2019-21) making 10 tackles (9 solos, 1 assist), and one pass breakup in 16 games for the Flames. Then, he transferred to Portland State (2022-23) making 50 tackles (34 solos, 16 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions for 21 yards, 12 pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 22 games for the Vikings.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2025/02/06/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-lb-latavious-brini-and-db-isaiah-avery/