Julian Feoli-Gudino (83) of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the pre-season game at TD Place in Ottawa, ON on Monday June 13, 2016. (Photo: Johany Jutras)
He was born in Costa Rica, speaks Spanish, French, and English, grew up in Montreal and began his Canadian Football League career in Toronto with the Argonauts after winning two Vanier Cup championship at Laval.
Yet, Julian Feoli-Gudino’s tale – his rise from being cast adrift by the Argos to morphing into a starter with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – is rarely told in Bomberland.
Yes, it could be said we’ve come to know more about the likes of L’Damian Washington, Roc Carmichael and Cory ‘Poop’ Johnson – all of whom have yet to play a regular season game yet for the Bombers – than Feoli-Gudino, who now has made 21 starts over 46 games in blue and gold.
And you know what? He’s completely cool with all that and because he’s had to work so hard to get here, he knows better than to celebrate landing a starting gig or to take even a nanosecond to relax.
“I’ve been grinding ever since I got to the CFL,” began Feoli-Gudino after a rain-soaked Bombers practice on Friday. “I was unlucky in my draft year… I broke my leg and busted up the ligaments in my ankle, so that set me back a couple of years.
“In Toronto, I didn’t get much of an opportunity at first, and then grinded it out on special teams, which I had never really played before, only as a returner.
“I’ve got some opportunities from time to time here and tried to make the best out of it. And now I’m here.”
A five-year starter at Laval, Feoli-Gudino was an All-Canadian in 2008, a second-team All-Canadian in 2009 and won Vanier Cup championships in 2008 and 2010 – winning the game’s MVP honours in ‘08.
He made spot starts for the Bombers during his time here, but was primarily the back-up to Rory Kohlert before earning the start in last year’s West Semi-final. And while many in Bomber Nation were begging the club to draft a Canadian receiving prospect last month with one of the two first-round picks, the club felt more than comfortable having Feoli-Gudino continue to grow into the gig.
“He’s a guy that has great top-end speed,” said quarterback Matt Nichols of Feoli-Gudino. “He’s a guy that can break tackles… there are a number of times in the past couple of years where I’ve thrown him a five-yard pass and he’s turned it into more because he can get up field.
“He also has a knack for making big catches in big moments. I look forward to him having an expanded role this year. I have a lot of faith in him because he’s also a student of the game who is always asking questions and wants to make sure he’s on the same page with everyone.”
Feoli-Gudino will move around in Paul LaPolice’s offence, but lines up primarily at the ‘Z’ receiver position – on the wide side of the field, furthest from the quarterback when the ball is on the hashmarks.
His career-best season was 2015, when he had 27 catches for 366 yards and one TD, and he pulled in 15 passes for 167 yards and one score in spot duty last year.
But head coach Mike O’Shea said earlier in camp Feoli-Gudino does a lot of the dirty work that often goes unnoticed. And it takes a particularly sharp focus to run route after route without consistently seeing the ball thrown your way (Feoli-Gudino’s 15 receptions came after being targeted just 19 times all season).
Again, though, that’s alright by him.
“I take pride in trying to do everything right,” said Feoli-Gudino, who moved to Montreal when he was three with his sister and parents as his father, a molecular biologist, pursed his Master’s degree. “I’ve always taken pride in my blocking skills… that’s something I think a receiver needs to do well to stay on the field. It’s something most receivers don’t like doing, but I really don’t mind it. That’s part of my job and I’ll do anything to help this team win.
“The trust Matt has with me is crucial. When you feel that from him you run every route full speed because you never know when you might get the ball, even if you aren’t the first read.
“I have goals,” he added. “I’m going to make every catch, that’s the way I see it. For me, it’s about making sure every time the ball comes my way that I catch it. I need to make those important catches and momentum plays when I’m called.”
They are often called ‘reliable’, ‘dependable’, ‘consistent’. And in a term that seems to be a bit of a backhanded compliment, ‘serviceable.’
Gone, it would seem, are the days when a Canadian receiver – particularly in these parts – are described as ‘game-breakers’ or ‘all-stars’ the way Ken Nielsen, Joe Poplawski, Rick House and Gerald Wilcox once were.
It was Wilcox, back in 1995, who was the last Canadian Bomber receiver to crack the 1,000-yard mark in receiving. And in the 21 years since he posted the last of three consecutive 1-K seasons from 1993-95, the average totals for the leading Bomber Canadian receiver – including running back Andrew Harris last season – has been a pedestrian 38 receptions for 465 yards and 1.43 touchdowns.
All of this is part of a trend that has seen CFL teams find their seven Canadian starters in spots all over the depth chart, not just along the offensive and defensive lines and at receivers as was the case for decades previously.
Consider, for example, that in the seven seasons dating back to 2010, only four Canadian receivers have posted 1,000-yard campaigns – Andy Fantuz, Brad Sinopoli and Chriz Getzlaf twice each, and Dave Stala once.
Here is a look at the leading Canadian receiver in the CFL, and the leading Bomber Canadian receiver, dating back to Wilcox’s run in the mid-90s:
Leading Canadian receivers (based on yardage):
2016
Top Canadian receiver: Andy Fantuz, Ham. – 101-1,059-5; 11th overall
CFL 1K receivers: 15
1K: Canadians: 2 Fantuz; Brad Sinopoli, Ott – 90-1,036-4
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Andrew Harris – 67-631-1
2015
Top Canadian receiver: Brad Sinopoli, Ott – 86-1,035-3; 11th overall
CFL 1K receivers: 12
1K: Canadians 1
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Rory Kohlert – 32-395-1
2014
Top Canadian receiver: Rob Bagg, Sask – 93-803, 10th overall
1K receivers: 3
1K Canadians: 0
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Rory Kohlert – 44-594-3
2013
Top Canadian receiver: Chris Getzlaf, Sask – 63-1,045-7, 5th overall
1K receivers: 7
1K Canadians: 1
Top Bomber Canadian receiver (yardage): Cory Watson – 36-516-0
Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Chris Greaves (64) congratulates Cory Watson (81) for his touchdown against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the second half of CFL action in Winnipeg Saturday, September 27, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
2012
Top Canadian receiver: Andy Fantuz, Ham. – 72-971-8, 10th overall
1K receivers: 9
1K Canadians: 0
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Kito Poblah – 41-417-1
2011
Top Canadian receiver: Chris Getzlaf, Sask – 60-1,071-10, 8th overall
1K receivers: 10
1K Canadians: 1
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Cory Watson – 69-793-1
2010
Top Canadian receiver: Andy Fantuz, Sask – 87-1,380-6, 1st overall
1K receivers: 12
1K Canadians: 2, Fantuz; Dave Stala, Ham. – 85-1,015-6
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Brock Ralph – 31-394-1
2009
Top Canadian receiver: Paris Jackson, B.C. – 76-1,042-8, 7th overall
1K receivers: 9
1K Canadians: 2; Jackson, Ben Cahoon, Mtl. – 89-1,031-2
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Brock Ralph – 43-559-2
2008
Top Canadian receiver: Kamau Peterson, Edm – 101-1,317-4, 3rd overall
1K receivers: 15
1K Canadians: 3; Peterson; Ben Cahoon, Mtl. – 107, 1,226- 7; Paris Jackson, B.C. – 76-1,180-8
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Arjei Franklin – 52-620-1
2007
Top Canadian receiver: Jason Clermont, B.C. – 86-1,158-7
1K receivers: 11
1K Canadians: 3; Clermont; Ben Cahoon, Mtl. – 90-1,127-5; Kamau Peterson, Edm. – 80-1,068-7
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Arjei Franklin – 36-454-0
2006
Top Canadian receiver: Ben Cahoon, Mtl. – 99-1,190-4; 5th overall
1K receivers: 8
1K Canadians: 1
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Jamie Stoddard – 19-273-1
2005
Top Canadian receiver: Ben Cahoon, Mtl. – 73-1,067-10; 13th overall
1K receivers: 19
1K Canadians: 4; Cahoon, Jason Clermont, B.C. – 78-1,042-4; Ryan Thelwell, B.C. – 74-1,035-8; Dave Stala, Mtl. – 82-1,022-5
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Kamau Peterson – 42-550-3
2004
Top Canadian receiver: Jason Clermont, B.C. – 82-1,202-7; 3rd overall
1K receivers: 15
1K Canadians: 2; Clermont; Ben Cahoon, Mtl – 93-1,183-6
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Kamau Peterson – 49-615-4
2003
Top Canadian receiver: Ben Cahoon, Mtl. – 112-1,561-13; 3rd overall
1K receivers: 10
1K Canadians: 1
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Jamie Stoddard – 27-401-1
2002
Top Canadian receiver: Ben Cahoon, Mtl. – 76-1,076-6; 4th
1K receivers: 8
1K Canadians: 1
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Markus Howell – 38-415-1
2001
Top Canadian receiver: Andrew Grigg, Ham. – 77-1,150-3; 6th overall
1K receivers: 8
1K Canadians: 1
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Jamie Stoddard – 34-526-4
2000
Top Canadian receiver: Ben Cahoon, Mtl. – 71-1,022-5
1k receivers: 14
1K Canadians: 2; Cahoon; Jock Climie, Mtl. – 67-1002-5
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Markus Howell – 25-259-1
1999
Top Canadian receiver: Vince Danielsen, Cal. – 71-923-7
1K receivers: 5
1K Canadians: 0
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Matt DuBuc – 27-425-0
1998
Top Canadian receiver: Vince Danielsen, Cal. – 83-1,039-6
1K receivers: 10
1K Canadians: 4: Danielsen, Mike Morreale, Ham. – 67-1,076-6; Don Blair, Edm. – 64-1,091-6; Nigel Williams, Tor. – 62-1,070-5
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Matt DuBuc – 25-280-1
1997
Top Canadian receiver: Vince Danielsen, Cal. – 91-1,174-6; 7th overall
1K receivers: 11
1K Canadians: 3: Danielsen, Jock Climie, Mtl. – 89-1,214-6; Paul Masotti, Tor. – 77-1,011-5
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Allan Boyko – 30-280-2
1996
Top Canadian receiver: Jock Climie, Mtl. – 68-1,209-9; 7th overall
1K receivers: 12
1K Canadians: 3: Climie, Dave Sapunjis, Cal. – 82-1,075-8, Paul Masotti, Tor. – 73-1,023-7.
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Allan Boyko – 27-370-1
1995
Top Canadian receiver: Dave Sapunjis, Cal. – 111-1,655-12; 1st overall
1K receivers: 15
1K Canadians: 4: Sapunjis, Paul Masotti, Tor. – 70-1,336-3; Nick Mazzoli, Edm. – 67-1,044-8; Gerald Wilcox, Wpg. – 69-1,024-5
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Wilcox (see above)
Gerald Wilcox Winnipeg Blue Bombers 1992. Photo John Bradley
1994
Top Canadian receiver: Gerald Wilcox, Wpg. – 111-1,624-13; 3rd overall
1K receivers: 14
1K Canadians: 3: Wilcox; Ray Elgaard, Sask. – 71-1,100-7; Paul Masotti, Tor – 67-1,280-9
Top Bomber Canadian receiver: Wilcox (see above)
FYI: In the 62 years the Bombers have named a Most Outstanding Canadian player, a receiver has been honoured with that honour 21 times, but only once in the last 21 years (Cory Watson, 2011).
Bombers Canadian receivers named team’s top Canadian: Cory Watson, 2011; Wilcox, 1993, 1994, 1995; Rick House: 1991, 1990, 1982; Joe Poplawski: 1986, 1985, 1984, 1981, 1980, 1978; Gord Paterson, 1977; Bob Larose – 1971; Ken Neilsen – 1969, 1968, 1967, 1966; Billy Cooper – 1964, 1965.
