The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed former Louisiana-Monroe defensive tackle Caleb Thomas, Truman State running back Jordan Salima, Carson-Newman wide receiver Braxton Westfield, defensive lineman Julius Turner, and offensive lineman Jakub Szott on Friday. In addition, Winnipeg released running back Ta’Zhawn Henry and linebacker Nate Givhan.
Caleb Thomas is six foot one and weighs 300 pounds. The 23-year-old from Mansfield, Texas, played two seasons at Louisiana-Monroe (2021-22) with 43 tackles (15 solo, 28 assists), 7.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 15 games for the Warhawks. In 2021, he earned All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention after making 37 tackles (12 solo, 25 assists), 7.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks in 12 games.
Before Louisiana-Monroe, Thomas played three seasons at the University of Connecticut (2017-19) with 43 tackles (15 solo, 28 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one blocked kick in 24 games for the Huskies.
Jordan Salima is five foot ten and weighs 205 pounds. The 25-year-old from Independence, Missouri, played for the Conquerors in 2021 with 69 carries for 173 yards, two touchdowns, 19 catches for 175 yards, and two touchdowns in six games.
Collegiately, Salima played four seasons at Truman State (2016-19) with 838 carries for 3,632 yards, 36 touchdowns, 118 catches for 854 yards, five touchdowns, and 22 kick returns for 564 yards in 45 games for the Bulldogs. He was named First team all-GLVC in 2018, and Second team all-GLVC in 2017.
Braxton Westfield is six foot four and weighs 205 pounds. The 24-year-old from Simpsonville, South Carolina, attended rookie min-camp with the Indianapolis Colts.
Collegiately, Westfield played five seasons at Carson-Newman (2018-22) with 101 catches for 1,752 yards and 21 touchdowns in 31 games for the Eagles. He was named D2CCA All-Region First Team and All-SAC First Team. Before Carson-Newman, Westfield played one season at James Madison University in 2017 with four catches for 45 yards.
Julius Turner is six foot and weighs 275 pounds. The 24-year-old from Meridian, Mississippi, was drafted by the Seattle Sea Dragons in the third round (17th pick) in the 2022 XFL Draft.
Collegiately, he played five seasons at Rutgers (2017-21) with 179 tackles (65 solo, 114 assists), 20.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, five pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two blocked kicks in 58 games for the Scarlet Knights. He is a two-time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (2020-21) and Third Team All-Big Ten in 2021.
Jakub Szott is six foot five and weighs 305 pounds. The 24-year-old from Toronto, Ontario, was released by Montreal on Tuesday. Szott signed with the Alouettes in October 2022. Before Montreal, he played 14 games for the Redblacks last season.
The Redblacks drafted Szott in the fourth round (29th pick) in the 2020 CFL Draft from McMaster University. Szott played 37 games in four seasons with the Marauders from 2016-19.
Ta’Zhawn Henry is five foot seven and weighs 180 pounds. The 24-year-old from Houston, Texas, signed with the Blue Bombers last month.
In his final season in Houston, Henry had 88 carries for 359 yards, three touchdowns, 21 catches for 246 yards, and one touchdown in nine games for the Cougars in 2022.
Henry began his collegiate career at Texas Tech (2018-19) with 161 carries for 681 yards, 11 touchdowns, 44 catches for 283 yards, one touchdown, and 13 kick returns for 318 yards in 20 games for the Red Raiders. He was an Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2019.
Then, he transferred to Houston (2020-21) with 160 carries for 764 yards, nine touchdowns, 38 catches for 324 yards, one touchdown, and six kick returns for 101 yards in 19 games for the Cougars.
Nate Givhan is six foot four and weighs 245 pounds. The 24-year-old from Montgomery, Alabama, signed with the Blue Bombers in February. In his final season at Toledo, Givhan had 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and one forced fumble in 11 games for the Rockets in 2022.
In addition, he had two tackles and one sack in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl as the Rockets defeated the Liberty Flames 21-19 and was named defensive MVP.
Givhan played five seasons at Toledo (2018-22) with 97 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 47 games for the Rockets.
