Blue Bomber named finalist for CFL rookie of the year

Trey Vaval of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is nominated for Most Outstanding Rookie and Special Teams Player at the CFL Awards.

A Winnipeg Blue Bomber is up for a pair of Most Outstanding Player awards ahead of the Grey Cup.

Trey Vaval has been nominated for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie and the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player of the season.

During the 2025 season, Vaval led the league in punt returns with 75 and yards with 957. In August, he became the first player in Blue Bombers history to return a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in the same game.

Vaval is up against Lirim Hajrullahu of the Toronto Argonauts in the Special Teams category. Hajrullahu made 57 of 64 field goals this season.

In the Most Outstanding Rookie category, Vaval is nominated against linebacker Devin Veresuk of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Veresuk recorded 67 tackles, three special teams tackles, two sacks and an interception this season.

The winners will be announced Nov. 13 at the CFL’s annual awards banquet in Winnipeg.

- With files from The Canadian Press