The Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League have signed Concordia Stinger kicker Rene Paredes to a contract and will have him compete for a spot on their roster when training camp gets under way next month.
Paredes, a fourth-year athlete from Pierrefonds, Que., is being brought to Winnipeg’s training camp to challenge Justin Palardy, the former Saint Mary’s Huskies’ kicker.
“Rene has had a fantastic career with us,” says Concordia head coach Gerry McGrath, who was a CFL kicker with Saskatchewan and Montreal in the ‘80s. “He can easily compete with any CIS kicker and most CFL kickers. He is technically strong, extremely consistent and has a great mental ability to focus and block out any distractions.”
During his university career, Paredes connected on 54 of 79 field goals, including 10 of 14 in 2010. His longest field goal last year was 48 yards. He also made 73 of 76 converts, including 12 of 13 last season. He’s handled all the kickoff duties over his four years, averaging about 54 yards each.
Paredes can also be called upon to punt. He last punted for Concordia in 2009 and averaged 33.6 yards. His best season was in 2008 when he averaged 36.3 yards.
He will join four other Stingers at Winnipeg’s camp, including two-time all-Canadian punter Mike Renaud. Also on the Blue Bombers’ training camp roster are slotbacks Cory Watson and Liam Mahoney, and long snap Chris Cvetkovic.
Paredes becomes the fifth Concordia football player to make the jump to the CFL this season. On May 8, four Stingers were selected in the CFL draft. Defensive tackle Maurice Forbes was picked by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the second round, offensive tackle Anthony Barrette was selected by the Montreal Alouettes, also in the second round; Mahoney was Winnipeg’s sixth-round pick and receiver Jared Manchelenko was chosen by the Calgary Stampeders, also in the sixth round.
