The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed seven American players, including receivers Peter Afful, Braxton Burmeister, Oliver Martin, and Keric Wheatfall, defensive lineman Ali Fayad, defensive back Marcus Hillman, and kicker Jose Borregales.
Afful made 63 catches for 1,220 yards and 16 touchdowns over 23 collegiate games at Washburn University, a Division II program in Topeka, Kan. The five-foot-ten, 190-pound target attended rookie minicamp with the Kansas City Chiefs this past spring after going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Burmeister played quarterback at the collegiate level, splitting his NCAA career between Oregona, Virginia Tech, and San Diego State. He threw for 3,020 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over that span and rushed for 834 yards and seven touchdowns. The six-foot-one, 205-pound native of La Jolla, Calif. participated in training camp with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023.
Martin spent a portion of the 2023 season on Winnipeg’s practice roster. The native of Coralville, Iowa caught 25 passes for 405 yards over three seasons at the University of Nebraska and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft. He posted a 41-inch vertical jump at his pro day last year.
Wheatfall made 78 receptions for 1,286 yards and six touchdowns over three collegiate seasons at Fresno State. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has since had a USFL stint with the Philadelphia Stars, dressing for three games with the team in 2023.
Fayad was named the Mid-America Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 at Western Michigan after recording 40 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, and two pass knockdowns. The six-foot-two, 250-pound edge rusher has since been a member of the Toronto Argonauts and Philadelphia Stars of the USFL.
Hillman played 47 collegiate games at Elon University, an NCAA Division I FCS program in North Carolina. The native of Camden, N.J. recorded 101 tackles, 13 sacks, one interception, eight forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and five pass knockdowns as a member of the Phoenix.
Borregales played collegiately at Florida International University and the University of Miami. He made 70-of-88 career field goal attempts for an average of 79.5 percent as well as 168-of-171 of his converts. The native of Caracas, Venezuela was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2018 as the nation’s best kicker and won it in 2020. He has since been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Orlando Guardians of the XFL.
Sergio Castillo, Winnipeg’s incumbent placekicker, remains a pending free agent. CFL free agency is set to get underway on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at noon EST.
