Schoen’s freshman campaign one for the ages

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This article was published 26/10/2022 (1094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dalton Schoen was an unknown, untested first-year player when he arrived in Winnipeg for the start of training camp in May.

Five months later, the 26-year-old receiver from Overland Park, Kan., is putting the finishing touches on one of the most celebrated rookie campaigns in CFL history.

With one regular-season game remaining, Schoen leads the league with 1,357 yards (on 68 receptions) and also holds down top spot in receiving touchdowns with 15 – a Blue Bombers franchise record for first-year players.

On Wednesday, he was named Winnipeg’s nominee for Most Outstanding Rookie, joining five teammates also vying for league honours, including: quarterback Zach Collaros (Most Outstanding Player), tackle Stanley Bryant (Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman), slotback Nic Demski (Most Outstanding Canadian); kick returner Janarion Grant (Most Outstanding Special Teams Player) and defensive end Willie Jefferson (Most Outstanding Defensive Player).

Schoen has become a go-to target for Collaros, leading the CFL in second-down conversion receptions. Forty of his 68 receptions have resulted in Winnipeg first downs. He credited Winnipeg quarterbacks and other teammates for his speedy adjustment to the Canadian game, of which he knew very little before his arrival.

“I’ve learned so much from Zach but I’ve learned so much from all our quarterbacks,” said Schoen, who has five 100-yard receiving games on his resume. “They all work so hard and they’ll prepare so hard, even though most of the time it’s only Zach that gets to play… I really appreciate that about them and about our receiver unit. They’re all really, really good players, but then they’re also really, really smart and good people and they’ve never hesitated to help me out or help me before I even have to ask.”

Award finalists for the West and East Divisions will be announced next week with league honours to be unveiled on Nov. 17. Winning a league honour is not a priority for Schoen.

“That’s never been something that’s at the front of my thought process,” said Schoen. “I don’t think anyone thinks about those kinds of things in this organization. And that’s what’s so special about being here — it’s all about the team. It’s all about the team culture. It’s so easy for guys like me coming in to see that culture with the older guys and to just follow suit.”

While Schoen is establishing himself as a pro, four-time CFL all-star Jefferson is building a resume that should eventually lead to Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

The 31-year-old leads the Blue Bombers with seven sacks and has added 30 tackles, an interception for a touchdown and two forced fumbles. He also has 10 pass knockdowns.

Jefferson admitted the secret to his success in his eighth CFL season has a lot to do with taking care of his body.

“The one analogy that I did take from college sports nutrition, from strength and conditioning coaches, is you can’t put regular gas in a Ferrari,” said Jefferson, who is the first player in CFL history to record 50 sacks and 50 pass knockdowns.

”Us being high-performance athletes — running, hitting, changing direction and things like that — you don’t want to put bad stuff in your body to where your body doesn’t… work at peak performance.”

Jefferson was asked if he was still felt like a Ferrari.

“Oh yeah, I’m more like a Lambo, you know what I’m saying,” he said. “I get up and go.”

Bryant, a three-time winner of the CFL’s top prize for O-lineman, was named Winnipeg’s nominee for the sixth time and has not shown any decline in his skills. He was nominated twice for the award earlier in his career with the Calgary Stampeders.

Could he play until he reaches 40?

“I’m 30 now so that’s 10 more years,” joked the 36-year-old from Goldsboro, N.C. “I don’t know, I just take it year by year. I just think about things in the off-season and prepare for the season and go from there.”

Demski, a 28-year-old Winnipegger, wants to be an example for up-and-coming players. He’s heavily involved in youth football during the off-season.

“I just want to be kind of that role model that kids in the younger generation can keep striving to be like,” said Demski. “I tried to help out with the football community and coach and just try to get kids to this level and have a bunch of success and… ultimately be better than me.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @sawa14