The Winnipeg Blue Bombers released running back Ronnie Brown, wide receiver Ravi Alston, defensive lineman John Waggoner, linebacker Jared Beeksma, and defensive backs Raleigh Texada and C.J. Siegel.
Ronnie Brown is five foot eleven and weighs 187 pounds. The 24-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland, had 12 carries for 33 yards, and three catches for 38 yards in three preseason games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023. The Buccaneers signed Brown as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Then, Brown signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on January 5, 2024.
Collegiately, Brown played four seasons at Shepherd University (2019-22) with 370 carries for 3,041 yards, 30 touchdowns, 81 catches for 1,158 yards, 11 touchdowns, 59 kick returns for 1,404 yards, and one touchdown in 41 games for the Rams. He was a two-time First Team All-PSAC and the AP Division II First Team All-American in 2022.
Ravi Alston is six foot three and weighs 203 pounds. The 25-year-old from Lake Elsinore, California, was on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers practice squad in 2023. Alston signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on September 6, 2023.
Before Montana State, Alston played two seasons at St. John’s University in Minnesota (2019-21) making 153 catches for 2,350 yards, 22 yards, and four punt returns for seven yards in 25 games for the Johnnies. He was named First Team All-MIAC in 2019.
Then, Alston transferred to Montana State in 2022 making 27 catches for 398 yards, and one touchdown in 14 games for the Bobcats, which was second-best on the team.
John Waggoner is six foot five and weighs 267 pounds. The 24-year-old from Des Moines, Iowa, went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. Then, Waggoner signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on February 8, 2024.
Collegiately, Waggoner played four seasons at Iowa (2019-22) with 65 tackles (31 solo, 34 assists), 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups in 41 games for the Hawkeyes.
In his senior season, Waggoner made 34 tackles (16 solo, 18 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 13 games. He was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten.
Jared Beeksma is six foot two and weighs 220 pounds. The 26-year-old from Cambridge, Ontario, was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the fifth round (46th pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft but was released on July 10, 2022. Then, Beeksma signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders on July 21, 2022.
After Saskatchewan released him, Beeksma returned to the Ticats on August 1, 2022, and played six games with one tackle against the Montreal Alouettes on August 20, 2022. He made his CFL debut on June 24, 2022, against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Ticats released Beeksma on June 4, 2023. Then, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Beeksma on July 5, 2023. He made two tackles on special teams in three games.
Collegiately, Beeksma played four seasons at the University of Guelph (2017-19, 2021) with 77 tackles (63 solo, 52 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one fumble recovery, three interceptions, and six pass breakups in 39 games for the Gryphons.
Raleigh Texada is five foot ten and weighs 191 pounds. The 25-year-old from Frisco, Texas, signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He would later sign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was placed on the practice squad.
Then, the Houston Roughnecks drafted Texada in the first round (5th pick) of Phase 2 of the 2023 XFL Draft. In 2023, Texada made 24 tackles (18 solo, 6 assists) in ten games. Texada signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on January 23, 2024.
Collegiately, Texada played five seasons at Baylor (2017-21) with 142 tackles (116 solo, 26 assists), 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, four interceptions for 58 yards, 20 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 53 games for the Bears.
C.J. Siegel is six foot and weighs 180 pounds. The 24-year-old from La Crosse, Wisconsin, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on May 8, 2024.
Collegiately, Siegel played six seasons at North Dakota (2018-23) making 158 tackles (115 solo, 43 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, six interceptions for 201 yards, one touchdown, 35 pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two blocked kicks, and 23 kick returns for 592 yards in 55 games for the Fighting Hawks. He was named a two-time Second Team All-MVFC.
