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The Portage Pitbulls felt an infusion of Blue and Gold at last week's practice.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Wide Receiver Ontaria Wilson travelled down Highway 1 to Rotary Republic of Manitobah Park in Portage la Prairie to spend time with Pitbull's players on the practice field.
"I really enjoyed being out there with the kids, and I feel like they enjoyed just being able to see a pro," said the Ashburn, Georgia product. "I set up a small little box drill, nothing too major, just to show them the footwork of being a receiver and things of that sort."
Wilson explained that he was excited to practice with the Pitbulls. He mentioned that when he was younger, he never had the chance to connect with any professional football players until he got to college.
"All the kids, they were really talkative. They all had plenty of different questions, not even on the football topic, just kids being kids honestly."
Wilson has had a unique career route, playing College Football for the Florida State Seminoles from 2018 to 2022. In 51 games, he started 36 and had 108 receptions for 1,521 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Wilson was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers of the NFL as an undrafted free agent. However, he was released at the end of training camp on August 29, 2023,
On October 30, 2023, Wilson signed a futures contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Following Winnipeg's training camp in 2024, he made the active roster as an opening-day starter.
While that may seem like a long path for the 25-year-old to carve out an excellent rookie campaign for the Bombers, Wilson thought the drive out of Winnipeg to Portage was lengthier.
"I've never been that far out of Winnipeg. It was a long drive. It was like an hour's drive," he laughed. "I met some parents, signed a few autographs, shook some hands, took a lot of pictures, and it was a good atmosphere."
Wilson expressed his hope that the players would be inspired by his visit and recognize the importance of consistency in a professional's daily routine.