The Winnipeg Blue Bombers released wide receivers Bryce Mitchell and Keytaon Thompson, offensive lineman Kendall Randolph, defensive linemen Ali Fayad, Jordan Lewis, David Green, and Anthony Bennett, and placekicker Jose Borregales.
The Blue Bombers also placed wide receiver Braxton Burmeister, defensive lineman Kenny Randall, and defensive backs James Campbell and Montrae Braswell on the suspended list.
Bryce Mitchell is six foot three and weighs 210 pounds. The 25-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on November 28, 2023.
Collegiately, Mitchell played five years at Toledo (2017-21) with 70 catches for 1,297 yards, 11 touchdowns, 1 carry for 12 yards, 10 kick returns for 277 yards, and 2 punt returns for 7 yards in 52 games for the Rockets.
Keytaon Thompson is six foot three and weighs 218 pounds. The 25-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and was with the Orlando Guardians (XFL) before the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL). Then, Thompson signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on January 30, 2024.
Collegiately, Thompson played three seasons at Mississippi State (2017-19) with one catch for eight yards, 98 carries for 671 yards, 10 touchdowns, and completed 50 of 105 passes (48%) for 846 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions in 19 games for the Bulldogs.
Then, Thompson transferred to Virginia (2020-22) with 82 carries for 506 yards, eight touchdowns, 138 catches for 1,667 yards, four touchdowns, and completed 2 of 8 passes (25%) for -4 yards in 29 games for the Cavaliers.
Kendall Randolph is six foot four and weighs 300 pounds. The 26-year-old from Madison, Alabama, signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023, and played three preseason games. Then, Randolph signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on February 21, 2024.
Collegiately, Randolph played four seasons at Alabama (2019-22) after sitting out his first two seasons in 2017 and 2018 with the Crimson Tide. He played 53 games playing guard, tackle, and tight end positions making one tackle (1 solo). In 2022, Randolph helped open holes for 317 rushing yards while providing time for 555 yards of total offense and did not allow a sack.
In 2020, he started six games as a tight end while serving as a backup left tackle to Alex Leatherwood. Randolph played 13 games earning 313 combined snaps at tackle and tight end as the Crimson Tide won the CFP National Championship over Ohio State.
Ali Fayad is six foot two and weighs 250 pounds. The 25-year-old from Dearborn, Michigan, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
Next, Fayad signed with the Toronto Argonauts as a free agent on September 2, 2022. Fayad made five tackles and one sack in four games for the Toronto Argonauts in 2022 winning the 109th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Then, Fayad signed with the Philadelphia Stars on March 4, 2023. He made 13 tackles (4 solo, 9 assists), and one sack in six games. Fayad signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on January 17, 2024.
Collegiately, Fayad played five seasons at Western Michigan (2017-21) with 164 tackles (98 solo, 66 assists), 56.5 tackles for loss, 33.5 sacks, three pass breakups, 11 forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries in 55 games for the Broncos.
In his final season, Fayad made 40 tackles, 13 sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 13 games. He was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAC.
Jordan Lewis is six foot two and weighs 220 pounds. The 24-year-old from Ocala, Florida, had 15 tackles (10 solo, 5 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in ten games for the Jaguars.
He signed with the New Jersey Generals (USFL) on August 4, 2023, but the Generals were not included in the USFL and XFL merger that formed the United Football League. The Blue Bombers signed Lewis on February 5, 2024.
Lewis played four seasons at Southern University (2019-22) with 98 tackles (64 solo, 34 assists), 42 tackles for loss, 26.5 sacks, one interception for 95 yards, three touchdowns, two pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 37 games for the Jaguars.
In the 2021 season, Lewis had a big season with 29 tackles (16 solo, 13 assists), ten tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks in nine games.
He won the Buck Buchanan Award as the top FCS player, along with the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, College Football Hall of Fame Mel Blount Defensive Player of the Year, AFCA First Team All-American, Boxtorow Defensive Player of the Year, and Athlon Sports Spring FCS All American. In addition, he was named Second Team All-SWAC in 2019.
David Green is six foot one and weighs 285 pounds. The 24-year-old from West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, made 33 tackles (8 solo, 25 assists), three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 12 games for the Pittsburgh Panthers in 2023. The Blue Bombers signed Green on May 2, 2024.
Collegiately, Green played five seasons at Pittsburgh (2019-23) making 92 tackles (34 solo, 58 assists), 13.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 60 games for the Panthers.
At Central Catholic High School, Green was named to the Pennsylvania Football Writers All-Class 6A, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22”, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review “Terrific 25”, and All-Northern Seven Conference. As a three-year starter, Green helped lead Central Catholic to a three-year mark of 39-6 (.867), including two WPIAL championships and a PIAA title.
Anthony Bennett is six foot three and weighs 230 pounds. The 27-year-old from Weston, Florida, made eight tackles and three tackles on special teams in 18 games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2023. The Blue Bombers signed Bennett on May 5, 2023.
Bennett played two seasons at the University of Regina (2021-22) with 63 tackles (39 solo, 24 assists), 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one interception for 28 yards, one touchdown, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 14 games.
In 2022, Bennett made 38 tackles (22 solo, 16 assists), 12.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, one interception for 28 yards, one touchdown, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in nine games. He was named U SPORTS First-Team All-Canadian and Canada West All-Star in 2022.
Jose Borregales is five foot ten and weighs 206 pounds. The 26-year-old from Caracas, Venezuela, signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Then, Borregales was drafted by the Orlando Guardians (XFL) in the first round (5th pick) of Phase 5 of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, Borregales converted six of nine field goals (67%) with a long of 52 yards in ten games for the Orlando Guardians (XFL) in 2023. The Blue Bombers signed Borregales on January 22, 2024.
Collegiately, Borregales played four seasons at Florida International University (2016-19) making 50 of 66 field goals (75.8%) with a long of 53 yards, making 131 of 134 extra points, 78 kickoffs for 4,695 yards (60.2 AVG), and 40 touchbacks in 39 games for the Panthers. He was a two-time All-Conference USA Honorable Mention.
Then, he transferred to Miami in 2020 made 20 of 22 field goals (91%) with a long of 57 yards, and made 37 of 37 extra points (100%) in 11 games for the Hurricanes. He was named First Team All-ACC in 2020.
