The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed offensive lineman Matt Kickel on Monday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Matt Kickel is six foot four and weighs 300 pounds. A native of Bolingbrook, Illinois, Kickel started 11 games on the offensive line for the Spartans in 2024. In 2024, Aurora averaged 46.64 points per game, 169.9 rushing yards per game, 294.36 passing yards per game, 464.3 total yards per game, 72 touchdowns, and allowed 13 sacks finishing 9-2 for the season and appearing in the second round of the 2024 NCAA Division III playoffs losing to Hope College 49-21.
Kickel was named Second Team CSC Academic All-American, Second Team All-American by D3football.com, Associated Press (AP), and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). He was also named NACC Offensive Lineman of the Year and First Team All-NACC.
Collegiately, Kickel started as a redshirt Freshman at Arizona State in 2019 as a walk-out prospect and serving on the scouting team for the Sun Devils. Then, he transferred to Aurora University (2020-24) playing 34 games on the offensive line for the Spartans.
In 2023, he played 12 games. Aurora averaged 53.25 points per game, 234.8 rushing yards per game, 269.92 passing yards per game, 504.7 total yards per game, 88 touchdowns, and allowed 21 sacks finishing 11-1 for the season losing to Wisconsin-La Crosse in the 2023 NCAA Division III playoffs quarterfinals.
Kickel was named a five-time All-American (2024 D3football.com, AP and AFCA, and 2023 AP and D3football.com), and a three-time First Team All-NACC.
