Bombers sign Division II All-American receiver Gavin Garner, one other

Photo courtesy: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have added a pair of players to their roster for the 2022 season, signing American receiver Gavin Garner and Canadian offensive lineman Tyler Grisolia.

Garner played five seasons at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, dressing in 40 games from 2016 to 2021. The six-foot-three, 220-pound pass-catcher hauled in 149 receptions for 2,414 yards and 25 touchdowns, tying the Rangers’ all-time school record. In his senior season in 2021, he was named an honourable mention Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-American after catching 58 passes for 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Newcastle, Okla. native went unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft. He attended rookie mini camps with both the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints but did not earn a contract.

Grisolia originally committed to the University of Guelph, before transferring to the University of Toronto. He started all eight games in 2019 but did not play in 2021, going unselected in the 2022 CFL Draft.

The six-foot-two, 305-pound blocker returned to the field for seven games in 2022, earning an invite to the CFL’s Invitational Combine in Waterloo. He put up 16 reps on the bench and ran a 5.45-second forty-yard dash, jumping 22.5 inches in the vertical and seven feet, 5 3/4 inches in the broad. He also clocked an 8.01-second three-cone and 5.00-second short shuttle.