WINNIPEG, MB., –

American receiver Kenny Lawler has been signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a two-year deal that runs through the 2024 season.

Lawler, a 197-pound, 6-3 college athlete born: After spending the 2022 season with the Edmonton Elks, on June 25, 1994, in Pomona, California,
Lawler only played 12 games for the Elks because of injuries, but he remained one of the best receivers in the CFL. He caught 58 passes for 894 yards and five touchdowns while working with three different starting quarterbacks.

Lawler played in 29 games for the Blue Bombers in 2019 and 2021, helping the team win two consecutive Grey Cup championships by leading the team in receiving.

Lawler made his debut on the Blue Bombers’ practice roster in September 2018 and went on to have a breakout season in 2019. He had 41 receptions and a team-best 637 yards receiving and was named the club’s Most Outstanding Rookie Player for his efforts in 2019.

In his subsequent season in 2021, he was named a CFL All-Star and led the CFL with 1,014 yards receiving on 64 receptions, six of which were for touchdowns.

After a stellar career at the University of California, where he was ranked second on the school’s all-time touchdown receptions list and 12th overall in the Pac-12, Lawler was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft. In 2018, he participated in the B.C. Lions’ training camp before signing with the Blue Bombers later that fall.

WINNIPEG, MB., – Les Maruo, a Global linebacker, has been selected by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on a one-year contract. Today was when he was supposed to become a free agent.

Maruo, a 6-2, 225-pound University of Texas-San Antonio student; born: After initially being selected by the Blue Bombers in the first round, 4th overall, of the 2021 CFL Global Draft, on February 14, 1996, in Yokkaichi, Japan,

In 2022, Maruo donned a uniform for 17 regular-season games, the Western Final, and the Grey Cup. He worked more with the defense and added seven more special teams tackles while adding 14 tackles and a sack. In the Grey Cup match, Maruo also made two special teams tackles.

In his first season in 2021, Maruo played in seven games and recorded six defensive tackles for the team that won the Grey Cup that year.

Maruo was born in Japan, but his family moved to the United States when he was nine years old, and he spent his childhood in Wichita, Kansas. He played college football at the University of Texas-San Antonio. During his senior season, he started all 12 games for the Roadrunners and had 86 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and one pass knockdown.

Over the past few winters, Maruo has also represented the Asahi Challengers and Panasonic Impulse in Japan’s X-League.