The Winnipeg Blue Bombers released wide receiver Abdul-Karim Gassama, offensive linemen Justin Mayers, Ben Dooley, and Hunter Poncius, defensive linemen De’Shaan Dixon and Collin Kornelson, and linebacker Matthew Jackson from the practice squad on Friday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Abdul-Karim Gassama is five foot eleven and weighs 175 pounds. The 26-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, re-signed with the Blue Bombers on November 26, 2024. In 2025, Gassama appeared in two preseason games, recording no stats. The Blue Bombers released Gassama on May 31, 2025. The Blue Bombers re-signed him to the practice squad on October 27, 2025.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers drafted Gassama in the sixth round (55th pick) in the 2024 CFL Draft. In a preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Gassama made one catch for nine yards. The Blue Bombers released Gassama on June 3, 2024, and he returned to Manitoba for his final season.
Collegiately, Gassama played six seasons at the University of Manitoba (2018-24) with 136 catches for 1,895 yards, 15 touchdowns, 31 carries for 203 yards, eight kick returns for 106 yards, and 20 punt returns for 160 yards in 38 games for the Bisons.
In 2024, Gassama had five carries for 24 yards, 38 catches for 451 yards, two touchdowns, six kick returns for 87 yards, and six punt returns for 82 yards in nine games.
Justin Mayers is six foot four and weighs 320 pounds. The 24-year-old from Frisco, Texas, attended the Denver Broncos rookie minicamp in 2025. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Mayers to the practice squad on August 3, 2025.
Collegiately, Mayers played four seasons at the University of Texas-El Paso (2020-24), playing left guard in 35 games for the Miners. In 2023, UTEP averaged 19.92 points per game, 217.67 passing yards per game, 144.3 rushing yards per game, 362 total yards per game, 30 touchdowns, and allowed 30 sacks, finishing 3-9 for the season.
Mayers was named an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention in 2022 and a four-time Conference USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.
Then, he transferred to Colorado in 2024, playing left guard and right guard in 11 games, of which seven were starts for the Buffaloes. He played the fifth most snaps on the offensive line (484). In 366 pass blocks, he allowed two sacks, five hurries, and seven pressures. He played in the Hula Bowl College All-Star Game in 2025.
In 2024, Colorado averaged 32.92 points per game, 318 passing yards per game, 65.2 rushing yards per game, 383.2 total yards per game, 56 touchdowns, and allowed 43 sacks, finishing 9-4 for the season. They would appear in the Alamo Bowl against BYU.
Ben Dooley is six foot five and weighs 320 pounds. The 24-year-old from Fallon, Nevada, signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2025. In 2025, he played in three preseason games. The Rams released him on August 24, 2025. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Dooley to the practice squad on October 13, 2025.
Collegiately, Dooley spent six seasons at Boise State (2019-24), playing left guard, right guard, and right tackle in 45 games for the Broncos. In 2024, he started 14 games at left guard. Boise State averaged 37.29 points per game, 240.4 rushing yards per game, 225.64 passing yards per game, 466 yards per game, 69 touchdowns, and allowed 15 sacks, finishing 12-2 for the season.
Dooley allowed one sack in 428 opportunities. He was named Second Team All-Mountain West in 2023, First Team All-Mountain West in 2024, First Team All-Mountain West by Phil Steele in 2024, Third Team All-American by College Football Network, and a five-time Academic All-Mountain West (Fall 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).
Hunter Poncius is six foot eight and weighs 318 pounds. The 24-year-old from Buffalo, Minnesota, signed with the Montreal Alouettes on April 16, 2025. In 2025, he played left guard in two preseason games. The Alouettes released him on May 31, 2025. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Poncius to the practice squad on October 2, 2025.
Collegiately, Poncius played five seasons at North Dakota State (2019-24), playing 40 games for the Bisons. He was named the 2023 MVFC Presidents Council Academic Award, a four-time MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award (2020-23), and a five-time MVFC Honor Roll (2019-24).
In 2024, he was a backup left tackle for the majority of the 2024 season. He played 16 games on the PAT and field goal units. He started the final three games at left tackle for the Bisons.
North Dakota State averaged 38.1 points per game, 193.3 rushing yards per game, 224.2 passing yards per game, 76 touchdowns, and allowed 20 sacks, finishing 10-2 for the season on their way to winning the FCS National Championship, defeating Montana State. It was North Dakota State’s tenth FCS National Championship and 18th overall title in program history.
De’Shaan Dixon is six foot five and weighs 247 pounds. The 26-year-old from Chesapeake, Virginia, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on October 13, 2025. He spent the rest of the season on the practice squad.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Dixon as an undrafted free agent on May 5, 2022. Dixon made 10 tackles (4 solos, 6 assists), one sack, and one pass breakup in six preseason games. He would appear in three regular-season games with one tackle (1 assist). Dixon was on injured reserve in 2024 and was released on August 9, 2024.
Collegiately, Dixon played five seasons at Norfolk State (2017-21) with 154 tackles (69 solos, 65 assists), 24.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, and one kick return for 11 yards in 42 games for the Spartans. He was named First Team All-MEAC in 2021 and Third Team All-MEAC in 2019.
Collin Kornelson is six foot three and weighs 240 pounds. The 25-year-old from Winnipeg, Manitoba, re-signed with the Blue Bombers on December 6, 2024. In 2025, he made one tackle on special teams in two preseason games to earn a spot on the practice squad.
Kornelson played six games this season with three tackles. The Blue Bombers released on August 20, 2025. The Blue Bombers re-signed him to the practice squad on September 3, 2025.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers drafted Kornelson in the fifth round (44th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft. In 2023, Kornelson played in two preseason games with one tackle.
He was released by the Blue Bombers on June 4, 2023, and returned to Manitoba. In 2024, he appeared in one preseason game, recording no stats, and returned to Manitoba for his final collegiate season.
Kornelson played six seasons at the University of Manitoba (2018-19, 2021-24) with 101 tackles (63 solo, 38 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass breakup in 31 games for the Bisons.
In 2024, Kornelson made 37 tackles (20 solos, 17 assists), five tackles for loss, and two sacks in nine games. He was named Second Team All-Canadian. In addition, Kornelson played minor football for the Valour Patriots and then the St. Paul’s Crusaders.
Matthew Jackson is six foot one and weighs 209 pounds. The 26-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on October 2, 2025. He spent the season on the practice squad.
The Tennessee Titans signed Jackson as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. In 2023, he made four tackles (2 solos, 2 assists) in three preseason games. Jackson appeared in 10 regular-season games with six tackles (3 solos, 3 assists).
In 2024, he made four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) in three preseason games. The Titans released him on August 27, 2024. The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Jackson to the practice squad on August 29, 2024. He dressed for one game and became a free agent after the 2024 season.
Collegiately, Jackson played five seasons at Eastern Kentucky University (2018-22) with 294 tackles (170 solos, 124 assists), 27.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two interceptions for 41 yards, 14 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries in 50 games for the Colonels. Jackson was named First Team All-ASUN, First Team All-ASUN by Phil Steele, Fourth Team All-American by Phil Steele and DraftScout, and Third Team All-American by Stats Perform.
