Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Charles Roberts - Running Back - Sacramento State - 2001-08

  Rushing         Receiving       Punt Return       Kick Return    
Yr Team C Yds Avg Lg TD C Yds Avg Lg TD No Yds Avg Lg TD No Yds Avg Lg TD
2001 Wpg 107 820 7.7 22 1 27 288 10.7 43 0 82 782 9.5 58 2 45 981 21.8 50 0
2002 Wpg 216 1,162 5.4 70 5 55 613 11.1 59 6 44 476 10.8 75 0 27 539 20.0 42 0
2003 Wpg 264 1,554 5.9 51 8 51 548 10.7 47 2 45 362 8.0 35 0 26 528 20.3 36 0
2004 Wpg 300 1,522 5.1 49 8 53 398 7.5 26 5 3 28 9.3 26 0 4 84 21.0 41 0
2005 Wpg 290 1,624 5.6 69 12 49 474 9.7 64 0 1 17 17.0 17 0 1 19 19.0 19 0
2006 Wpg 303 1,609 5.3 33 10 42 411 9.8 32 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
2007 Wpg 262 1,379 5.3 56 16 47 358 7.6 35 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
2008 Wpg 111 517 4.7 33 5 38 251 6.6 14 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
  BC 65 298 4.6 20 4 6 55 9.2 20 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0
Total 8 1,918 10,485 5.5 70 69 368 3,396 9.2 64 13 175 1,665 9.5 75 2 103 2,151 20.9 50 0

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Charles Roberts had a great nickname ‘Blink”. Roberts was a 5’6” dynamo out of Sacramento State who arrived in Winnipeg in 2001 as a whirling dervish of excitement. He averaged an incredible 7.7 yards per carry his rookie season with over 800 yards rushing. He would add to that terrific totals as the team’s primary kick and punt return man that included 2 punt return touchdowns.

 

Teaming with hulking fullback Mike Sellers in 2002 and 2002, Roberts would seemingly disappear behind the 240 lb Sellers and re-appear 40 yards downfield celebrating a touchdown – it was a dynamic combination. Sellers would return to the NFL in 2004 but that didn’t stop Roberts. He would lead the league in rushing in 2004, 05, and ’06 and in every season had over 1,500 yards rushing. It was the most productive streak by a running back in team history.

 

A prickly character off the field, Roberts produced on the field. In 2006, Winnipeg brought in NFL cast-off Onterrio Smith to compete with Roberts for the starting tailback position. Greatly offended by the move, Roberts quickly dispatched of the competition and went on to have one of his best seasons ever with 1,609 yards rushing.

 

The California native was a 5-time all-star and the Eastern divisions Most Outstanding Player in 2006. Along with receiver Milt Stegall, Charles Roberts was Blue Bomber football in the 2000’s.

 

2 Grey Cup appearances in 2001 and 2007 would end in defeat for Winnipeg and Roberts. During the 2007 season on September 2nd he surpassed Leo Lewis as the leading rusher in franchise history. Following a disappointing start to the 2008 season Roberts was traded to B.C. for an equally underachieving back in Joe Smith. It would be his final season as a professional.

 

Charles Roberts was as exciting a running back as the CFL has ever seen. He delighted football fans for 8 seasons with his speed and ability.