The Winnipeg Blue Bombers released running back Chris Smith, wide receiver Jeremy Murphy, defensive lineman Lucky Ogbevoen and Owen Hubert, and defensive back Souleymane Karamoko from the practice squad on Monday according to the CFL Transactions page. All players from the practice squad were automatically released after the season.
Chris Smith is five foot nine and weighs 194 pounds. The 24-year-old from Meridian, Mississippi, signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2023. Next, Smith was drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas (XFL) in the 2023 Rookie Draft.
Then, Smith signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on February 4, 2024. He played two preseason games with six carries for 16 yards, three kick returns for 71 yards, and two punt returns for 113 yards. Smith was released by the Blue Bombers on June 2, 2024.
The Blue Bombers re-signed him on June 15, 2024. In 2024, Smith had 12 kick returns for 247 yards, and 13 punt returns for 141 yards in four games. He finished the season on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Smith played five seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette (2018-22) with 373 carries for 2,167 yards, 16 touchdowns, completed one pass for 37 yards, one touchdown, made 52 catches for 410 yards, three touchdowns, 66 kick returns for 1,556 yards, two touchdowns, two punt returns for 11 yards, four tackles (2 solo, 2 assists), and one pass breakup in 53 games for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He was named FWAA Second Team All-American in 2020, and First Team All-Sun Belt in 2021.
Jeremy Murphy is six foot and weighs 195 pounds. The 25-year-old from St. Bruno, Quebec, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the third round (26th pick) of the 2023 CFL Draft. In 2023, Murphy dressed for two games and spent the season on the practice squad.
In 2024, Murphy made one catch for 10 yards in two preseason games. He dressed for one game and spent the rest of the season on the practice squad.
Murphy played three seasons at Concordia University (2019, 2021-22) making 86 catches for 1,387 yards, ten touchdowns, seven carries for 17 yards, three kick returns for 50 yards, and one punt return for one yard in 18 games.
In 2021, Murphy played three games with 23 catches for 307 yards, and four touchdowns before tearing his hamstring and missed the rest of the season. In 2022, Murphy made 29 catches for 589 yards, two touchdowns, and one carry for seven yards in seven games for the Stingers. He was named U SPORTS First All-Canadian team in 2022, the second national award of his collegiate career.
Lucky Ogbevoen is six foot three and weighs 225 pounds. The 24-year-old from Austria was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round (17th pick) in the 2024 CFL Global Draft. In 2024, Ogbevoen dressed for one regular season game and spent the rest of the season on the practice squad.
Ogbevoen played three seasons in the European League of Football for the Stuttgart Surge and Tirol Raiders making 175 tackles (86 solos, 89 assists), 18.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, seven pass breakups, one blocked kick, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries in 24 games.
He was named an ELF All-Star in 2023 making 87 tackles (40 solos, 47 assists), 8 tackles for loss, two sacks, five pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries in 11 games.
Owen Hubert is six foot four and weighs 255 pounds. The 24-year-old from Norwood, Ontario, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the eighth round (73rd pick) in the 2024 CFL Draft. In 2024, Hubert made two tackles in one preseason. He appeared in 10 regular season games in 2024 making eight tackles and spent the rest of the season on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Hubert played four seasons at McMaster University (2019, 2021-23) making 65 tackles (42 solos, 23 assists), 10.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one kick return for one yard in 27 games for the Marauders.
Souleymane Karamoko is six foot two and weighs 213 pounds. The 28-year-old from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the second round (13th pick) in the 2022 CFL Global Draft. In 2022, he made one tackle on special teams in one game. In 2023, Karamoko dressed for one game and spent the rest of the season on the practice squad.
In 2024, Karamoko made three tackles and one tackle for a loss in one preseason. He appeared in five regular season games in 2024 making two tackles.
Collegiately, Karamoko played three seasons at Laval University (2018-21) making 57 tackles (48 solos, 9 assists), seven tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, ten pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 22 games for the Rouge et Or. He helped Laval win the Vanier Cup in 2018.
