WINNIPEG (CFL.ca wire) — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers added some depth to their linebacking corps on Wednesday with the signing of non-import linebacker Eugene Boakye and import linebacker Joe Lobendahn to contracts.
As per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
“The addition of Eugene Boakye and Joe Lobendahn will make the linebacker position one of the spots to watch during training camp,” said Blue Bombers general manager Brendan Taman. “Both are high-energy, physical players who have the tools to play in the CFL.”
Boakye was a third round pick (22nd overall) of the Bombers in the 2007 CFL Canadian Draft.
A hard-hitting defender out of McMaster University, Boakye had his best season as a member of the Marauders in 2005 when he played in seven games and collected 45.5 tackles and one interception. He also has the ability to get to opposing quarterbacks, collecting a quarterback sack in both 2003 and again in 2004. He did not play in 2007 due to injury.
Lobendahn had an outstanding collegiate career as a member of the University of Washington Huskies.
As a senior in 2005, the high-energy linebacker played and started in nine of 11 games and finished fifth on the team with 76 total tackles and added five and a half tackles for losses for 19 yards, two sacks and two interceptions. Those numbers earned him team defensive MVP honours.
Lobendahn, one of Washington’s biggest hitters on special teams, was the Huskies co-defensive player of the year in 2004 when he finished second on the team with 100 total tackles. In 2002, he started twice at inside linebacker and made 23 tackles as a sophomore. In 2001, he was one of just four true freshman to appear in every game for the Huskies.
A winner of the Guy Flaherty Award, given annually to Washington’s most inspirational player, he was signed as a free agent by the NFL’s Detroit Lions in 2007 but was released prior to the start of the regular season.
