Late starter Bruggeling looking to gain experience with REDBLACKS

It wasn’t long before a U Sports career with the Carleton Ravens that REDBLACKS’ receiver Keaton Bruggeling started his football journey, but now, he has worked his way to the highest level of the sport in Canada.

In Grade 10 at Eden High School in St. Catharines, Ontario, Bruggeling was hitting the field playing football, except it was the European variety. He was the goalkeeper on his high school team, but wasn’t loving the sport anymore. In Grade 11, he made the switch to Canadian football.

Bruggeling started as a quarterback, but was quickly thrown on the defensive side of the ball, where he would play cornerback. Ultimately, however, his preferred position was receiver, and he got his wish during high school, making the change.

With just two years of football experience under his belt, Bruggeling was recruited by Carleton, and committed to the program for the 2019 season. He played for the Ravens for two seasons, missing one due to the pandemic year, pulling in 25 receptions, for 290 yards and three touchdowns.

“The jump was so big, going from high school football in Grade 11 to Carleton,” Bruggeling said. “I didn’t know a lot about football, I didn’t have a lot of reps, and I was really raw. They worked on me until the point where I was getting drafted.”

Bruggeling’s final season in the Raven’s nest was the better of the two, finishing the year with 225 yards and three touchdowns, coming on just 17 receptions. It was during training camp in 2021 that Bruggeling was told for the first time by one of his coaches that the CFL was a real possibility, fuelling his fire to get better.

“That was a staple in my mentality,” Bruggeling admitted. “I fully bought in and fully believed. I hired a trainer, and I took the extra steps required to be successful.”

That hard work paid off in spades for Bruggeling, with the REDBLACKS using the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 CFL Draft to bring him into the fold.

“To be anywhere would have been crazy, but to be in Ottawa is amazing,” Bruggeling said. “To know that they value me enough to invest in me is such an amazing feeling, but it really did still feel like the beginning.”

With only a short amount of time between the draft and rookie camp, Bruggeling’s football knowledge was put to the test. There is a lot to learn when it comes to a professional offence, but by all accounts, he handled it very well. Bruggeling stamped his presence immediately and made his mark with receivers coach, Alex Suber.

“He’s much faster than anyone thought he would be, I mean, he can run,” he said. “With the waggle, he’s the first guy down the field sometimes, even with how big he is. The kid is really rolling.”

Although Bruggeling has handled it well, the transition to CFL life hasn’t been easy, especially not during the difficult season the REDBLACKS have endured. Along the way, the veteran receivers have helped him out, most notably with Nate Behar and Jaelon Acklin, who have both been guiding lights for the young receiver.

“Nate really teaches me everything when it comes to football,” Bruggeling said. “He really took me under his wing and helped out.”

“We’re both kinda goofy,” Bruggeling admitted, speaking of Acklin. “He’s a great guy. He’s telling me about the league and what’s going on, but he has also instilled confidence in me since the day I arrived.”

It comes in disappointing circumstances, with an ankle injury for Behar, but Bruggeling is back in the lineup for the REDBLACKS’ trip to Vancouver, to take on the BC Lions. Exactly how involved he will be in the gameplan isn’t clear just yet, but Suber says that they are going to let him play.

In 2022, Bruggeling has made five appearances, but has yet to haul in his first reception. Now, as the third Canadian receiver on the depth chart, those targets may start to come, but even if they don’t, Bruggeling knows that any playing time is valuable.

According to Suber, the sky is the limit for Bruggeling.

“He has all of the talent and the ability,” he said. “From size, speed, his physicality, he’s a great ball catcher, and his want-to is great. He really loves to play ball, so I think he can be a very talented Canadian receiver in this league, and I look forward to it.”