Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign The Citadel receiver Jihad Marks, release one

Photo courtesy: Hunter Gatling/The Citadel Athletics

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed American receiver Jihad Marks to their training camp roster.

The six-foot-two, 210-pound target spent his final collegiate season at the Military College of South Carolina, better known as The Citadel. He appeared in 12 games and caught 14 passes for 464 yards and seven touchdowns, with all but one catch for 18 yards coming in the final five weeks of action.

Marks transferred after two seasons at McNeese State University, where he appeared in 18 games and caught 24 passes for 372 yards and four touchdowns. The native of Goodyear, Ariz., began his career at Bakersfield College, a junior college in California, where he amassed 47 receptions for 835 yards and six touchdowns.

In a corresponding move, the Bombers released American receiver Bryce Kirtz.

Kirtz played five collegiate seasons at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where he made 132 receptions for 1,781 yards and five touchdowns. The six-foot, 195-pound native of Brownsburg, Ind. had his best season in 2023 when he caught 49 passes for 701 yards and all five of his career scores.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers opened training camp on May 10. Winnipeg will play its first preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, May 23, and their second preseason game against the B.C. Lions on Friday, May 29. Final roster cuts are due on Saturday, May 30, after which the team will play its first regular-season game against the Calgary Stampeders on Friday, June 5.

Winnipeg recently selected Wake Forest defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding to the club’s pass rush. The team’s other major offseason additions include receiver Tim White, offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, and defensive lineman Jake Ceresna.

In 2025, the Blue Bombers finished fourth in the West Division standings with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs as the crossover team before losing the East Semi-Final to the Montreal Alouettes.