\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"FRED](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/3471243_web1_FCG112_20250801_020143.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFRED GREENSLADE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Trey Vaval (23) carries the ball for a touchdown after a Toronto Argonauts kickoff during first half CFL action in Winnipeg last Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI try to grow every day, as a man, as a football player, as a son \u2014 all of that. Every day I try to do it, don\u2019t matter what I\u2019m doing,\u201d Vaval said after Monday\u2019s practice at Princess Auto Stadium, where the Bombers are preparing to face the Stampeders in Calgary on Saturday (7 p.m. CT).<\/p>\n
A grateful Vaval went on to win the returner job, and nine weeks later, the rookie affectionately known to his teammates as Mighty Mouse looks like a budding star in the Canadian Football League after taking two returns \u2014 a 93-yard kickoff and a 97-yard punt \u2014 back for touchdowns in the first half of Winnipeg\u2019s 40-31 victory over the Toronto Argonauts.<\/p>\n
He became the first player in Bombers franchise history to return a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the same game.<\/p>\n
Both of the returns showcased his elite elusiveness and speed, and by the second half, the Argos were OK sacrificing field position in the name of keeping the ball out of his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not even gonna lie, I really just kind of blacked out and just trusted the guys in front of me,\u201d Vaval said. \u201cAfter the first one, I was kind of telling myself, \u2018You\u2019re not gonna score again. Just secure the ball for your team, set the offence up, make sure they have good field position. And the second one hit, and I just blacked out and just trusted my blockers and just ran.\u201d<\/p>\n
His kickoff return in the first quarter was the first touchdown of his professional career. Unaware that players can receive fines for taking home game balls, Vaval kept the one from that play as a memento.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Trey Vaval (23) celebrates his punt return for a touchdown against the Toronto Argonauts with Willie Jefferson (5).<\/p>\n \u201cIf I wasn\u2019t supposed to, I\u2019m probably going to get a fine, but, hey, I\u2019ll take it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m actually gonna send it to my mom (Lori). I kept that game jersey and that ball. My mom, she got stuff since I was a kid, so all that stuff means more to her than to me. So I give all that stuff to her.\u201d<\/p>\n Vaval has been a revelation for the Bombers to begin this season. The club struggled in the return game in 2024 then was thought to have acquired the fix to those issues when it landed Peyton Logan in free agency. However, when Logan went down with an injury early in training camp, questions began to swirl \u2014 until Vaval arrived.<\/p>\n Since then, the 5-11, 163-pounder from Blue Springs, Mo. has impressed with his talents and his professional approach.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was right for when he showed up,\u201d said special teams co-ordinator Mike Miller. \u201cHe had a willingness to want to learn and understand the nuances of the Canadian game, and talking scenarios and stuff.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m actually gonna send it to my mom (Lori)\u2026 My mom, she got stuff since I was a kid, so all that stuff means more to her than to me. So I give all that stuff to her.\u201d\u2014 Blue Bomber defensive back and return specialist Trey Vaval commenting on keeping the game ball he held to score his first touchdown.<\/p>\n \u201cSo stuff that sometimes as a rookie, people are maybe a little more shy to ask the questions, because they don\u2019t want to be perceived to be wrong, and he had no problem asking the questions, asking the right questions, and then putting it to the field of play afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n Following his breakout performance, Vaval leads the CFL in punt return yards (449) and is third in punt return average (13.6). He\u2019s also third in total kick return yards (437) and combined yards (886).<\/p>\n \u201cImmediately what was evident was you got a guy who\u2019s kind of nicked up in camp and not really getting an opportunity, and we somehow have the foresight to make sure he stays, and a couple weeks later, he\u2019s cleared, and you like what he\u2019s doing,\u201d said head coach Mike O\u2019Shea.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, when he gets that opportunity, he\u2019s just got a thirst for knowledge. He wants to do it, right? He wants to understand the CFL game and all the particulars of the special teams play here. That can be different than other returners that are as gifted as he is, that are just happy with their gift. But he is certainly interested in more opportunities and becoming a pro.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Trey Vaval (23) knocks away a pass intended for Toronto Argonauts\u2019 David Ungerer (83).<\/p>\n The first seven games of Vaval\u2019s professional career have featured more bright moments than dull. He\u2019s dealt with several learning moments while navigating issues when fielding the ball early on, and he\u2019s proven he\u2019s worth watching every time he touches the ball.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of how college was for me, just the whole mental game,\u201d Vaval said. \u201cNot just (learning) stuff, but kind of like you always have self-doubt. But it\u2019s not like I don\u2019t believe in myself, I don\u2019t believe my teammates, it\u2019s just that mental battle, like the devil trying to get in your head. So you\u2019re always at war with yourself. That\u2019s probably the biggest (lesson), if I mess up on a play, just next play mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bombers have a significant decision looming.<\/p>\n With Logan returning to practice on Monday, it\u2019s only a matter of time before coaches will need to choose between the player they originally tabbed to return kicks and the one who has restored the spark in the third phase of their team.<\/p>\n Vaval has also taken on significant snaps at field corner in the last two games, which raises questions about whether coaches would want him to play defence and special teams \u2014 a demanding task for the best athletes.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Trey Vaval (23) and Jonathan Jones (30) celebrate their win over the Toronto Argonauts at the end of the game.<\/p>\n It\u2019s something Mighty Mouse has prepared for since turning pro.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was with the Atlanta Falcons, Marquice Williams, special teams coach there, he told the whole room, \u2018You can\u2019t be a professional athlete and just play one position. You got to be able to play multiple positions,\u2019\u201d Vaval said.<\/p>\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t matter what you\u2019re doing, you gotta be able to play multiple phases of the game. It\u2019s just how the game is, being a professional athlete. So, yeah, I\u2019m sure I can go out there and do both.\u201d<\/p>\n joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n X: @jfreysam<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Joshua Frey-Sam Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFRED GREENSLADE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFRED GREENSLADE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFRED GREENSLADE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Reporter
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n