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<\/p>\nWe\u2019re three days into Blue Bombers training camp and here are today\u2019s collection of notes, quotes and anecdotes\u2026<\/p>\n
NEW DAD\/NEW OPPORTUNITY<\/p>\n
Talk to Tui Eli for any amount of time and the man\u2019s joy for life oozes from every syllable.<\/p>\n
This winter the 30-year-old offensive lineman and his wife not only welcomed their first child to this world \u2014 everyone, meet Tui, Jr. \u2014 but he\u2019s getting a long look as the leading contender to replace Chris Kolankowski at centre.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy role on this team has always been to do my part, wherever that is, wherever they ask me to be,\u201d Eli said after practice on Tuesday. \u201cI appreciate wherever I am to play this game and play for money\u2026 it\u2019s crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Selected in the fourth round of the 2019 CFL Canadian Draft, 34th overall, Eli has been a valuable contributor through his 70 career games.<\/p>\n
And head coach Mike O\u2019Shea, asked about Eli following practice, was quick to heap praise on the veteran.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been fortunate enough to get to know Tui over a decent chunk of time here. I don\u2019t know if I can frame it right\u2026 he is competitive and he has ambition and it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a great teammate.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 including serving as the extra lineman in the jumbo package and catching his first TD pass last year \u2014 he is locked in on nailing down the starting job in the middle this year.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s up to 314 pounds now, an increase of 10 pounds over the winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in the weight room quite a bit more, as opposed my running and push-ups in the offseason,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I ate a lot of steak \u2014 shout out to Marcello\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n
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:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not about that \u2014 it\u2019s about being where you\u2019re called to be. My wife and I prayed about the last two contracts and where we\u2019re supposed to be and Winnipeg is where we feel peace. Mike O\u2019Shea 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love it here.\u201d<\/p>\n
EN ROUTE<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Gatkouth lined up at outside linebacker with his stint with the Broncos.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did everything I could,\u201d Gatkouth told The Denver Gazette. \u201cI 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.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 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\u2019s not an if, it\u2019s a when if I just keep working.\u201d<\/p>\n
NOTABLE<\/p>\n
-Three things from Day 3 of training camp:<\/p>\n
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.
\nThe players getting early work as kick returners are star Trey Vaval along with receivers Jayden Harrison, Key\u2019Shawn Smith, Dorian Singer and Bryce Kirtz.
\nQB Taylor Elgersma got some second-team reps today and continues to flash his arm strength.<\/p>\n
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:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
QUOTABLE:<\/p>\n
Mike O\u2019Shea when asked about guard Gabe Wallace:<\/p>\n
\u201cBrawler. He just does it the right way. He\u2019s the guy that you would pick to go with you if you had to go to a bad place. And he\u2019d say, \u2018Yes.\u2019<\/p>\n
OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: RULE CHANGES<\/p>\n
Some rule changes are on the way for 2026, including using the current timing rules inside the three-minute warning. More on that here:<\/p>\n