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<\/p>\nSASKATOON \u2014 It\u2019s the game they\u2019ve known and loved for eons. Dreamed about it. Worked at it. And chased every opportunity just for a moment like this.<\/p>\n
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers called out nine names during the Canadian Football League\u2019s Canadian Draft last month and seven of them will be in action here today in the team\u2019s first preseason contest of 2026. That list includes defensive end Nuer Gatkouth (Round 1, 4th overall), tight end Dante Daniels (2\/10), linebacker Charles-Elliot Bouliane (3\/24), defensive back Ethan Stuart (4\/33), linebacker Brody Clark (5\/42), wide receiver Joshua Jack (7\/60) and kicker Brady Lidster (8\/69).<\/p>\n
Offensive tackle Kevin Cline, selected with the 20th overall selection, has been signed by the Miami Dolphins and will be in their training camp this summer while receiver Ben Britton \u2014 grabbed in the sixth round \u2014 attended rookie camp before deciding to step away from the game.<\/p>\n
Those seven players will be pulling on a Blue Bombers jersey and slapping on the iconic gold helmet for the very first time today against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Their hope is that while this is only a preseason game \u2014 don\u2019t go there with all those trying to land a gig with this team, by the way \u2014 this leads to many, many more.<\/p>\n
And so for the first GAME DAY HQ\u00a0of 2026 we decided to visit with three of the team\u2019s draft class \u2014 Gatkuoth, Daniels and Stuart \u2014 to get a sense of their emotions on the eve of their professional debuts\u2026<\/p>\n
NUER GATKOUTH<\/p>\n
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\u201cMan, I\u2019m so excited. We\u2019ve been training hard, practising hard and I\u2019m just excited to go out there against another opponent and really hit someone and take someone to the ground, for sure. Coming here, it was hard at first to get used to the one-yard (off the ball) rule. My steps were different and I had to figure out my angle and just how to rush from being one yard off. But once I figured that out and then learning from guys like Willie (Jefferson) and KD (Kydran Jenkins), the guys who have been here, they taught me some tricks.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to go out there and play as fast as I can. I know once I go out there and am able to get into my groove I just know, as a playmaker, I\u2019m going to go out and make a play \u2014 whether I\u2019m out there for 10 plays for 50.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gatkuoth\u2019s last game came January 2nd as a member of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the Duke\u2019s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina \u2014 a 43-29 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He attended rookie minicamp with the Denver Broncos earlier this month and arrived to Blue Bombers main camp a few days into the proceedings.<\/p>\n
He spoke this week of his goals for the game today and having realistic expectations, too, in balancing the desire to jump out with a big play versus being assignment sound.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to know the situation you\u2019re in and the play you\u2019re in,\u201d he said. \u201cOnce you know that and once you know the defence, then you understand, \u2018OK, on this play I can take a shot but on this play, I\u2019ve got to be more sound and disciplined.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel that once you get to that stadium and start to warm up\u2026 for me, the biggest thing is to just let go. So many people come into something like this with these big goals. It\u2019s like, \u2018OK, I want to do this. I want to do that. I want to score four touchdowns. I want to have five sacks.\u2019 You\u2019ve just got to let go and be yourself and play free.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you have all these goals in mind, you\u2019re putting pressure on yourself. I really think you have to let go and play your game. That\u2019s when you have success.\u201d<\/p>\n
DANTE DANIELS<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m really excited. It\u2019s a chance to go out there and perform and I know my family is going to be watching, too. It\u2019s such a great opportunity. I\u2019ll have people watching on CFL+ from Wichita, where my wife is, to some of my family in Windsor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I\u2019m getting the plays down and everyone is supporting me really well. The O-line, the running backs, the receivers, the coaches\u2026 honestly, it\u2019s everyone. Honestly, Zach (Collaros) is a huge mentor. He\u2019s helped me with my route running. Brady (Oliveira) has been great. He\u2019ll say, \u2018Hey, why did you do this?\u2019 and then when I explain it he says, \u2018I wanted to hear that.\u2019 Great mentors out here. These guys have been through so much and so I\u2019m open to learning anything. They\u2019re teaching me the game, the rules, the ways to make things easier with the little cheats\u2026 it\u2019s been awesome.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I\u2019ve been getting better every day, trying to take the coaching and teaching. But, and I was talking to Brady about this the other day, I want to line up against somebody else now. I\u2019ve got a friend on Sask (defensive lineman Davin Vann, also from North Carolina State) so it will be good to see him. But Brady said, \u2018Do you want to take some aggression out in the game?\u2019 And I was like, \u2018Of course. Especially against someone I don\u2019t know.’\u201d<\/p>\n
ETHAN STUART<\/p>\n
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\u201cJust to get out there and be back on the field for a game, it\u2019s going to be amazing. I\u2019ve worked so long for this through the combine and then this training camp. So, to get out there and have the opportunity to compete\u2026 I mean, how can you not be excited? This is our first opportunity to really show ourselves and put something on film against real live competition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stuart has had a solid camp and at 6-0, 219 has the size and speed to move all around Jordan Younger\u2019s defence. He wasn\u2019t sure how many snaps he might get today when we spoke to him yet understands fully his potential path to a roster spot will come via special teams.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I\u2019m getting better every day. I\u2019m not exactly sure how much play time I\u2019m going to get but I definitely know I\u2019m going to be out there on specials so the No. 1 thing is to be physical, and I pride myself on that. I want to show I can compete and even dominate other guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stuart said his family will definitely be watching the livestream of Saturday\u2019s game and are contemplating travelling to Winnipeg for the final dress rehearsal next Friday against the B.C. Lions should he be in the lineup again.<\/p>\n
Now, however, he\u2019s living in the moment and still working through the biggest and best reality \u2014 he\u2019s a professional now and about to realize that dream, even if it\u2019s still the preseason.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe jump to the pros is something you notice right away,\u201d he said. \u201cYour body is your paycheque now and you can see how much seriously everyone takes things. I\u2019ve always tried to do that in terms of staying healthy, recovery, and that routine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I first showed up here and was in the locker room and saw my nameplate, and then coming out here to the field\u2026 I mean, look at this place,\u201d he added, looking around Princess Auto Stadium. \u201cIt\u2019s huge compared to what I\u2019m used to at McMaster.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd now, the chance to play in a game, like I said, it\u2019s going to be amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our Game Preview, ICYMI, is here:<\/p>\n