The Winnipeg Blue Bombers selected nine players in the 2025 CFL Draft on Tuesday night. Here are the players headed to Winnipeg.
Connor Shay is six foot two and weighs 232 pounds. The 23-year-old from Danville, California, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the first round (6th pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft. He will also attend NFL rookie minicamps with the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets.
Collegiately, Shay played four seasons at Wyoming (2021-24) making 97 tackles (54 solos, 43 assists), 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and four pass breakups in 49 games for the Cowboys. In 2024, he made 76 tackles (45 solos, 31 assists), 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception, and four pass breakups.
Jaylen Smith is six foot and weighs 230 pounds. A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Smith was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round (15th pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Smith played four seasons at North Texas (2021-24) making 160 tackles (75 solos, 85 assists), 12.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, two interceptions for six yards, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 52 games for the Mean Green. He was named Third Team All-AAC and DCTF Second Team All-Texas in 2024.
Taylor Elgersma is six foot six and weighs 235 pounds. The 23-year-old from London, Ontario, went undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round (18th pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft. He will attend NFL rookie minicamps with the Buffalo Bills and the Green Bay Packers.
Collegiately, Elgersma played four seasons at Wilfrid Laurier (2021-24) completing 793 of 1,121 passes (71%) for 10,547 yards, 78 touchdowns, 33 interceptions, 127 carries for 605 yards, 18 touchdowns, one catch for seven yards, one kick return for 17 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 41 games for the Golden Hawks.
Elgersma was named a two-time First Team OUA All-Canadian, two-time U-Sports Second Team All-Canadian, two-time OUA Most Valuable Player, a Yates Cup champion, Uteck Bowl champion, Yates Cup MVP, Uteck Bowl Nike Offensive Player of the Game, and a winner of the 2024 Hec Crighton Award that recognizes a player as U-Sports football’s Most Outstanding Player.
Ethan Vibert is six foot four and weighs 310 pounds. The 24-year-old from Regina, Saskatchewan, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the third round (27th pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Vibert played five seasons at South Dakota State University (2019-24) playing 25 games for the Jackrabbits. In 2024, South Dakota State averaged 36.67 points per game, 236.1 rushing yards per game, 197.93 passing yards per game, 434.1 total yards per game, 73 touchdowns, and allowed eight sacks finishing 12-3 and appearing in the FCS National Champion. He was named a five-time MVFC Honor Roll.
Joey Corcoran is six foot one and weighs 208 pounds. The 23-year-old from Montreal, Quebec, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the fifth round (39th pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Corcoran played four seasons at New Hampshire (2021-24) making 126 catches for 1,476 yards, eight touchdowns, five carries for five yards, eight punt returns for 59 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 35 games for the Wildcats.
Lane Novak is six foot one and weighs 225 pounds. The 22-year-old from Balgonie, Saskatchewan, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the fifth round (45th pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Novak played four seasons at the University of Saskatchewan (2021-24) making 184 tackles (147 solos, 75 assists), 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions for 14 yards, 10 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one punt return for two yards, and one kick return for seven yards in 38 games for the Huskies. He is a two-time Canada Cup Champion in 2018 and 2019 and the Huskies Football Rookie of the Year in 2020.
Ethan Ball is six foot and weighs 190 pounds. The 23-year-old from Regina, Saskatchewan, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the sixth round (54th pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Ball played four seasons at North Dakota (2020-24) making 44 tackles (33 solos, 11 assists) in 32 games for the Fighting Hawks. He was named an MVFC Honorable Mention All-Academic in 2022. Then, he transferred to the University of Calgary in 2024 making 27 tackles (19 solos, 16 assists), half tackle for loss, two pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in five games for the Dinos.
Trey Laing is six foot two and weighs 240 pounds. The 25-year-old from Tallahassee, Florida, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the seventh round (63rd pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Laing played two seasons at the University of South Florida (2018-19) making six tackles (3 solos, 3 assists), and one tackle for loss in four games for the Bulls. Next, he transferred to East Mississippi Community College in 2021 making 53 tackles (24 solos, 29 assists), 12.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception for four yards in 10 games for the Lions.
Then, he transferred to Southern in 2022 making 21 tackles (12 solos, 9 assists), nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble in seven games for the Jaguars. Laing transferred to Indiana in 2023 but missed the season due to an injury. He transferred to Eastern Michigan in 2024 making 22 tackles (10 solos, 12 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in 12 games for the Eagles.
Iwinosa Uwubanmwen is six foot four and weighs 290 pounds. The 23-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the eighth round (71st pick) of the 2025 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Uwubanmwen played one game for the University of Alberta Golden Bears in 2024. He is in his third year of eligibility and is expected to return to Alberta after training camp.
