Canadian receiver Michael O’Shea, the son of Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ head coach Mike O’Shea, has committed to the University of Manitoba Bisons.
The native of Mississauga, Ont. started his postsecondary career at the University of Guelph in 2019, his father’s alma mater. He spent two years with the Gryphons but didn’t record any statistics as he was buried on the depth chart behind veterans Kade Belyk, Zeph Fraser, and current CFL receivers Kiondre Smith and Kian Schaffer-Baker.
O’Shea moved out west to play for the Okanagan Sun of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) in 2021 and caught 23 passes for 563 yards and 10 touchdowns in seven games. He also recorded 37 total returns for 557 yards and two touchdowns. He was named a conference all-star at receiver and return specialist as well as a CJFL first-team All-Canadian at receiver.
The six-foot, 183-pound target returned to the Sun in 2022 and caught 28 passes for 483 yards and eight touchdowns along with 58 kick returns for 1,011 yards and three touchdowns. O’Shea was named a CJFL first-team All-Canadian as a return specialist, a second-team All-Canadian as a receiver, a conference all-star as a receiver, and the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year. He also scored the game-winning touchdown in the Sun’s victory over the Regina Thunder in the Canadian Bowl.
O’Shea signed with the Blue Bombers after going unselected in the 2023 CFL Draft, though he was released following rookie camp.
Manitoba went 4-4 during the regular season in 2022, finishing fourth in the Canada West standings. The club lost in semi-final round of the playoffs to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies by a score of 37-9.
