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News June 30, 2025

Wheatfall: “Whenever that ball is in the air I’ve got to execute. It’s my ball or nobody’s ball.”

Keric Wheatfall has emerged as a key target in the Blue Bombers receiving corps; photos by Cameron Bartlett

@EdTaitWFC

Let’s rewind to winter and that crazy transactional period around Canadian Football League free agency when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiving corps underwent a significant makeover.

Gone were Kenny Lawler and Drew Wolitarsky to Hamilton, while Pokey Wilson landed with the New York Jets. The Blue Bombers then worked to offset those departures — and the panic in the streets by the fanbase — by diving into the free agent pool to add the likes of Dillon Mitchell, Jerreth Sterns and Reggie White, Jr.

Someone from that group it was believed would emerge as a deep threat to fill the void left, in particular, with the exits of Lawler and Wilson.

It turns out that deep threat was here all along.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls… we give you Keric Wheatfall who through three games leads the club in receptions (14), yards (275) and catches of 30 yards or more (five) while scoring touchdowns covering 52 and 30 yards. All those numbers, by the way, currently rank Top 5 in the CFL.

“I’m really confident in myself. I’ve put in a lot of work, we’ve put in a lot of work,” said Wheatfall after practice this week. “Last year I was still trying to read defence and get the ‘Waggle’ (pre-snap motion by receivers) because I was playing inside more. Now I’m on the ball and I’m way more confident in my game now and everything I’ve got to execute I execute.

“I put in a lot of work in the offseason. Zach (Collaros) trusts me to go out there and make a play and whenever that ball is in the air I’ve got to execute. It’s my ball or nobody’s ball.”

Wheatfall made an instant impression a year ago, pulling in three passes for 111 yards in his CFL debut in Ottawa — including a reception that covered 76 yards. But late in that game he suffered an injury and spent the next six weeks on the injured list, then two more on the practice roster before working his way back into the starting lineup, finishing the year with 13 catches for 273 yards and one TD.

Three games into 2025, he’s already bested those numbers while quickly establishing himself as one of the Canadian Football League’s rising stars.

The key to that growth?

“Maturity,” said offensive coordinator Jason Hogan. “You come into this league not sure what to expect with the different rules, different width of the field, different schemes because of the 12th guy.

“So, a lot of maturity, a lot of preparation… he seems dialled. It’s not that he wasn’t last year it’s just that you like to see guys in their second year of the CFL really set themselves apart. We’re really happy with his work so far.

“I think he’s got a lot more in the tank. Again, it’s just the experience. He didn’t play a whole lot last year; he got some touches early on in this season so let’s just keep building off that.”

Wheatfall returned to the lineup late last season and played in both the Western Final and Grey Cup. But the player we see now is far more polished and confident and now has the trust of Collaros. That doesn’t come over night. Wheatfall, who starred at Fresno State before pro stints with the Philadelphia Eagles (2022) and then the Philadelphia Stars (2023), attacked his offseason concentrating on his vertical speed, his hand placement and vision as a receiver.

“As soon as I got home, probably a week after the Grey Cup, I got back to work and it’s showing this year,” he said. “Everything you do in the offseason is going to translate. You can put in the work or not put in the work and it’s going to show regardless. For me, those habits I put them on my back and now I’m out there showing it and executing it.”

OUCH UPDATE: Positive news from Blue Bombers practice on Monday as both RB Brady Oliveira and receiver Nic Demski were full participants. Jake Thomas was there at the start of the session but did not participate. Micah Vanterpool continues to get the bulk of the work at left guard.

BIGGIE WATCH: Adam Bighill has been practising with his new club, the Calgary Stampeders, but it’s still questionable as to whether he would suit up for this Thursday’s meeting with his old club in southern Alberta.

“I wouldn’t bring Adam in unless I felt like he’s going to be the leader of the group. The problem is, he’s not quite healthy,” said Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson. “We’ve got to make sure to get him back and actually do some on-field practice, and make sure that he’s feeling comfortable with things. When he’s comfortable and ready, obviously, I think he’ll be a big help for us.

“He’s a little over nine months post-ACL. He looks pretty good; we’re just going to be a hair cautious.”

Bighill spent six years with the Blue Bombers and played a critical role in the club’s run, including two Grey Cup championships. Now 36, he’s looking to revive his career after Winnipeg opted to move on in the offseason.

“I understand what they have going over there,” Bighill told reporters in Calgary. “They’ve got a great room of guys, a locker room that’s gotten older as you’ve gone more veteran. Me getting hurt with young guys in the fold, it makes sense that you’ve got to move on at times.

“I’ve seen it throughout my career. When I was a rookie, saw veterans like Geroy Simon, for example, and then he went to Sask, and won a Grey Cup the next year. That’s what I’m focused on is doing what I need to do to help this team win a Grey Cup.”

“I’m excited for him,” added Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “Nobody wants to see it end on an injury — it happens too often to too many people. So, for him to work through that — he’s always had the determination, his work rate is second to none. There was no doubt in my mind that if he wanted to keep playing, which he obviously did, that he was going to land somewhere and be an asset for sure.

“He’s as smart as they come and his resumé speaks for itself.”

ICYMI: We recorded our latest Handled Internally podcast this week with Nic Demski joining Zach Collaros, Darren Cameron and myself. Check it out here: