CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Ben Wearing Traded to Ottawa

Published on April 18, 2002 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers News Release


WINNIPEG, MB - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers continued their furious football finagling today by engineering another CFL trade.

The football club today dealt wide receiver Ben Wearing to the expansion Ottawa Renegades in exchange for a conditional draft pick in the 2003 Canadian College Draft.

Wearing (5-11, 199, McGill '00, DOB: Dec. 2, 1976) made the Blue Bombers last year out of training camp and spent the entire 2001 season on the club's practice roster. With nearly every receiver returning the Blue & Gold fold in 2002, it would have been difficult for Wearing to earn a regular spot on the team's active roster. With the Renegades, the McGill University graduate will have an opportunity to play.

"Ottawa will be a good opportunity for Ben," said Brendan Taman, the Blue Bombers vice-president of player personnel. "We would have loved to have him back but he wouldn't have had the same type of opportunity that he will get in Ottawa. We feel he will be a good player in our league and we fully expect him to be competing against us this year."

The Blue Bombers selected Wearing in the 3rd Round (19th Overall) of the 2001 Canadian College Draft, held April 26, 2001. Winnipeg head coach Dave Ritchie saw him play prior to his McGill days when Wearing was at Brown University. Ritchie was impressed then with what he saw and made it a point to acquire the skilled youngster.

Wearing is an intelligent, talented receiver and returner whose versatility makes him a top candidate for a CFL roster spot. He possesses sure hands and sufficient quickness to turn short routes over the middle of the football field into long gains.

Wearing played with the Redmen for two years after spending two seasons at Brown. With McGill, he posted an impressive set of statistics, including several school records.

The 2000 season was an incredible one for Wearing. He was a First-Team Ontario-Quebec Interuniversities Football Conference (OQIFC) All-Star selection and a First-Team CIAU All-Canadian.

His total of 677 receiving yards total was 1st in the OQIFC, 6th in the CIAU and set a McGill school record. He also placed 4th on the team in rushing with 121 yards on 21 carries for a 5.8 average.

Wearing led the OQIFC in all-purpose yards with 1,442 yards in 9 games for a 180.2-yards per game average. He was 3rd in the OQIFC and 8th in the CIAU in scoring with six touchdowns.

Wearing showed his prowess on special teams in 2000, placing 1st in OQIFC and 8th in the CIAU in punt returns with a 10.6-yard average and 1 touchdown. He was 2nd in the OQIFC and 6th in the CIAU in kickoff returns with a 19.4-yard average.

Twice he was named McGill's Athlete of the Week (Sept. 25, 2000 & Oct. 2, 2000). Twice he won the Offensive Player of the Game Award and once took home the Special Teams Player of the Game Award in 2000.

He was also selected the OQIFC Player of the Week Oct. 2, 2000 after amassing 237 all-purpose yards and 2 touchdowns in McGill's 26-23 win at Bishop's. He was the Most Valuable Player in the annual Shrine Bowl after scoring the game-winning touchdown on a 94-yard punt return in McGill's 12-11 victory at Concordia.

Wearing's 1999 season was also an exceptional one, as he led the OQIFC in all-purpose yards with 1,199. He led the Redmen in receiving with 592 yards on 33 receptions, scoring 2 touchdowns in the process. That yardage total was the 3rd best in McGill History. He also ran the ball 14 times for 89 yards and a 6.4-yard average.

Like in the 2000 season, Wearing took home several honors in 1999. He was twice named the McGill Athlete of the Week. Three times in nine games Wearing won the Special Teams Player of the Game Award. That season he won his first Shrine Bowl Most Valuable Player Award in McGill's game against Concordia.

Wearing totaled more than 100 all-purpose yards in 16 consecutive games with McGill over a two-year span. He started all 18 games he played in a Redmen uniform.

Wearing was the 8th player from McGill to ever be drafted by the Bombers. Only one Blue Bombers' draft choice from McGill had ever made the team before Wearing, that being the 1st Round selection (9th Overall) of the 1963 Canadian College Draft Ian Montieth. He played one year for the team in 1963.

Wearing became the 43rd player all-time to be taken by the Bombers in the 3rd Round and the 13th from that round to make the club.

Wearing was also the 35th wide receiver chosen by Winnipeg all-time in the Canadian College Draft. He became the 17th receiver to successfully make the Blue Bombers.

Wearing is from Montreal, where he attended Selwyn House High School in Westmount. He was originally a midfielder in soccer before turning his skills to football.

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Canadian Football League Stories from April 18, 2002


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