The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have released 25 players ahead of Saturday’s CFL roster deadline, including Canadian kicker Marc Liegghio.
The Woodbridge, Ont. native was selected by the Bombers in the fifth round of the 2020 CFL Draft after a record-setting U Sports career for Western University. He was the team’s primary punter as a rookie in 2021 but performed all three kicking jobs for the team last season.
In 32 career games, Liegghion has connected on 37-of-47 field goal attempts (78.7 percent) while hitting 61-of-69 point-afters (88.4 percent), registering 172 points. He has also punted 183 times, posting a gross average of 45.3 yards and a net average of 36.1 yards.
The Bombers kicking duties will be handled by American Sergio Castillo in 2023, while Australian Jamieson Sheahan has won the punting job.
The Bombers’ full list of releases included American quarterback Josh Jones; receivers Manasseh Bailey, Sean Coyne, Braxton Westfield, Tavaris Harrison, Brendan Beaulieu, and Gavin Garner; running backs Kevon Latulas, Vance Barnes, and Jordan Salima; offensive linemen Kelvin Ateman and Desmond Bessent; defensive linemen Joe Beckett, DeJaun Cooper, Aaron Sterling, and Keenan Agnew; linebacker Barrington Wade, defensive back Karon Delince, and kicker Chandler Staton. The club also parted ways with Canadian defensive backs Jordan Veltri, Jacob Janke, and Bret MacDougall; linebacker Max Charbonneau, and offensive lineman Cole Adamson. Canadian defensive lineman Collin Kornelson was placed on the suspended list with the intention of returning to school.
The club also designated 13 players to the practice roster, including American running back Greg McCrae, receiver Amare Jones, offensive linemen Drew Richmond and Chris Ivy, defensive tackle Caleb Thomas, defensive backs Abu Daramy-Swaray and Matt Cole, and long snapper Damian Jackson. Canadian offensive lineman Jakub Szott and receiver Jeremy Murphy were also moved to PR, as were Global offensive lineman Tomoya Machino, defensive back Souleymane Karamoko, and punter Karl Schmitz.
The Bombers are scheduled to begin their season on Friday, June 9 when they host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
