Receiver Vitt catching on fast at rookie camp

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This article was published 26/05/2016 (3403 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Alex Vitt has no illusions about his place on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster.

Taken 55th overall by the Bombers with their second-last pick in the 2016 CFL Draft earlier this month, the former University of Manitoba Bison understands the situation he’s in.

The slotback knows he’s likely not making the astronomical jump from being a rookie in May to a starter in June. He knows he may have to find another position — likely special teams — to earn a spot to begin with.

“It’s all about finding a role,” he said. “I’m coming in as a rookie and the expectation is to see what you can do, whatever you can do to help out. If it’s special teams, practice roster, I’ll gladly take it.”

Vitt is no stranger to Investors Group Field. The only difference between his days with the Bisons and the Blue Bombers, at least to begin his day, starts with a right turn instead of a left when he gets off the elevator.

A Winnipeg native, Vitt came up through the ranks of minor football in the city. He eventually earned a spot on the Winnipeg Rifles. But it was a particular game — a heartbreaking loss in the Prairie Football Conference semifinal in 2010 — that changed the course of Vitt’s football career.

“That off-season I said, ‘Let’s turn everything around, they won’t even recognize me next year,’ ” Vitt told the Free Press the day after he was drafted. “I put in the best work I ever had, hit the gym, hit the track and came back and had a record-setting year as an All-Canadian with the Rifles.”

Two days into rookie camp, Vitt feels he’s beginning to adjust to the professional level.

“It takes a bit of getting used to, but I think after today’s two-a-days, it’s starting to come back,” he said. “On Tuesday, they gave us the playbooks and it was a lot to take in. We started running it yesterday and I was a little slow, but as the day progressed it started coming back. It was nice to be back out on the field.”

Alex isn’t in the only member of the Vitt family taking in their first rookie training camp.

Normally, Lana Vitt is a member of the security on Blue Bombers game days, but for the first two days of training camp, she’s been in her natural state as a thrilled mother excited for her son.

“This is his dream, and you always want to support your children in their dreams,” Lana said. “He’s a hard-working boy. It’s so thrilling.”

A little embarrassing for Alex? Perhaps. At one point Thursday, Alex came over to pose for a picture as his mother snapped it from the front row.

He might catch a little flak from his teammates, but he’s happy to have family around.

“It’s family, it’s a bit of comfort,” he said. “She’s got nothing better to do, so I’m glad to have her out.”

❚ NOTES: The on-field portion of rookie camp ends today with a practice from 10:15 a.m. to noon at IGF. Main camp gets underway Sunday.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @scottbilleck

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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