We’re three days into Blue Bombers training camp and here are today’s collection of notes, quotes and anecdotes…

NEW DAD/NEW OPPORTUNITY

Talk to Tui Eli for any amount of time and the man’s joy for life oozes from every syllable.

This winter the 30-year-old offensive lineman and his wife not only welcomed their first child to this world — everyone, meet Tui, Jr. — but he’s getting a long look as the leading contender to replace Chris Kolankowski at centre.

“My role on this team has always been to do my part, wherever that is, wherever they ask me to be,” Eli said after practice on Tuesday. “I appreciate wherever I am to play this game and play for money… it’s crazy.”

Selected in the fourth round of the 2019 CFL Canadian Draft, 34th overall, Eli has been a valuable contributor through his 70 career games.

And head coach Mike O’Shea, asked about Eli following practice, was quick to heap praise on the veteran.

“Very versatile. Can play centre, can play all along the offensive line. Very athletic. Like a lot of them just an unbelievable teammate and a great human being. He is a great human being.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know Tui over a decent chunk of time here. I don’t know if I can frame it right… he is competitive and he has ambition and it’s always framed the right way in his mind. He will a lot of times put other people first and he will always put the team first.

“That’s a great teammate.”

Eli did play centre during his days at Hawaii and after being a guy who could back up along the entire line over his days here — including serving as the extra lineman in the jumbo package and catching his first TD pass last year — he is locked in on nailing down the starting job in the middle this year.

He’s up to 314 pounds now, an increase of 10 pounds over the winter.

“I was in the weight room quite a bit more, as opposed my running and push-ups in the offseason,” he said. “And I ate a lot of steak — shout out to Marcello’s.”

Asked by Taylor Allen of The Free Press about re-signing in Winnipeg a couple of times rather than test the market, Eli offered this:

“It’s not about that — it’s about being where you’re called to be. My wife and I prayed about the last two contracts and where we’re supposed to be and Winnipeg is where we feel peace. Mike O’Shea is the coach we want to play for and there is no better O-line room than this room right here. The guys in the room are just a joy to be around every day.

“I love it here.”

EN ROUTE

The Blue Bombers made the signing of first-round draft pick Nuer Gatkuouth official Tuesday morning and he could be on the field as soon as Wednesday or Thursday.

Gatkouth, a defensive end, was most recently in rookie minicamp with the Denver Broncos after an outstanding college career at Wake Forest and Colorado State. He had a massive season last year with the Demon Deacons, registering 39 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks and one forced fumble in 12 games.

He was also credited with 21 quarterback hurries while being named a finalist for the 2025 Jon Cornish Trophy as the top Canadian player in NCAA football.

Gatkouth lined up at outside linebacker with his stint with the Broncos.

“I did everything I could,” Gatkouth told The Denver Gazette. “I put my best film on tape. The Broncos already have a great outside linebacker group, so it was hard to get signed there. But I feel like I had a dominant three days and it worked out like it worked out. So, now Im going to the CFL to just dominate.

“… Honestly, I have right now all the confidence in the world. My confidence has shot up a hundred times, just me going out there and dominating all three days has really boosted my confidence and I know I can play in the NFL. It’s not an if, it’s a when if I just keep working.”

NOTABLE

-Three things from Day 3 of training camp:

The receiving corps working regularly with Zach Collaros has featured Nic Demski, Pokey Wilson, Tim White, Tommy Nield and Gavin Cobb as the third Canadian. Both Michael Chris-Ike and Dante Daniels are also getting a lot of work in the fullback/tight end role.
The players getting early work as kick returners are star Trey Vaval along with receivers Jayden Harrison, Key’Shawn Smith, Dorian Singer and Bryce Kirtz.
QB Taylor Elgersma got some second-team reps today and continues to flash his arm strength.

We had Senior Assistant GM Danny McManus on our Huddle show on Tuesday and he hit on a ton of stuff, including providing a synopsis of the QBs in camp. Check that out here:

QUOTABLE:

Mike O’Shea when asked about guard Gabe Wallace:

“Brawler. He just does it the right way. He’s the guy that you would pick to go with you if you had to go to a bad place. And he’d say, ‘Yes.’

OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: RULE CHANGES

Some rule changes are on the way for 2026, including using the current timing rules inside the three-minute warning. More on that here:

2026 annual off-season rule changes approved by board of governors