Micah Vanterpool will start at right tackle for the Blue Bombers on Thursday night against the B.C. Lions; photos by Cameron Bartlett
One of the first things you notice about Micah Vanterpool is the man’s sheer size. Large doesn’t fit the description. And extra-large doesn’t quite seem to work, either.
Now, officially Vanterpool is listed at 6-5, 336 pounds and positioned just right — as he was during his interviews following Wednesday’s walk-through practice — he was certainly big enough to block out a scorching sun.
Critical now for the mammoth offensive tackle is to step in for the injured Jarell Broxton and do his thing on the right flank to protect Dru Brown and maul those in front of him for Brady Oliveira.
“It just feels good to be playing football again. It’s a blessing,” said Vanterpool. “Any time I get to go out there with the guys, any time I get to go protect the quarterback, get Brady into the end zone, it’s a blessing.”
Vanterpool has been on the cusp of regular work for the Blue Bombers for a while now, having started six games last year at both left guard and left tackle. Now he switches to the right side and hopes his patience in waiting for another opportunity pays dividends.
“It kinda so funny… when I was being patient — and this was two years ago — I said, ‘Lord, please just give me some patience.’ And he made me a third-grade classroom teacher,” Vanterpool said with a wide grin. “I don’t know if you’ve been in a third-grade classroom, but you’ve got to have a lot of patience to deal with that.
“Every day I’ve just been trying to keep chopping wood and not really worrying about the outcome, not worrying about the byproduct and just making sure I’m putting the right process in and doing what I need to do every day.”
A jovial sort, Vanterpool admitted he does undergo a bit of a transformation on game day — “I feel like everybody has got to have a little craziness in them; you’ve got to have an alter ego. When I step on the field it’s no friends and just going out there and go play, man.”
Asked by TSN’s Danielle Bain what the reaction of his third graders would be seeing him play he added: “It’s funny, I have played them my highlight tape before and they’re, ‘Oh, Mr. V you’re so mean on the field and you’re so nice to us.’
“And I’m like, ‘Of course. You’re not 300 pounds and trying to hit my quarterback.”
ICYMI, here is our Game Preview:
And what follows are more notes and quotes to help get Blue Bombers fans ready for tonight in this week’s edition of GAME DAY HQ…
WELCOME BACK
Jaiden Woodbey 2026 season hit a severe bump with less than two minutes left in the season opening win in Calgary. The road back — he returns to the Blue Bombers lineup tonight — has been a long, arduous and familiar one for the 26-year-old defensive back/linebacker hybrid.
“It feels great. Very, very happy, Very excited to go out there and play with my teammates and just have fun,” said Woodbey on Wednesday. “It’s definitely been frustrating. As an athlete and a competitor, you always want to compete and help your team win.
“It’s just finding those ways to still lead on the sidelines or at practice when I’m not playing. Sometimes during the games I had some teammates come and ask questions and even some of the young guys it’s just giving them guidance, it’s like, ‘I know it’s your first game, you’ve got to make sure you do this’ and giving them the little nuggets here and there and find a way to still be effective.
“Often times when athletes get injured, they feel useless and it doesn’t matter what you tell them, so you have to find a way to still stay connected.”
QUOTABLE
NOTABLE
- Winnipeg has won the past four matchups with the Lions.
- The Blue Bombers lead the CFL with 15 sacks while the Lions have allowed the most with 16.
- BC’s defence is allowing a league-low 54.8 rushing yards per game.
- Brady Oliveira recorded his 23rd career 100-rushing yard game last week and in the process moved into second on the all-time list of Canadians behind Andrew Harris’s 29. He also became the fifth Canadian to reach the 6,000-rushing-yard milestone, while reaching third on the Bombers’ all-time list (6,031) behind Charles Roberts (9,987) and Leo Lewis (8,861).
- Rookie Major Williams is tied for the league-lead with seven pass knockdowns, while registering 32 defensive tackles and one interception.
- Willie Jefferson has four sacks in his last three games, including at least one in each. He is tied for the league lead (five). His next sack will move him into a third-place tie in Blue Bombers history with Doug Brown at 52. Tyrone Jones tops that list with 98, while Tony Norman is second at 59.
SALUTING CAL
Cal Murphy will be officially added to the Winnipeg Football Club’s Ring of Honour tonight at halftime with a special salute.
One of the most iconic figures in Blue Bombers history — he and Bud Grant have been immortalized with statues on the grounds of Princess Auto Stadium — Murphy is already in the club’s hall of fame, the Canadian Football League’s Hall of Fame and has an annual award, the Cal Murphy ‘Heart of a Legend Award’ presented in his honour.
To read more about Murphy, check out this piece:
“He did so much in his career and here in Winnipeg.” | Cal Murphy added to Ring of Honour
GAME DAY -1
ICYMI, Sam Calvert and I chopped it up a bit yesterday as to what to expect in tonight’s matchup against the Lions:
ICYMI
We had a spectacular conversation on this week’s huddle with defensive back Michael Griffin II. Check it out here and, while you’re at it, please subscribe to the Blue Bombers YouTube page.
