‘The Shuttlebus’ shines way onto Bombers practice roster

Did the Winnipeg Blue Bombers need an American running back?

No, not really.

Regardless if it was a need or not, there was no way the Blue and Gold were going to let Quinton Cooley walk out the door.

The 5-7, 210-pound rookie out of Liberty University signed to the team’s practice squad after bulldozing his way to 56 rushing yards on eight carries and one catch for nine yards in last week’s 27-20 pre-season finale win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

“He’s as physical as they come. He did everything we wanted him to do and more,” said head coach Mike O’Shea after Wednesday’s practice. The Bombers are on a Week 1 bye and don’t open their season until June 12 when they host the B.C. Lions at 7:30 p.m.

“You gotta find a way to keep a guy like that, and see where you can slot him in.”

Cooley has already earned the nickname “The Shuttlebus” and “Bowling Ball” from his new teammates for how he runs through defenders and his willingness to deliver a big block.

“I grew up in a Wing-T offence. Straight downhill, country boy, nose in the dirt — stuff like that,” said Cooley, who ran 426 times for 2,655 yards and 29 touchdowns in two seasons at Liberty. Prior to that, he spent three years at Wake Forest.

“It was fun for me, growing up like that, having cousins playing in the backfield, getting tougher. Going outside without the shoulder pads, without the helmets… the more I play the game the more I just want to play physical.”

He’s also proven to be tough. When he was a junior at Southern Nash High School in Bailey, N.C., he broke the school’s single-game rushing record (413 yards in the second round of playoffs) and he did it with a torn labrum.

“My shoulder popped out of place, so they sent me out for two drives, then we went into halftime. Then, my teammate, who already had a labrum tear, gave me his shoulder brace. After that, I was like ‘I’m going back in the game,’” recalled Cooley.

“And my aunt was on the sideline and she was like, ‘No, you’re not going back in.’ So, she went back up into the stands, and by the time she did, I turned around and ran onto the field. I played the game and played my tail off.”

Despite closing out his college career with some impressive numbers, Cooley’s dream of playing pro football was in jeopardy. Several NFL teams showed interest in him prior to this year’s draft, but his name went uncalled and he didn’t receive any rookie camp invites, either.

He had no choice but to get a job working at a warehouse where he loaded, delivered and installed refrigerators and washing machines. His shift started at 5 a.m. and went until 6 p.m.

“I was getting paid $160 a day. It was a pretty good job, working Monday through Saturday, so, I was doing that, trying to stay on top of things. Then I got the call May 2 (from Winnipeg) and they were like, ‘We need you up here May 5,’ and I was like, ‘Dang, that’s a quick turnaround,’” said Cooley.

“But it was a blessing. I was happy I got a call that somebody wants to give me an opportunity.”

The Bombers offence will continue to roll through reigning Most Outstanding Player Brady Oliveira. If the Winnipegger needs to catch his breath, or misses any time, they’ll likely turn to fourth-year running back Peyton Logan, an American who can also serve as a returner, once he’s taken off the one-game injured list. The running back room also features Canadian Matthew Peterson, a former Canada West Player of the Year with the Alberta Golden Bears, who was acquired in a draft day trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in April.

With three names expected to be ahead of him on the depth chart and, more importantly, a limited number of import spots available, it’ll be tough for Cooley to get onto the field, but he’s not discouraged.

“I’m new to the game. I’ll learn from Brady, learn from Peyton Logan, the vets in the room. Everywhere you go, you have to start new somewhere,” said Cooley.

“But me learning from them guys, it’s really gonna benefit me. I’m pretty good at the stuff that I do, but if I can watch Brady and see the way he does stuff, I can get some of his game and put it into my game.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca