Bombers QB Elgersma not exactly your typical rookie

A little snowfall in May wasn’t going to spoil the opening day of Blue Bombers rookie camp for Taylor Elgersma.

“To be here for the first time looking around this place, it’s beautiful. What more can you ask for?” said the 24-year-old quarterback out of Wilfrid Laurier.

“You gotta love it, that’s what we play this game for. I think if you can play well in the cold, then you can take advantage of people and I think I do it well. It’s nice to get out here in the fresh air today and let it fly.”

He certainly did let it fly on Wednesday, showcasing why the Green Bay Packers went against the norm and brought the U Sports product to training camp a year ago.

Elgersma squeezed the most out of his reps by airing several beautiful passes downfield throughout the session, highlighted by a deep touchdown pass to Dorian Singer.

At 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, it’s hard not to be impressed just by his size alone.

“He’s a big dude, that’s for sure,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “It is shocking when you meet him in person.”

“I’m a rookie, but it’s nice to have those experiences to lean on.”

Elgersma isn’t your typical rookie. He attended three CFL camps during his university days, one last year with the Packers, and another recently in the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions.

“I’m a rookie, but it’s nice to have those experiences to lean on. I know what it’s like to go through training camps and digest installs fast, and I think that’s something that I can do to be a leader in this locker room, too, with some of the young guys that are doing this for the first time,” said Elgersma.

“Can I meet with them after (practice)? Can we find times to meet as a group, and I can show them some tips that I’ve learned on how to digest these playbooks fast?”

Elgersma, a former Hec Crighton Trophy winner, is a part of an intriguing quarterback room that features third-year Bomber Terry Wilson, last year’s UFL MVP Bryce Perkins, and Payton Thorne, who has pre-season experience with the Cincinnati Bengals.

“Every single time you’re playing football you’re in a battle, whether you think you’re secure or you’re not, we’re playing pro football, so you’re always battling for your spot.”

The Bombers are crossing their fingers that one of the four can separate from the pack and win the No. 2 job behind Zach Collaros.

“Every single time you’re playing football you’re in a battle, whether you think you’re secure or you’re not, we’re playing pro football, so you’re always battling for your spot. The best thing you can do is focus on what can I do better tomorrow that I didn’t do well today. What coaching points can I take away from today when we watch film and don’t make the same mistake tomorrow,” said Elgersma.

“I think if you do that for your entire career, you’re gonna end up in a good situation. You look at a guy like Zach, I think that’s how he approaches the game, and so I think that’s what I want to do as well.”

Collaros on new playoff format

What does Zach Collaros think of the CFL’s new playoff format that will debut in 2027?

“It could be exciting for the fans. I think you gotta let kind of everything play out. These people who make the decisions make them for reasons. You just gotta trust it and roll with it,” he said.

“What would be the point of criticizing it — if that’s the way I felt anyway. Again, I really don’t feel a certain way about it. It’s tough to win the Grey Cup as it is, adding an extra game is going to make it a little bit harder, but it could create some excitement down the road.”

O’Shea wasn’t willing to share his thoughts on the move to eight out of nine teams making the post-season.

“That’s next year. You can ask me next year.”

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