‘Mean, athletic, nasty and fun,’ Dobson ready to earn job with Bombers

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This article was published 21/05/2022 (1324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Just weeks ago, it looked as though the Winnipeg Blue Bombers might have to wait years before they got a look at offensive lineman Liam Dobson. Now, he’s under contract through the 2023 Canadian Football League season.

Dobson, who the Bombers drafted third overall in the 2021 CFL Draft, inked a two-year deal with Winnipeg on Friday. The signing was only made possible after the 23-year-old Ottawa native was denied a P-1 visa – a work permit that allows holders to earn income from athletic events, among other things — which ultimately voided a two-year commitment to the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL, a newly-formed spring league based out Birmingham, Ala.

On Saturday, Dobson made his first appearance with the Bombers, donning No. 64 while lining up mostly at left guard — a position that is up for grabs after the departure of Drew Desjarlais to the NFL’s New England Patriots. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind for Dobson since being drafted, including switching schools last season, as well a couple of NFL opportunities after his USFL deal fell through.

“There’s been a lot of movement. I had a dream, and the dream is to play pro football,” Dobson said. “After the draft last year, I went back to college, still pursuing my dream of playing NFL football. But I love the CFL and when I realized my best option to play professional football was here, I called my agent, told my parents that I was going up to Winnipeg.”

He added: “It’s a great experience, learning from some guys in the offensive line room that are phenomenal players and have been phenomenal players in this league for such a long time. Overall, I couldn’t ask for a better experience to start off my career.”

Dobson had a standout four-year career at the University of Maine, where he was named the team’s most outstanding O-lineman in 2019, after starting all 12 games and averaging 12 knockdowns a match. He then transferred to Texas State University last season, where he continued to develop, even if the Bobcats had little success, finishing the year 4-8.

After his visa issues, which were the result of the USFL’s revenue not meeting the legal requirements, Dobson attended two NFL mini camps, working out for the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints. When neither resulted in a contract, he set his sights on the CFL.

“He’s been good. He loves playing football. So, we’re glad he’s here,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “He had some other opportunities, and now he’s here with us. It’s still early in camp, and he’ll pick things up pretty quickly, I’m sure.”

Dobson admitted there will be an adjustment period as he transitions to the Canadian game. He hasn’t played three-down football for seven years, dating back to when he was in high school.

It’s unclear what his season might look like, whether Dobson will blossom into a starter, come off the bench or earn a spot on the practice roster. While he’ll clearly be in the running at left guard, it’s a position that is also being fought for by Geoff Gray, who is entering his fourth CFL season.

“Right now I’m just learning. I got here last night, got with the older guys, learned as much as I possibly can and just worked to be the best player I possibly can,” Dobson said. “Whether that means play right away, play in a year, play part way through the season… just be the best player I can be, as soon as I can be, and help the team in whatever role I can.”

Dobson described himself as “mean, athletic, nasty, a bunch of fun.” That’s exactly the way right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick sees him too, adding Dobson has already made a good first impression with his teammates on the O-line.

“I’ve just loved our conversations,” Hardrick said. “He wants to be nasty and he’s gonna fit right in. We already cracking jokes; it’s only been about two days and he already understands my humour.”

What Dobson also brings is versatility, something every coach loves in a player. He split his time during college playing guard and tackle, and with experience at both positions, only time will tell where he ends up.

“We like what we saw, that’s why we drafted him. I don’t know if you could ever predict what a guy will be,” O’Shea said. “That remains to be seen. We’ll use the preseason games to figure that out a little more, but we know he’s talented, we know he can play multiple positions. So, that’s a good start.”

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton