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February 12, 2022

“I can’t wait to get into the defensive room”

Edmonton Eskimos' Tyquwan Glass returns a kick during second half CFL action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor

A guy can do his due diligence by calling connections, checking references and comparing the dollars on one Canadian Football League contract offer to the next. Heck, if he’s so inclined, he can examine the cost of living in the various markets and spend hours researching all the pros and cons.

Yet, as far as Tyquwan Glass was concerned when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers came calling, well, what’s there really to think about?

“Why Winnipeg?” began Glass in a chat with bluebombers.com this week, one day after signing with the club. “I mean, it’s kinda self-explanatory with the two Grey Cup championships back-to-back, right? I’m just grateful for the opportunity to show my talent again. I understand they had to get some work done in free agency before getting to me. But I know I can play. This is a great opportunity for me to be on a back-to-back championship team where the fans are already showing me love on social media. I’ve got nothing but positivity coming up for this season.”

Glass is an intriguing addition to a Blue Bombers secondary that lost DeAundre Alford to the Atlanta Falcons, saw Alden Darby (Hamilton) and Mike Jones (Montreal) leave in free agency and is uncertain as to when all-star safety Brandon Alexander will be back on the field following offseason surgery.

Back in 2019 he was seen as an emerging talent in the CFL, a ballhawk defender who had three interceptions in 14 games with Edmonton. That put him in high demand in free agency, where he signed with the Montreal Alouettes – the same team that had signed him in 2018 before releasing him 10 games into his rookie season.

He was limited to seven games with the Als in ’21 and didn’t wish to get into detail about what happened in Montreal, saying only: “Things didn’t go the way I felt they should. Things happen with teams, with coaches, people get let go… it was just a situation that I couldn’t control. I did what I could do and at least was able to finish out the season with them.”

Glass does offer the Blue Bombers some versatility and experience in the secondary – especially as part of a unit under the guidance of Richie Hall and the expertise of defensive backs coach Jordan Younger that likes to move players around.

“Once I signed there, I heard from coaches and players I’m cool with that said, ‘Hey man, (Hall) is a great guy. That’s going to be a perfect fit for you.’ I heard he’s a good teacher and once you have the ability to play fast, that’s when you can play at your best,” Glass said. “I’m looking forward to getting there and learning that defence ASAP, just like I did when I was at my best in 2019 in Edmonton.”

“The versatility part… I learned that the hard way, back in my rookie year in Montreal. I thought once I was at a spot, I was at that spot, and then I would just try to master that. Then I heard I had to go to another spot and I was like, ‘Wait… what?!’ I understand that’s part of the CFL. It helps to know all the spots and what others around you are doing, what your linebackers are doing, for example. I know I can do that and play anywhere in the backfield.”

Glass played his college ball at Fresno State with Blue Bombers linebacker Kyrie Wilson and also has a connection with Nick Taylor from their days together in Edmonton. Yet, the attraction to Winnipeg goes beyond that. This defence’s reputation across the league is widely recognized.

“Those guys are champions,” said Glass. “I can’t wait to ask them about the smaller details I can learn from them and what I can do to get more information. I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of things I don’t know that I can learn from the coaches and the players with those guys being two-time Grey Cup champions.

“I’m excited to talk to those dudes (Wilson and Taylor) and all those other guys, too. Winston Rose… Willie Jefferson… all those guys. I can’t wait to get into the defensive room with those guys and learn from them.”

Glass said he hopes to re-establish himself in the Bombers defence as a playmaker and live up to his Instagram handle. Most of all he wants to keep chasing that dream of being a champion again, as he was back at Mount San Antonio Junior College before heading to Fresno State.

“I’ve only been a part of one championship team, back with my junior college,” Glass said. “I know it’s not the same with professional compared to junior college, but I know that room we had back then and the bond we had was special. I want to have that again.

“When I signed with Winnipeg, I was already getting lots of love in tweets from fans. There’s already a good energy from that. I feel a great season coming with everything, from the team to the fans to just having a home. I just feel great hearing so many things about it.”