Nuer Gatkuoth, the Blue Bombers first pick in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft, will suit up for his first game as a Blue Bomber today: photos by Josh Kjarsgaard and Cameron Bartlett
SASKATOON — It’s the game they’ve known and loved for eons. Dreamed about it. Worked at it. And chased every opportunity just for a moment like this.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers called out nine names during the Canadian Football League’s Canadian Draft last month and seven of them will be in action here today in the team’s first preseason contest of 2026. That list includes defensive end Nuer Gatkouth (Round 1, 4th overall), tight end Dante Daniels (2/10), linebacker Charles-Elliot Bouliane (3/24), defensive back Ethan Stuart (4/33), linebacker Brody Clark (5/42), wide receiver Joshua Jack (7/60) and kicker Brady Lidster (8/69).
Offensive tackle Kevin Cline, selected with the 20th overall selection, has been signed by the Miami Dolphins and will be in their training camp this summer while receiver Ben Britton — grabbed in the sixth round — attended rookie camp before deciding to step away from the game.
Those seven players will be pulling on a Blue Bombers jersey and slapping on the iconic gold helmet for the very first time today against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Their hope is that while this is only a preseason game — don’t go there with all those trying to land a gig with this team, by the way — this leads to many, many more.
And so for the first GAME DAY HQ of 2026 we decided to visit with three of the team’s draft class — Gatkuoth, Daniels and Stuart — to get a sense of their emotions on the eve of their professional debuts…
NUER GATKOUTH
“Man, I’m so excited. We’ve been training hard, practising hard and I’m just excited to go out there against another opponent and really hit someone and take someone to the ground, for sure. Coming here, it was hard at first to get used to the one-yard (off the ball) rule. My steps were different and I had to figure out my angle and just how to rush from being one yard off. But once I figured that out and then learning from guys like Willie (Jefferson) and KD (Kydran Jenkins), the guys who have been here, they taught me some tricks.
“My goal is to go out there and play as fast as I can. I know once I go out there and am able to get into my groove I just know, as a playmaker, I’m going to go out and make a play — whether I’m out there for 10 plays for 50.”
Gatkuoth’s last game came January 2nd as a member of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina — a 43-29 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. He attended rookie minicamp with the Denver Broncos earlier this month and arrived to Blue Bombers main camp a few days into the proceedings.
He spoke this week of his goals for the game today and having realistic expectations, too, in balancing the desire to jump out with a big play versus being assignment sound.
“You have to know the situation you’re in and the play you’re in,” he said. “Once you know that and once you know the defence, then you understand, ‘OK, on this play I can take a shot but on this play, I’ve got to be more sound and disciplined.’
“I feel that once you get to that stadium and start to warm up… for me, the biggest thing is to just let go. So many people come into something like this with these big goals. It’s like, ‘OK, I want to do this. I want to do that. I want to score four touchdowns. I want to have five sacks.’ You’ve just got to let go and be yourself and play free.
“When you have all these goals in mind, you’re putting pressure on yourself. I really think you have to let go and play your game. That’s when you have success.”
DANTE DANIELS
“I’m really excited. It’s a chance to go out there and perform and I know my family is going to be watching, too. It’s such a great opportunity. I’ll have people watching on CFL+ from Wichita, where my wife is, to some of my family in Windsor.
“I feel like I’m getting the plays down and everyone is supporting me really well. The O-line, the running backs, the receivers, the coaches… honestly, it’s everyone. Honestly, Zach (Collaros) is a huge mentor. He’s helped me with my route running. Brady (Oliveira) has been great. He’ll say, ‘Hey, why did you do this?’ and then when I explain it he says, ‘I wanted to hear that.’ Great mentors out here. These guys have been through so much and so I’m open to learning anything. They’re teaching me the game, the rules, the ways to make things easier with the little cheats… it’s been awesome.
“I feel like I’ve been getting better every day, trying to take the coaching and teaching. But, and I was talking to Brady about this the other day, I want to line up against somebody else now. I’ve got a friend on Sask (defensive lineman Davin Vann, also from North Carolina State) so it will be good to see him. But Brady said, ‘Do you want to take some aggression out in the game?’ And I was like, ‘Of course. Especially against someone I don’t know.'”
ETHAN STUART
“Just to get out there and be back on the field for a game, it’s going to be amazing. I’ve worked so long for this through the combine and then this training camp. So, to get out there and have the opportunity to compete… I mean, how can you not be excited? This is our first opportunity to really show ourselves and put something on film against real live competition.”
Stuart has had a solid camp and at 6-0, 219 has the size and speed to move all around Jordan Younger’s defence. He wasn’t sure how many snaps he might get today when we spoke to him yet understands fully his potential path to a roster spot will come via special teams.
“I feel like I’m getting better every day. I’m not exactly sure how much play time I’m going to get but I definitely know I’m going to be out there on specials so the No. 1 thing is to be physical, and I pride myself on that. I want to show I can compete and even dominate other guys.”
Stuart said his family will definitely be watching the livestream of Saturday’s game and are contemplating travelling to Winnipeg for the final dress rehearsal next Friday against the B.C. Lions should he be in the lineup again.
Now, however, he’s living in the moment and still working through the biggest and best reality — he’s a professional now and about to realize that dream, even if it’s still the preseason.
“The jump to the pros is something you notice right away,” he said. “Your body is your paycheque now and you can see how much seriously everyone takes things. I’ve always tried to do that in terms of staying healthy, recovery, and that routine.
“When I first showed up here and was in the locker room and saw my nameplate, and then coming out here to the field… I mean, look at this place,” he added, looking around Princess Auto Stadium. “It’s huge compared to what I’m used to at McMaster.
“And now, the chance to play in a game, like I said, it’s going to be amazing.”
Our Game Preview, ICYMI, is here:
