Portage's own Kurt Parker is eager to get back on the football field. The former Portage Collegiate Trojan played his first season in the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL) in 2022, but he did most of his learning in practice and on the sidelines. 

Parker is returning to the Winnipeg Rifles for the 2023 campaign and says the team is going for a different approach this season.

"I'm very excited. It looks like we'll be running the ball more this year than we were last year," Parker explains. "It looks like I'll be getting quite a few more reps than I did last year."

For a running back like Parker, having a more run-oriented offence is very encouraging. In his first season in Winnipeg, Parker didn't see the field a ton but that is very common for rookies in the CJFL. Parker believes the red-shirt year was what he needed to be ready to play in this league.

"It was a huge benefit. It got me up to speed and really showed me what the pace is like compared to high school. It's a lot faster football," Parker continues. "Everyone on the field is skilled."

While the current plan for Winnipeg is to run by committee and have a few running backs who get the ball regularly, Parker says he's been practicing with the starters.

"Right now, I'm set up to get first-team reps. There's a first group of running backs and a second group. That might change a little bit after the preseason game, but for the most part, I think things are set for the regular season."

Next weekend, the Rifles will head out to Brandon to face off with the Regina Thunder for an exhibition game.

"I do have some family out there that'll probably come and watch, but I like playing in Winnipeg a little better because they have a turf field. Half of the games from my senior year in high school were played in Brandon, so it'll be nice to be back in Brandon again."

Parker says the biggest difference in his game compared to last year is his level of physicality. He added ten pounds in the offseason, which he believes should help him in numerous ways.

"I'm a smaller running back, so (power running) is something I'm trying to improve upon. I would say I'm more of a quick and shifty player on the field that makes guys miss tackles, but I'd like to be able to run guys over, too," says Parker. "I think the weight will help with that, and also with pass blocking, I think it'll help quite a bit."

Parker isn't the only Portage product on the Rifles this season. Jacob Younka is returning on the defensive side of the ball, and Kaiden and Kyler Banfield have been added to the team. The brothers played for the Okanagan Sun in the BCFC for the last three seasons but have come back to their home province for the 2023 campaign.

"It's really nice to have those guys around. It'll give us a group to drive to games with this season," Parker says.

With this only being his second of five eligible seasons in the CJFL, Parker wants to soak in as much knowledge as possible this season.

"I'd still like to improve a lot. I'm still pretty young out there. So, I'd still like to improve all-around."

Parker and the Rifles will open their season in Edmonton on August 13 against the Huskies. The squad's home opener goes down the following weekend as they host the Saskatoon Hilltops.

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