Eskimos add players to training camp roster

The Edmonton Eskimos continue to adjust their Canadian Football League trainingcamp roster as they evaluate the results of last week’s mini-camp.

The Eskimos added seven players on Wednesday and released wide receiver Isaiah Williams. All eight international players were at the Eskimos’ mini-camp in Vero Beach, Fla.

The signees include kickreturner Etauj Allen, running back Shakir Bell, receivers Chad Bumphis, Bryant Mitchell and Derel Walker, defensive back John Ojo and linebacker Scott Williams.

Williams signed with the Eskimos on Sept. 3, 2014, and spent the remainder of the CFL season on the practice roster.

Bumphis and Ojo took a similar route with the Eskimos, landing on the practice roster last year, but both were released on Nov. 12.

Bumphis was part of a players-only camp the Eskimos held in Edmonton in March, before putting in a good camp at Vero Beach.

Bell, a five-foot-eight, 195-pound running back from Indiana State, is an intriguing signing for the Eskimos.

In Florida, he looked like a good fit for what general manager Ed Hervey and head coach Chris Jones like in their running game. Bell is small, speedy and powerful and fits the mould of starting running back John White or backup Kendial Lawrence.

Allen should give Lawrence a push in the return game in training camp. The five-foot-nine, 171-pounder from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas turned heads at his NFL pro day at Henderson State last month.

His 40-yard dash time was 4.40 seconds and he showed a 33-inch vertical with a ninefoot-10-inch broad jump.

The Eskimos currently have 72 players signed. Training camp opens on June 1.