Banjo Bowl a big deal for new and returning faces

Kenneth Womack never doubted this day would come.

For all of the twists and turns along this journey, Womack believed in himself and the work he’s been putting in on the road to becoming a professional football player.

So, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver gets set to make his CFL on Saturday afternoon against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Banjo Bowl, you can be sure he’s going to take a moment to savour the experience while doing his best to make it feel like any other game he’s played previously.

“Once I run out the tunnel, it’s all going to sink in,” Womack said after Friday’s walkthrough.

“I’m such a positive and humble guy, I knew the opportunity was going to come eventually. One football is going to stop, but it doesn’t have to be anytime soon.”

Womack is an interesting study, as he’s one of a few NCAA athletes to concurrently play two varsity level sports at the same time.

In addition to earning a Division 1 football scholarship to Sacred Heart University, Womack made the basketball team as a walk-on.

“I played basketball and football my whole life,” said Womack. “Out of high school, I had a basketball offer to Robert Morris University, but I took the football route because I always believed in myself.

“In my third year, I was able to play about 20 (basketball) games and impacted the game as best that I could, being a floor general as a point guard. It hasn’t really hit me that I put the basketball down, but I’m always around basketball when I go home because my little brother plays travel basketball.”

Although he didn’t play two sports as a pro like Deion Sanders or Bo Jackson, Womack is proud of what he accomplished on the court along with the gridiron.

“Just going to basketball right after football, I was just so used to it because I was doing it since high school anyway,” said Womack. “It was a great experience to be able to do it in college at that level. I go down in that one per cent of people who play two sports in college at the D1 level. It’s truly a blessing at the end of the day. Shout out to all of the people who ever did it and are still doing it now.”

Womack’s versatility isn’t limited to basketball. While he caught 115 passes for 1,236 yards and two touchdowns in 22 games in his final two NCAA seasons played at Western Michigan University, Womack played defensive back through high school before switching to the offensive side of the ball in college.

That means he will also see time on special teams in Saturday’s game.

“A sure hands guy, knowing my assignment, whatever position it is as a receiver,” said the five-foot-10, 200 pound, Maryland product. “And being a special teams guy, I’m able to (contribute) because I played defensive back growing up. I’ve still got the instincts to be able to play defence. Obviously, there’s tackling and blocking and stuff like that on special teams.”

Seeing Dorian Singer make an impact in his CFL debut last week — which included five catches for 62 yards and the game-tying touchdown reception — was encouraging for Womack, who has received similar praise from Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea for his hard work and studious nature.

“Now my opportunity is (here) to see what kind of plays I can make as well,” said Womack, who is eager to get a taste of the prairie rivalry. “I’ve been around rivalry games and I know how important this is to Winnipeg and to our organization. I’m just looking forward to leaving it all out there on the field and embracing every moment that comes with it.”

Bombers pivot Zach Collaros compared Womack’s attitude to Singer.

“It can go one way or the other when you’re a young player,” said Collaros. “Whether it’s frustration or feeling bad for yourself, you can kind of go the way of not paying attention and just fall off.

“But I think Kenny has done a great job of staying involved and trying to understand what we’re doing offensively… Since training camp, he’s been a guy who has been in my ear asking questions — and good questions, too.”

That combination of dedication and athletic ability has been on display since Womack joined the organization.

“You can appreciate the amount of work you would have put in to be able to do that,” said O’Shea. “How organized he would have had to be and how on top of everything he would have had to be.

“I do find it fascinating that (with) multiple sport athletes, they do seem to grasp things a little better. He left a pretty good impression (in training camp), in terms of his desire to mix it up and get physical. We’ll see if he can’t do a little bit more of that in this game.”

Speaking of a willingness to mix it up and get physical, that’s what the Bombers are expecting from defensive end Matt Jaworski, who made his CFL debut late last season, but was involved in a serious car accident back in March.

The Buffalo, N.Y., product was added to the active roster this week and listed as the starting defensive end opposite Willie Jefferson.

Given what he’s been through, getting back on the field carries special meaning for Jaworski, whose parents will be in the stands at Princess Auto Stadium for his return to the lineup.

“They went through that whole (recovery) process with me and it’s going to be a blessing to have them here,” said Jaworski. “I’m thankful to be alive and thankful to be able to play football again. I’m speechless and excited. You don’t want to look back too much and you don’t want to get caught in the past, but I’m here now.

“It’s almost a restart. In a lot of ways, I feel like (the accident) happened because I needed to build back better. Just a different perspective to think about it. I feel the fastest I’ve ever been and now I get to make my (season) debut a couple of months later.”

The Bombers didn’t do a good enough job applying pressure on Riders quarterback Trevor Harris last week and that’s one of the reasons Jaworski is getting the call for this game.

“He’s picked up right where he left off. He flies around the practice field. He’s hard-nosed. Athletically, he’s an interesting guy. His size, speed, strength ratio is pretty interesting,” said O’Shea, who also appreciates the road back for Jaworski.

“It’s a great reminder of a lot of things: (including) how quickly things can be taken away. The importance of perseverance, the belief in yourself. Those kinds of things.”

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