The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed five Americans for the 2026 campaign, including receiver Key’Shawn Smith, defensive linemen Warren Peeples and Khris Bogle, and defensive backs Warren Burrell and Shyheim Battle.
Smith wrapped up his collegiate career at Southern Methodist University, where he recorded 58 receptions for 919 yards and eight touchdowns in 28 games over two seasons. The six-foot-one, 186-pound target transferred from the University of Miami, where he posted 48 receptions for 662 yards and five touchdowns over 29 games. He was also a threat as a kickoff returner, going for a 91-yard touchdown in 2022.
The native of San Diego, Cal., was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 2025 NFL season, but did not make either roster.
Peeples split his collegiate career between Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Northern Iowa, and the University of Memphis, while also playing for Highland Community College and Hutchinson Community College at the JUCO level. In 25 combined NCAA games, he recorded 41 total tackles and six sacks.
The six-foot-two, 230-pound edge rusher signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2025, but was released as part of final cuts despite notching two sacks in three preseason games.
Bogle split his collegiate career evenly between the University of Florida and Michigan State University, earning an honourable mention All-Big Ten selection as a senior with the Spartans. In six seasons, he played 61 games combined between the two schools to amass 129 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 14.5 sacks.
The six-foot-four, 245-pound edge rusher signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2025, but was released prior to training camp. He was recently drafted by the Columbus Aviators of the UFL, but elected to sign in the CFL instead.
Burrell graduated from Georgia Tech in 2024, where he recorded 27 tackles, one interception and four pass breakups in 11 games. The six-foot, 195-pound cornerback transferred after five seasons at the University of Tennessee, where he made 91 tackles, three tackles for loss, nine pass breakups, and an interception in 41 ga
Battle attended NC State University, where he racked up 144 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, seven interceptions, 32 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery across 48 games. He was twice named an honourable mention All-ACC selection with the Wolfpack.
The six-foot-three, 196-pound cornerback signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft, but was released before training camp. He spent the 2025 season in the now-defunct European League of Football with the Frankfurt Galaxy, where he collected 68 total tackles, four tackles for loss, 10 pass breakups, an interception, and a forced fumble.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished fourth in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs as the crossover team before losing the East Semi-Final to the Montreal Alouettes. Zach Collaros threw for 3,048 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 13 regular-season games, going 6-7 as a starter.
The Blue Bombers ranked fifth in net offence, third in net defence, and eighth with a turnover differential of minus-eleven. The club’s leading rusher was Brady Oliveira with 1,163 yards, the leading receiver was Nic Demski with 1,001 yards, and the leading tackler was Tony Jones with 104 tackles. Winnipeg ranked first in attendance with average crowds of 32,343, which was a 3.7 percent increase from the previous year.
