-CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player: 2025
-CFL Most Outstanding Rookie: 2025
-West Division Most Outstanding Special Teams Player: 2025
-West Division Most Outstanding Rookie: 2025
-CFL All-Star: 2025
-CFLPA All-Star: 2025
-West Division All-Star: 2025
-Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Special Teams Player: 2025
-Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Rookie: 2025
The Blue Bombers signed Vaval on February 14, 2025 and he authored a sensational first season in the Canadian Football League, capturing the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player and Most Outstanding Rookie Player awards while being named a CFL All-Star.
He led the CFL with four kick return touchdowns — two via kickoff returns, one on a punt and a fourth on a missed field goal — while also finishing first in punt return yardage (957 yards) and missed field goal return yardage (391) and fifth in kickoff return yardage (918).
His 391 yards on missed field goal returns established a new Blue Bombers record in that department and his 128-yard missed field goal return vs. Ottawa in September was the longest in club history. On top of that, in a home win over Toronto on August 1st he became the first player in team history to return a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the same game.
He became just the third Blue Bomber to win two CFL Most Outstanding Player Awards in the same season, joining Brady Oliveira from 2024 (Most Outstanding Player/Most Outstanding Canadian) and Albert Johnson III in 2000 (Most Outstanding Rookie/Most Outstanding Special Teams Player).
Vaval was also the eighth Blue Bomber to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie, joining Dalton Schoen (2022), Chris Matthews (2012); Gavin Walls (2005), Albert Johnson III (2000), Michael Richardson (1992), William Miller (1980) and Joe Poplawski (1978). And he’s the fifth Blue Bomber to be named the league’s Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, along with Justin Medlock (2016), Keith Stokes (2004), Charles Roberts (2001) and Albert Johnson III (2000).
Pro/College:
Vaval came to Winnipeg after attending training camp with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024.
Vaval split his college days between Minnesota State (2021-23) and Missouri Western State (2019-20). He appeared in 25 games over two years with the Mavericks as a defensive back and return specialist – returning both a punt and kickoff for a TD – while registering two interceptions, 52 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, 14 passes defended and five blocks. In 2019 was All-MIAA First Team as a return specialist and an AFCA All-American at Missouri Western State.
