Rookie DE Bennett savouring chance against Stamps

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This article was published 26/10/2023 (717 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — You’re going to want a roster card for this one.

With the top spot in the West Division all locked up, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers made the obvious choice to sit a long list of starters for Friday night’s regular season finale against the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium.

Quarterback Zach Collaros, left tackle Stanley Bryant, defensive ends Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat, linebackers Adam Bighill and Kyrie Wilson, receiver Nic Demski, defensive back Winston Rose, defensive tackle Ricky Walker, and dimeback Redha Kramdi have all been taken out of the lineup to rest up for the West Final on Nov. 11 at IG Field.

Unfamiliar names to the casual fan such as defensive tackle Miles Fox, receiver Ravi Alston, and defensive back Jake Murphy will start in their place.

It’ll be a glorified preseason game as the Stamps (6-11) will also take it easy as they’re slated to travel to Vancouver next Saturday to play the B.C. Lions (12-6) in the West semifinal no matter how this one shakes out.

“It’s just another day to play football,” said rookie defensive end Anthony Bennett shortly after landing in Calgary on Thursday.

“What can you say? You grow up loving the game and any time you can strap on the pads it’s a blessing.”

Bennett — who hails from Weston, Fla., but has Canadian eligibility due to his mother being from Regina — was selected in the first round, eighth overall, by the Bombers in the 2023 CFL Draft out of the University of Regina. Year 1 has been quiet for the 27-year-old with seven defensive tackles and two special teams tackles in 17 games.

He’ll have a better shot at his first career sack this week as he’s expected to rotate at defensive end with Thiadric Hansen, Celestin Haba and TyJuan Garbutt.

“At the end of the day, yeah, (not having a sack) is ticking in my head, but also, you got to know your role and place in the scheme. As long as I’m doing my job and we end up with a W, that’s what I gotta do,” said Bennett.

The Bombers were pleased to have Bennett fall to them on draft day as he set a Regina single-season record with eight sacks in 2022. Before coming up north, the 6-3, 230-pounder played at the NCAA level for Florida Atlantic University from 2015-19.

“He’s been growing. It’s a big jump,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“He’s a big athlete, he moves well. He’s conscientious in terms of he always wants to learn. He’s got some good guys around him. Willie and Jackson have given him all sorts of information, and Jake (Thomas)… He’s got to figure out how to use it all, but as always with a first-year player, it can be a little challening at times.”

Most eyes will be on Bombers quarterback Dru Brown who will make his second start of the season. His first start was also in Calgary as he was handed the reins for an injured Collaros on Aug. 18 in a 19-18 win over the Stamps. When given the chance to play, Brown, 26, has made the most of the opportunity by completing 49-for-72 passes for 705 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.

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The third-year pro is in the final year of his contract and will likely be a hot commodity in free agency.

“I’m human, so I do think about those things, as far as the future goes. But I try to as best I can to kind of remove myself from those thoughts because that’s not what I need to worry about right now,” said Brown.

“I’m concerned with going out there and being productive, executing, and winning the game.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

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Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.