WINNIPEG, MB., January 5, 2022- Today, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have announced that they have signed two players and extended one to increase the depth of the Blue Bombers defense. American defensive tackle JoJo Wicker defensive back Malcolm Thompson and CFL veteran defensive tackle Jake Thomas will be suiting up with the Blue Bombers for the 2022 season.
Malcolm Thompson, who stands at 5-11, 200lbs will be competing in his second season in the CFL, but this will be his first with the Blue Bombers.
In his first season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Thompson recorded two special teams tackles.
At Wilfrid Laurier University, Thompson played in 31 games with the Golden Hawks, recording 120.5 total tackles, nine interceptions, two sacks, eight passes deflected one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. His efforts on the field lead him to be named an Ontario University Athletics All-Star three times. In 2016 he was lauded first-team honors and first-team all-Canadian honors. In 2015 and 2019 he was awarded second-team honors.
Jojo Wickers, who stands at 6-2, 290lbs from Arizona State University(ASU) will be competing in his first season in CFL after a short stint in the NFL with the Detroit Lions and the Washington Football Team.
During his amateur career at ASU Wicker filled up the stats sheet playing 38 games where he racked up 102 tackles, 70 solo tackles, 32 assisted tackles, and 31.5 tackles for loss that equaled to 130 yards. Wicker disrupted the offense passing game by deflecting four passes, blocking one punt, forcing and recovering a fumble. Wicker also disrupted the passing game for opposing teams recording 12.5 total sacks for a loss of 85 total yards.
CFL veteran Jake Thomas will be returning for his tenth connective season after signing a one-year contract extending with the Blue Bombers. Thomas was set to become a free agent next month but will continue to be the longest-serving member for the blue and gold.
Thomas has recorded 129 defensive tackles, 22 sacks, forced three fumbles, and one interception in his 151 games performed with Winnipeg. In 2021, Thomas recorded four sacks and 15 defensive tackles in 14 regular-season contests. In the club’s postseason run, Thomas additionally registered a sack inside each of the Western Final and Grey Cup, whilst posting 5 tackles (4 inside the 108th Grey Cup).
These three players will be bringing a plethora of skills to disrupt the opposing teams offense to a team that was already a top defense in the CFL. Last season the Blue Bomber ranked 1st in yards allowed, 1st in yards per play, 1st in total TD allowed, they were tied for 2nd in interceptions, 3rd in total rushing yards allowed, 5th in total tackles, 1st in forced fumbles, and 5th in quarterback sacks.
The Blue Bombers who are the raging back-to-back champions are looking to make their defense stronger early in the off-seasons the first four players they signed were all defensive players.
