2 days ago
Vanterpool ready for the big time
It didn't take long for Micah Vanterpool to fall in love with the CFL.
'It was the Banjo Bowl at home. It was the opening kickoff, and I heard the crowd for the first time, and I went 'Oh my goodness, this is lovely. The CFL is beautiful,'' said Vanterpool, a second-year Blue Bomber, after Friday's practice.
The University of Hawaii product only saw action in two games as a rookie as he spent the majority of 2024 on the practice squad. This year, however, should be a different story as all signs point to Vanterpool starting at left guard in next Thursday's season opener against the visiting B.C. Lions.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press
Micah Vanterpool is likely to start in the Bombers' season opener.
The 26-year-old Vanterpool, who stands at 6-6 and weighs 315 pounds, has been working with the starters and turned a ton of heads in training camp. The Bombers had a hole to fill with last year's starter Liam Dobson inking a two-year deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
'You can expect to see a big, physical guy moving around the field. Wherever the ball stops, that's where you're going to see No. 68,' said Vanterpool. 'If you see a receiver getting tackled all the way down the field, I'm gonna be the guy picking him up. I'll be making sure our quarterback is safe, and all our ball carriers are safe as well.'
That's certainly music to the ears of running back Brady Oliveira — the CFL's reigning Most Outstanding Player.
'He's got a lot of energy, which is great. You need that, especially through the course of a game. It can be a grind, and you need guys that can boost your energy,' said Oliveira. 'Micah is great. He had an incredible camp. He's a big dude, which I prefer, obviously, running behind. He's physical and he fits the blueprint of this offence. The offensive line is the backbone of this team.'
As a senior at Hawaii, he was one of only two offensive linemen in the nation who played 900 snaps or more and not get flagged for a penalty. He was also the only blocker in Mountain West Conference to not surrender a sack.
After college, he turned pro in the USFL with the New Jersey Generals and spent a few weeks in the NFL with the New England Patriots before ending up in Winnipeg as the Blue and Gold owned his CFL rights. The Phoenix, Ariz., resident had never been to Canada before, but he had an idea as to what he was getting himself into as he was teammates at Hawaii with Bombers backup centre Tui Eli and Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Dru Brown — who spent the first three years of his three-down career in Winnipeg (2020-23).
'When I signed, the first person I called was Tui and I said 'Tell me everything that I need to know,'' said Vanterpool. 'Last year, it was such a brand new and lovely experience… This is the best place. I learned so much under the O-line group that we had. (Now), I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and control what I can control.'
He might be one of two second-year players on the O-line getting the start against B.C. as Kendall Randolph has been working at right tackle with veteran Eric Lofton missing most of camp with an injury. Randolph, who played both tight end, guard and tackle for the Alabama Crimson Tide, made five starts last year — three at right guard for Patrick Neufeld and two at left tackle filling in for Stanley Bryant.
NIC ADAM / FREE PRESS files
Kendall Randolph started five games for the Bombers in 2024.
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'Last year, I was thrown into the fire a couple times, and I was able to compete at a high level. So, ultimately, I'm just trying to build on that,' said Randolph.
The Bombers have traditionally rolled with three Canadians and two Americans on the O-line, but head coach Mike O'Shea said Friday he has no qualms about taking a different approach this season. Bryant, Neufeld, and centre Chris Kolankowski are all back from 2024.
'We've got a nice mix of veterans and young guys. They know the standard. That room is always tight and well run by (O-line coach) Marty (Costello),' said O'Shea.
'It's an awesome place to sit and listen to the game unfold. They talk about practice, plays and game planning, it's a good place to sit, I don't do it enough, but it's always so well run you just trust that the o-line is going to be that beacon for our team, really.'
Taylor AllenReporter
Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.
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