Blue Bombers roster - 2023-2024

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign defensive back Raleigh Texada
January 23, 2024

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed defensive back Raleigh Texada on Tuesday.

Raleigh Texada is five foot ten and weighs 191 pounds. The 25-year-old from Frisco, Texas, made 24 tackles (18 solo, 6 assists) in ten games for the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) in 2023. The Roughnecks drafted Texada in the first round (5th pick) of Phase 2 of the 2023 XFL Draft.

Before Houston, Texada signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He would later sign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was placed on the practice squad.

Collegiately, Texada played five seasons at Baylor (2017-21) with 142 tackles (116 solo, 26 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions for 58 yards, 20 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 53 games for the Bears.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2024/01/23/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-defensive-back-raleigh-texada/

[Jesse]

Seems like a guy we've been after for a while.

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Transactions:

2024-01-24   WPG   MILLER, Mike   RB   N   Acadia   TRF TO RETIRED   Retired
2024-01-24   WPG   BRYANT, Stanley   OL   A   East Carolina   ADD   Game Roster
2024-01-24   WPG   AUGUSTINE, Johnny   RB   N   Guelph   ADD   Game Roster
2024-01-24   WPG   DEMSKI, Nic   WR   N   Manitoba   ADD   Game Roster

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Transactions:

2024-01-25   WPG   AYERS, Michael   LB   A   Ashland   ADD   Game Roster
2024-01-25   WPG   Bridges, Marquise   DB   A   North Dakota State   ADD   Game Roster

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Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign LB Michael Ayers and DB Marquise Bridges
January 25, 2024

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed linebacker Michael Ayers and defensive back Marquise Bridges on Thursday.

Michael Ayers is six foot two and weighs 223 pounds. The 25-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, was drafted by the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) of the 2023 XFL Rookie Draft.

Unfortunately, the original Roughnecks were not included in the USFL and XFL merger to create the United Football League (UFL). The Houston Gamblers (USFL) were rebranded as the Roughnecks. Before Houston, Ayers signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

Collegiately, Ayers played five seasons at Ashland University (2018-22) with 231 tackles (126 solo, 105 assists), 28.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, two interceptions for 30 yards, 14 pass breakups, six forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 43 games for the Eagles.

He was named First Team All-Great Midwest Conference, and Great Midwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and was nominated for the 2021 Cliff Harris Award, presented to the nation's top small college defensive player.

Marquise Bridges is five foot eleven and weighs 190 pounds. The 26-year-old from Minneapolis, Minnesota, made 78 tackles (38 solo, 40 assists), two tackles for loss, five interceptions for 38 yards, 13 pass breakups, nine catches for 124 yards, and one touchdown in 16 games for the Bay Area Panthers (IFL) in 2023 helping them win the IFL Championship Game over the Sioux Falls Storm 51-41.

Before Bay Area, Bridges worked out for the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers. In 2022, he signed with the Northern Arizona Wranglers (IFL) with 35 tackles (22 solo, 13 assists), half a tackle for loss, three interceptions for 21 yards, ten pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one safety in 16 games helping the Wranglers win the 2022 IFL Championship Quad City Steamwheelers 47-45.

Collegiately, Bridges played four seasons at North Dakota State (2016-19) with 87 tackles (58 solo, 29 assists), four tackles for loss, five interceptions for 46 yards, 26 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and three kick returns for 50 yards in 49 games for the Bison. He was named Second Team All-MVFC and helped the Bison win three FCS championships.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2024/01/25/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-lb-michael-ayers-and-db-marquise-bridges/

[gobombersgo]

BLUE BOMBERS RE-SIGN RUNNING BACK JOHNNY AUGUSTINE
JANUARY 26, 2024

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Canadian running back Johnny Augustine. He was scheduled to become a free agent next month.

Augustine (5-9; Guelph; born: July 7, 1993, in Welland, Ont.) returns in 2024 for his sixth season with the Blue Bombers after first signing with the club in May of 2018.

He has dressed for every game over the past three years, including all 18 last season as well as the Western Final and Grey Cup and finished second on the club in rushing with 267 yards on 45 carries, for a 5.9-yards per carry average. A valuable contributor on special teams, he added eight tackles on the kick cover units, which ranked sixth on the team.

Augustine has dressed for 75 regular season games in his CFL, all with the Blue Bombers. He was not selected in the 2017 CFL Draft but had looks from Edmonton and Saskatchewan before landing in Winnipeg.

He played five seasons at the University of Guelph and in his senior year rushed for 690 yards and nine touchdowns on 122 carries for the Gryphons.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/01/26/blue-bombers-re-sign-running-back-johnny-augustine-2/

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24 Free agents left:

Dakota Prukop (A)
Brady Oliveira (N)
Rasheed Bailey (A)
Janarion Grant (A)
Greg McCrae (A)
Brendan O'Leary-Orange (N)
Dalton Schoen (A)
Geoff Gray (N)
Jermarcus Hardrick (A)
Chris Kolankowski (N)

Thiadric Hansen (G)
Jackson Jeffcoat (A)
Jake Thomas (N)
Ricky Walker (A)
Jesse Briggs (N)
Malik Clements (A)
Shayne Gauthier (N)
Brandon Alexander (A)
Alden Darby Jr. (A)
Kerfalla Exumé (N)
Nick Hallett (N)
Demerio Houston (A)
Winston Rose (A)
Sergio Castillo (A)

[ModAdmin]

Ed Tait reported that Alden Darby Jr. will not be returning to the Bombers in 2024.

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BLUE BOMBERS RE-SIGN CENTRE CHRIS KOLANKOWSKI
JANUARY 29, 2024

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with centre Chris Kolankowski. He was scheduled to become a free agent on February 13th.

Kolankowski (6-1, 309; York; born: February 7, 1992, in Etobicoke, Ont.) returns in 2024 for his seventh CFL season and fourth with the Blue Bombers.

Originally selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the sixth round, 49th overall, of the 2016 CFL Draft, Kolankowski dressed for 22 games during his days with the Argos before joining the Blue Bombers in February of 2020.

Kolankowski stepped in for an injured Michael Couture at centre in 2022 and started 15 games that season. Last year he became the Blue Bombers starting centre while starting all 18 regular-season games, plus the Western Final and Grey Cup. He was at the heart of a dominant offensive line that helped the offence finish first in scoring and saw Zach Collaros lead the league in passing.

Kolankowski spent five years at York, winning the Mike Benevides Lineman of the Year Award in 2015 and the Tom Arnott Award for Hard Work and Character in 2013.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/01/29/blue-bombers-re-sign-centre-chris-kolankowski/


Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign centre Chris Kolankowski to two-year extension
By John Hodge -January 29, 2024

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed centre Chris Kolankowski to a two-year contract extension, tying him to the team through 2025. He was scheduled to become a free agent next month.

Per sources, Kolankowski will earn close to $140,000 in 2024 and around $150,000 in 2025 as part of his new deal. This is a significant raise over what he made in 2023, which came in just shy of $90,000.

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/29/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-centre-chris-kolankowski-to-two-year-extension/

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Transactions:

2024-01-30   WPG   THOMPSON, Keytaon   WR   A   Virginia   ADD   Game Roster

[ModAdmin]

Some info on Keytaon Thompson...

https://virginiasports.com/player/keytaon-thompson/

[gobombersgo]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign wide receiver Keytaon Thompson
January 30, 2024

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed wide receiver Keytaon Thompson on Tuesday.

Keytaon Thompson is six foot three and weighs 218 pounds. The 25-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and was with the Orlando Guardians (XFL) before the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).

Collegiately, Thompson played three seasons at Mississippi State (2017-19) with one catch for eight yards, 98 carries for 671 yards, 10 touchdowns, and completed 50 of 105 passes (48%) for 846 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in 19 games for the Bulldogs.

Then, Thompson transferred to Virginia (2020-22) with 82 carries for 506 yards, eight touchdowns, 138 catches for 1,667 yards, four touchdowns, and completed 2 of 8 passes (25%) for -4 yards in 29 games for the Cavaliers.

https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2024/01/30/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-wide-receiver-keytaon-thompson/

[gobombersgo]

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH QUARTERBACK CHRIS STREVELER
JANUARY 31, 2024

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with quarterback Chris Streveler.

Streveler (6-1, 216; South Dakota/Minnesota; born: January 6, 1995, in Naperville, IL.) returns to the Blue Bombers after spending the last four seasons in the National Football League, suiting up for nine regular season games and starting one during his days with the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets.

Streveler first signed with the club on May 4th, 2018, and was the club's starter to open the season just a few weeks later following the sudden retirement of Darian Durant and an injury to Matt Nichols near the end of training camp. That made him the first straight-from-college quarterback to start Week 1 for a CFL team since Anthony Calvillo with the Las Vegas Posse in 1994 and the first for the Blue Bombers since John Schneider in 1968. He threw for 11 touchdowns in his first season in Winnipeg while rushing for 10 more, making him the first Winnipeg QB since Matt Dunigan to hit double-digit touchdown totals through the air and along the ground.

During the 2019 championship run, he again stepped in for an injured Nichols and guided the club to a 3-5 record. His 726 yards rushing that year established a club record by a quarterback, eclipsing Ken Ploen's mark of 541, set in 1960.

Streveler started 12 games in 2018 and 2019 with the Blue Bombers, going 4-8 in those games. He threw for 2,698 yards with 19 touchdowns and 19 interceptions during his days with the club, and rushed for 1,167 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Streveler began his college career at the University of Minnesota, playing both quarterback and receiver before transferring to the University of South Dakota. In his two seasons with the Coyotes, he threw for 6,081 yards and 54 touchdowns. In 2017, Streveler was named MVFC (Missouri Valley Football Conference) Offensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the most outstanding offensive player in the NCAA Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2024/01/31/winnipeg-blue-bombers-agree-to-terms-with-quarterback-chris-streveler/

Jeff Hamilton   @jeffkhamilton
Jan 31
Hearing that Streveler's contract is around $120,000, plus playing incentives. Belief is he can make some notable money off the field, given his local celebrity status.

[gobombersgo]

Transactions:

2024-01-31   WPG   HALLETT, Noah   DB   N   McMaster   ADD   Game Roster
2024-01-31   WPG   HALLETT, Nick   DB   N   Toronto   ADD   Game Roster

[gobombersgo]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-sign Canadian DBs Nick, Noah Hallett: source
By John Hodge -January 31, 2024

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have re-signed Canadian defensive backs Nick and Noah Hallett. Per source, Nick's extension is a two-year deal through 2025, while Noah's is a one-year deal through 2024.

Nick was a seventh-round pick in the 2019 CFL Draft out of the University of Toronto. He has since played 68 regular season games as a member of the Blue Bombers, recording 34 defensive tackles, 60 special teams tackles, three forced fumbles, and one interception.

The 29-year-old set a new career-high with 20 special teams tackles this past season, finishing tied for third league-wide behind only Carthell Flower-Lloyd of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Darius Williams of the Calgary Stampeders. He also made one start at safety in the club's regular season finale against Calgary.

Noah was a second-round pick in the 2020 CFL Draft out of McMaster University, though his career has been greatly limited due to injuries. He made one defensive tackle and four special teams tackles over nine games as a rookie in 2021 but has appeared in only two contests since, suffering a torn ACL in 2022.

The six-foot, 190-pound defender was released after failing his physical at the start of training camp this past season but rejoined Winnipeg's practice roster in October. He will turn 27 in September.

The brothers were born and raised in London, Ont.

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/31/winnipeg-blue-bombers-re-sign-canadian-dbs-nick-noah-hallett-source/