WINNIPEG, Manitoba – North Dakota defensive back
C.J. Siegel has signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the organization announced Wednesday. With the addition of Siegel, the Blue Bombers now have three Fighting Hawks on their roster, also signing Brady Oliveira in 2019 and Evan Holm in 2022.
Siegel recorded 52 starts at cornerback in his UND career and sits No. 10 in the all-time record book for career pass breakups with 29. In the North Dakota Division I record book, Siegel ranks No. 3 in career pass breakups (29), No. 9 in career solo tackles (115) and ties for No. 4 in career interceptions (6). He served as a team captain for North Dakota in both 2022 and 2023.
Last season, Siegel started all 12 games at defensive back for UND and recorded eight pass breakups to tie for No. 4 in the MVFC. He was third on the team in solo tackles (28) and tied for eighth in total tackles (32.0). He finished the year with 2.0 tackles-for-loss. Siegel had a 59-yard interception return in the 49-24 win over No. 6/7 North Dakota State and recovered a fumble in the 22-21 victory over Illinois State. He also helped the Fighting Hawks lead the nation in yards per kickoff return (27.83), averaging 21.0 yards per return. He contributed six kickoff returns for 126 yards. At the end of the season, he was named Second Team All-MVFC.
During his senior season in 2022, Siegel started all 12 games at defensive back. He ranked No. 3 in the MVFC in interception return yards (79) and No. 4 in pass breakups (8). He also piled up 46 total tackles and contributed 1.5 tackles-for-loss. In the 27-24 win at Northern Arizona towards the beginning of the season, he had two highlight reel-worthy plays in the form of an 11-yard sack and a 50-yard interception return for touchdown. He was also a standout on special teams, returning 15 kickoffs for 436 yards and had a pair of field goal blocks. His 29.07 yards per kickoff return led the MVFC and ranked No. 7 nationally. At the end of the year, he earned Second Team All-MVFC honors.
In 2021, Siegel saw action in all 11 games and started 10 of them at defensive back. He accumulated 28 total tackles, including a career-high nine tackles at Missouri State. Siegel ranked third on the team in sacks with 2.0, recorded an interception at Utah State and broke up a pass in the 14-7 win over Illinois State. He also started appearing on special teams with two kick returns for 30 yards at No. 4 Southern Illinois.
In his sophomore season in 2020-21, he started all seven games at defensive back and finished with 21 total tackles. He only allowed two passes of over 25 yards all season. His highlight plays included a forced fumble on a strip sack that led to a touchdown in the 44-21 season-opening win over No. 24 Southern Illinois and a pass breakup that led to an interception off a deflection at No. 4 North Dakota State.
As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he saw action in all 12 games and made 11 starts at defensive back. He led all defensive backs on the team in total tackles (30), pass breakups (10) and interceptions (2). Both of his interceptions came in a thrilling 38-36 win over No. 12 UC Davis. He had a season-best seven tackles and a pair of pass breakups at No. 1 North Dakota State and recorded a pair of pass deflections at Idaho State and against Southern Utah.
His freshman season was 2018, a year in which he redshirted. He appeared in two games during the season and put down his first career tackle in the 41-14 win over No. 22 Montana and had the first sack of his career in the 41-15 win at Sacramento State.
The Blue Bombers will open with week one of the pre-season on Monday, May. 20, visiting the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 3 p.m. (CT).
There are now five UND products on active rosters in the Canadian Football League: Siegel, Evan Holm and Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), Mason Bennett (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and Tyron Vrede (Ottawa REDBLACKS).
