WINNIPEG, MB., January 6, 2022- After winning the 108th Grey Cup Championship less than a month ago, the Bombers sign American WR Blake Johnson.
Johnson was a part of the Blue Bomber training camp in 2021 and it looked like he had a real chance to make the teams final 46-man roster. Prior to the end of camp, Johnson suffered a season-ending injury.
Johnson completed his amateur career at the Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders, a Division III school in his home town Houston, Texas. There he lead his team to the 2016 Division III title and was named the Stagg Bowl MVP in the process as the teams starting Quarterback! Yes, as a quarterback and a Phenomenal one at that.
His senior year he threw for 3,282 yards and 35 touchdowns while rushing for 1,026 yards and rushing for 11 TDs. After not getting many looks from NFL scouts as a six-foot mobile quarterback, Johnson made the switch to wide receiver after several NFL scouts said he had the skillset to make it as a receiver in the NFL.
Johnson talked about his journey in an interview with bombers.com and had this to say about it.
“I just got to work studying film on how to run routes, from players like Julian Edelman (of the New England Patriots) and other guys who played quarterback in college, and watched how they made the transition. I watched film on guys that seemed to fit my abilities. I had the athleticism, it was all about the craftsmanship of learning how to run routes, how to get in and out of your breaks, how to speed cut… everything.”
Since his time at UMHB, Jackson has bounced around from the NFL to XFL and CFL.
Making a year and a half stay with the Browns practice squad in before an injury cost him his spot. Next, he went to the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL where he played in five games recording five receptions for 50 yards and scoring one touchdown before the league was shut down due to the Pandemic. That caused him to join the Blue Bombers in trying Camp.
