Winnipeg Blue Bombers | Brady Oliveira is one of the players to watch

Brady Oliveira has his work cut out for him if he wants to have a better season than in 2023.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back was named Most Outstanding Canadian Player and was a finalist for the Canadian Football League MVP award last year after leading the league with 1,534 rushing yards. , the highest total for a Canadian since Jon Cornish’s 1,813 yards in 2013. The Manitoban also led the CFL in yards from the line of scrimmage (2016) and touchdowns (13).

Oliveira also led the league with seven games of 100 or more yards rushing, while setting career highs in catches (38) and receiving yards (482). That landed him a new two-year pact, which will pay him $470,000 in total.

His dream campaign, however, ended in nightmare when his Bombers lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes in the Gray Cup.

Here are some other players to watch in the CFL in 2024.

William Stanback, BC Lions

The running back signed with the Lions after being released by the Alouettes after five seasons in Montreal. Twice, Stanback amassed 1,000 or more yards rushing. In 2023, he rushed for over 800 yards on 147 carries, although he missed four games. He was voted Eastern MVP in 2021.

AJ Ouellette, Saskatchewan Roughriders

After his career-best 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns last season in Toronto, Ouellette added 16 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns. His arrival in Saskatchewan should provide a boost to a ground attack that was eighth in the league in 2023 in yards per game (84.4) and last in gains per carry (4.4 yards).

James Butler, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Butler will try to achieve a third consecutive season of over 100 yards rushing in 2024. Last year, he set a personal mark with 1,116 yards, becoming the first Ti-Cats running back to pass the 1,000-yard mark since 2010. The Ti-Cats have not had a successful running back in two seasons consecutive games of more than 1,000 yards since DeAndra’Cobb, in 2009 and 2010.

Demerio Houston, Calgary Stampeders

The cornerback led the league last season with seven interceptions and 10 forced turnovers with the Bombers. He joined the Stamps as a free agent. In three seasons and 30 games in Winnipeg, Houston had 84 tackles and nine interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

Tim White, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

He led the CFL in 2023 with 1,269 receiving yards for a 16.9 average per catch. He has caught passes for over 1,000 yards over the last two campaigns. In 47 games with the Ti-Cats, he completed 224 aerial plays for 3,308 yards (including 1,178 after the catch) and 18 touchdowns.

Eugene Lewis, Edmonton Elks

After making 91 catches for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Alouettes in 2022, Lewis was limited to 48 catches, 844 yards and three touchdowns last season, his first in Edmonton. But new Elks quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson has been the league’s leading passer in 2022, which bodes well for the speedy Lewis.

Adarius Pickett, Ottawa Red and Black

The linebacker was named to the league’s all-star team last season with the Argos before signing with Ottawa as a free agent. Pickett was named the Eastern Defensive Player of the Year with 105 tackles (five for losses), 19 special teams tackles, six sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Darnell Sankey, Montreal Alouettes

The linebacker made 31 tackles, one sack and one interception in just six games last year with the Alouettes. His arrival was also felt in the playoffs, with 22 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He led the league in tackles in 2021 and 2022 before moving to the XFL.

Cameron Judge, Calgary Stampeders

The Stamps granted the Montrealer a contract extension until 2025. With good reason. The linebacker had a career-high 90 tackles last season to go along with a Stampeders-high five interceptions. In 64 games with the Riders, Argos and Stamps, Judge made 283 tackles (11 for losses), 14 sacks, forced six fumbles while recovering as many, in addition to nine interceptions.

Bryce Carter, Ottawa Red and Black

The defensive lineman connected with opposing quarterbacks behind their line of scrimmage 12 times last season, the second-highest total in the league. Carter also recorded 31 tackles and caused two fumbles. Along with Lorenzo Mauldin IV – CFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 – they provide an excellent defensive front.

Christian Covington, BC Lions

Nine years after being drafted by the Lions, the Vancouver native agreed with the team. The defensive lineman returns to the CFL after playing with the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions in the NFL.

Jake Ceresna, Toronto Argonauts

Toronto acquired the defensive lineman from the Elks for Kurleigh Gittens Jr. Ceresna set career highs with 48 tackles and 12 sacks in 2023. He will back up Folarin Orimolade, who had 10 sacks last year.

Javon Leake, Edmonton Elks

The speedy punt return specialist joined the Elks on the free agent market after a standout 2023 season with the Argos. Leake was named league MVP on special teams last season after returning four punts for touchdowns, one short of the CFL record, held by Henry Williams since 1991 and tied by Chris Williams, in 2012.