Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Trey Vaval (23) dives across for the touchdown as he returns the opening kick for the touchdown against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during first half CFL action in Winnipeg, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

By The Canadian Press

Winnipeg Blue Bomber Trey Vaval named CFL’s outstanding rookie player

Nov 13, 2025 | 6:31 PM

WINNIPEG — Trey Vaval of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers was named the CFL’s top rookie Thursday.

Vaval received the honour at the CFL’s awards banquet where, earlier in the night, he was named the league’s top special-teams player.

Voting was conducted by the Football Reporters of Canada and all nine CFL head coaches.

The five-foot-11, 163-pound Vaval led the CFL in punt returns (75) and yards (957) with a touchdown while returning two kickoffs for scores — the most in the league.

He was also tops in missed field goal returns (six), yards (391), longest return (128) and touchdowns (one).

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Linebacker Devin Veresuk of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was also a finalist. The six-foot-two, 240-pound Windsor, Ont., native — taken second overall in the 2025 CFL draft — posted 67 tackles, three special-teams tackles, two sacks and an interception.

The interception was a 36-yard pick-six in his first pro start, a 35-17 win over Montreal on June 27.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2025.

The Canadian Press