The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announce today the club has added import receiver Braylon Bell, import placekicker Brett Maher, import defensive back Matt Pierce and import defensive end Kashawn Fraser.
Bell (6-6, 205, Abilene Christian, August 24, 1986 in Dallas, TX), attended junior college in Texas at Cisco College and then moved on to Abilene Christian University. After leaving Abilene Christian and going undrafted by the NFL, Bell played for the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League where he caught 17 passes for 278 yards and 5 TDs. Bell also had a tryout with Dallas Cowboys.
Maher (6-0, 186, Nebraska, November 21, 1989 in Kearney, Nebraska) spent five seasons with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers starting as a redshirt freshman in 2008. In 2009 and 2010, Maher acted as the holder and saw action in all 27 Cornhusker games. He got his chance to kick in 2011 and 2012 and scored 219 points, connecting on 39 of 50 field goal attempts and 102 of 103 conversions. Known as a long-distance kicker, he made 14 of 22 attempts from beyond 40 yards, and 6 of 11 of those from 50+ yard range. In 2011, he was named near unanimous All Big Ten punter and earned similar honours in 2012 in most polls. In 2011, he was also named All-America by yahoo.com. He had workouts with multiple NFL teams, and also attended the Bombers mini-camp in Florida last month.
Pierce (5-10, 195, Valdosta State, September 4,1990, in New Orleans, LA) played collegiate football at Valdosta State in Georgia. He played four seasons for the Blazers, starting in 44 of 45 games following his rookie season as a true freshman in 2009. He made 174 tackles, forced three fumbles and had eight interceptions in his career, including three picks in one game in 2011. Pierce was named First Team All-Gulf South Conference after his junior season and Third Team All-Region. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns in one game in 2011 versus West Alabama. He also returned a kickoff 96 yards to open the Blazers’ title-winning 2012 NCAA Division II game.
Fraser (6-3, 265, Central Michigan, March 6,1990, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) A 6’3” 265 pound defensive end, Fraser attended Central Michigan University where he played from 2008 to 2010. He sat the 2011 season with an injury after playing in 29 games over his first three seasons with the Chippewas recording 4 sacks. He had a career-best 27 tackles in 2010 as a junior. Fraser left Central Michigan University in 2012 and moved on to Henderson State where he played 11 games with 3 sacks and 30 tackles.
The club has also released import defensive backs Gabe Loper and Phillip Benning, import offensive lineman Quentin Saulsberry, import receiver Quentin Sims and import defensive lineman Damario Jeffrey.
