The Elks began training camp on Saturday, July 10th, and they’ll have under 1 month to prepare for their 2021 season opener at home on Saturday, August 7th at 7 pm MST vs. the Ottawa Redblacks.

Edmonton is coming into the 2021 season with a new team name, a new head coach, and many familiar players despite the overwhelming number of retirements sweeping the league.

Coaching Staff

Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach – Jaime Elizondo

Jaime Elizondo is a University of Maryland graduate who brings over 20 years of coaching experience to the Elks, holding positions with the NFL, XFL, CFL, College, and high school levels. He held the offensive coordinator position for the Ottawa Redblacks from 2016 to 2018. He appeared in 2 Grey Cups over 3 seasons, winning 1 in 2016.

Elizondo spent 3 seasons with current Elks quarterback Trevor Harris, who in total has accumulated 13,096 passing yards and 68 touchdowns while completing over 70% of his passes with Elizondo calling plays, as well as a 2016 Grey Cup victory.

He began his CFL coaching career in 2008 as the wide receivers coach for the Montreal Alouettes. During the 08 seasons, the Alouettes had 3 different players (Jamel Richardson, Ben Cahoon, and Kerry Watkins) gain more than 1,000 yards receiving.

He spent the 2009 season with Syracuse University but returned to the CFL in 2010 as the Toronto Argonauts offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. He’d coach a second stint in Toronto in 2015 as the wide receivers coach before joining the Ottawa Redblacks as their offensive coordinator in 2016.

Elizondo left the Redblacks in 2019 and joined former CFL and NFL head coach Marc Trestman with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers. After taking over play-calling duties from Trestman in week 3, the Vipers averaged over 29 points a game on offense until the season was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wide Receivers/ Passing Game Coordinator – Winston October

Winston October began his CFL coaching career in 2018 with the Ottawa RedBlacks as the club’s receivers coach, following coaching positions at the Virginia Military Institute and The College of William & Mary. As a former wide receiver with Montreal and Edmonton, October played in 92 career games and was a member of Edmonton’s 2003 Grey Cup championship team.

Offensive Line Coach – John McDonell

John McDonell joins the Elks as the team’s offensive line coach and has more than 30 years of coaching experience under his belt. He has held positions at Washington State, Stanford, Notre Dame, Purdue, Bowling Green, Memphis, Idaho, Tulane, and Georgia. McDonell joins Edmonton after spending 2018 and 2019 as the Ottawa RedBlacks offensive line coach.

Running Backs Coach – James Vollono.

James Vollono is entering his first year as a coach in the CFL, and it will be his first year as a running backs coach. Vollono began his coaching career as a Special Teams Assistant from 2013-2016 with Mississippi University. He spent a year with The University of Georgia before joining Florida International University as the team’s Special Teams Coordinator/Tight End Coach from 2017 to 2020.

Offensive Assistant – Vincent Campbell

Vincent Campbell joins the Elks as an offensive assistant after holding a special teams assistant/offensive assistant position with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2019 and holding an offensive assistant/special teams assistant position with Simon Fraser University in 2020.

Offense

Quarterbacks:

Trevor Harris – Harris returns to Edmonton after signing as a free agent in February of 2019 and getting a contract extension in January of 2020. He played college ball at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (2006-2009). He spent time with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. He also spent time with the Arena League’s Arizona Rattlers and Hartford Colonials. Harris played with the Toronto Argonauts from 2012 to 2015, then signed with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2016. He spent 3 seasons in Ottawa with the new Elks head coach and former Redblacks offensive coordinator Jaime Elizondo. Harris racked up 13,096 passing yards and 68 touchdowns while completing over 70% of his passes, with Elizondo calling plays, as well as earning a 2016 Grey Cup victory. He signed with Edmonton for the 2019 season, where In 13 games, He completed 343/478 passes (71.8%) for 4,027 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He’d also rush 48 times for 139 yards and 6 touchdowns. He led the CFL in completed passes and finished 2nd in passing yards. In the East Semi-Final, Harris set a playoff record of 22 consecutive completions and the highest completion percentage (92.3%) and finished the game 36-39 (92.3%) for 421 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.

Drew Anderson – Anderson was signed in late June of 2021 after a stint with The Spring League’s Jousters. He played college ball at Murray State University, where in his final college season, he accumulated 25 total touchdowns and 3,089 total yards. Before his time at Murray State, Anderson attended Diablo Valley College and the University of Buffalo. At Buffalo, Anderson set the school’s single-game record for passing yards when he threw for 597 yards and 7 touchdowns vs. Western Michigan while adding an 8th touchdown on the ground. Anderson would go undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft but signed as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals for the 2019 season. He’d make his pro-debut during the 2019 pre-season, appearing in games against the LA Chargers, Oakland Raiders, and Denver Broncos. In his 3 appearances, Anderson completed 18 of 32 passes for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Troy Williams – Williams signed with Edmonton in early June of 2019 and played college ball at Santa Monica College in 2015, after transferring from Washington in 2014. This time to Utah, he transferred again and spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons with the Utes. He appeared in 21 games, completing 267 passes for 3,569 yards and 17 touchdowns on top of 151 carries for 310 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. He spent time with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks during the 2018 season but would not appear in his first professional game until the CFL’s 2019 season with Edmonton, where in 2 games, he went 1-3 passes (33.3%) for 15 yards and 1 interception. He also had 11 carries for 26 yards.

Taylor Cornelius – Cornelius signed with the Elks in February of 2021 and spent 4 seasons at Oklahoma State University, where he backed up current NFL backup Mason Rudolph until his senior season. As the starting quarterback at OSU, Cornelius completed 59.4% of his passes for 3,978 yards and 32 touchdowns. He’d also rush for 406 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 42 total touchdowns in 1 season rank him as tied for 2nd in school history with Heisman trophy winner and NFL Hall-of-Famer Barry Sanders. Cornelius ranks in the top 10 for several OSU football records, including single-game passing yards with 501, single-game passing touchdowns with 5, single-season passing yards with 3,978, single-season passing touchdowns with 32, career passing yards with 4,198, and career passing touchdowns with 32. Cornelius spent time at Green Bay Packers rookie camp before signing with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers in 2020. New Elks head coach/offensive coordinator Jaime Elizondo was the Offensive Coordinator for the Vipers, where Cornelius completed 63% of his passes for 858 yards and 4 touchdowns in 5 starts. He’d also add 114 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground.

Jeremiah Briscoe – Briscoe signed with Edmonton in December of 2019. He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2014, where he appeared in 6 games and completed 17/47 passes for 361 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Briscoe transferred to Sam Houston State in 2015, where he’d appear in 47 games from 2015-2017 and completed 802/1375 passes for 11,849 yards, 119 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. In 2016, he set an FCS record when he threw 57 touchdown passes and was named an AP All-American. He was also the first Sam Houston player to win the Walter Payton Award as the most outstanding offensive player in Division 1 Football (in both 2016 and 2017). Briscoe is only the 2nd player ever to win the Walter Payton Award 2 times.

Running Backs:

James Wilder Jr. – Wilder came out of retirement on February 9, 2021, to sign a 1-year contract with the Edmonton Elks. Wilder attended Florida State University from 2011 to 2013 and rushed for 1,363 yards with 20 rushing touchdowns during his collegiate career. He was awarded Offensive MVP for the 2012 ACC Championship Game and was named All-ACC Honorable Mention. He’d declare for the 2014 NFL Draft after his junior season and signed as an undrafted free agent to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent most of the season on the practice squad. Wilder signed a future/reserve contract with the Buffalo Bills in January of 2016 and was waived in September of 2016. he spent time with the Toronto Argonauts from 2017 to 2019, where he helped the team secure a Grey Cup championship. He signed a 1 year deal with the Montreal Alouettes in 2020, but due to uncertainty over the 2020 CFL season during the COVID-19 pandemic, he announced his retirement from the league before playing a game with Montreal.

Terry Williams – Edmonton signed Williams in late February of 2020. He played 2 seasons of college football (2014 and 2015) at Kutztown University, where he recorded 236 carries for 1,501 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’d add 12 receptions for 105 yards and 1 touchdown. In both seasons at Kutztown, he was named a Second-Team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference All-Star, and In 2015, he set a school record for longest rushing touchdown with 98 yards. Williams spent some time with the NFL’s New York Jets and attended the New York Giants mini-camp in 2016. He’d join the Calgary Stampeders in 2017 and played 3 seasons with the team. He was a member of the Stampeders 106th Grey Cup championship team, setting a record for the longest punt return in Grey Cup history with a 97-yard return for a touchdown, helping Calgary defeat Ottawa.

Jordan Robinson – The Elks acquired Robinson in a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on January 23, 2020. He attended college at Sacramento State from 2013 to 2017 and appeared in 41 games. Robinson recorded 543 carries for 2,823 yards and 25 touchdowns in his college career and was named to the All-Big Sky Conference Second-Team in 2016. Robinson spent 2017 on Edmonton’s practice roster, and in 2018 he appeared in 9 games, recording 7 carries for 23 yards, as well as 5 receptions for 77 yards and 1 touchdown. He’d also record 26 punt returns for 209 yards, 38 kickoff returns for 539 yards, and 2 missed field goal returns for 58 yards. During the 2019 season, Robinson spent most of the year on Winnipeg’s practice roster before being traded to the Elks in early 2020.

Alex Taylor – Taylor was selected in the 6th round (48th overall) of the 2018 CFL Draft by Edmonton. He played college ball at Western from 2014 to 2018, where he played in 25 total games, rushing for 3,343 yards and 36 touchdowns on 369 carries. Taylor also helped guide his team to the Vanier Cup. In 2019, Taylor appeared in 15 games for Edmonton and finished with 7 rush attempts for 48 yards. He has also found a role on special teams.

Walter Fletcher– Fletcher signed with the Elks in late December of 2020 and began his colligate career at the Division II school, Edinboro University. He was named a 2-time First-Team All-Conference player and 2018 PSAC West Offensive Player of the Year. Fletcher transferred to Ball State in 2019, where he racked up 132 carries for 726 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also added 26 receptions for 306 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Marvin Kinsey – Kinsey signed with Edmonton in early June of 2020 after attending Colorado State University in 2019. He rushed for 1,632 yards on 304 carries with 17 touchdowns and racked up 40 receptions for 460 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Fullbacks

Peter Cender – Cender was selected 32nd overall (round 4) of the 2019 CFL Draft and signed with Edmonton in November of 2019. He attended Grand Valley State University from 2016 to 2018 and played 36 total games. Cender played in his 1st professional football game in Week 8 of 2019 for Edmonton.

Tanner Green – Green was taken 32nd overall (4th round) of the 2018 CFL Draft by Edmonton and signed a contract extension in December of 2020. The Concordia University grad played 12 games for the school in 2016 and 2017 and recorded 6 carries for 11 yards and 1 touchdown, and 1 reception for 5 yards.

James Tuck – Tuck signed with Edmonton as a free agent in September of 2017, getting a contract extension in February of 2020. He played 26 games in four seasons (2009-13) at York University, where he recorded 107 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery, and was awarded the team’s defensive MVP in both 2012 and 2013. Tuck was drafted 31st overall (4th round) of the 2014 CFL Draft by the Montreal Alouettes and played 3 seasons with the team before signing with Edmonton in 2017.

Wide Receivers/Slot Backs

Derel Walker – Walker played 2 seasons at Trinity Valley Community College before transferring to Texas A&M for his final 2 seasons. In 2014 he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Tennessee Titans before being waived in August of that year. Walker signed with Edmonton in late April of 2015 but would be released following the 2016 season to pursue an NFL career. He’d have a short stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017 before returning to Edmonton for the remainder of their 2017 season. In 8 games, he caught 48 passes for 634 yards with 2 touchdowns that season. Walker would spend the 2019 season with the Toronto Argonauts before re-signing with Edmonton in 2020 for a 3rd stint.

Armanti Edwards – Edwards attended Appalachian State University from 2006 to 2009 and appeared in 51 total games as the team’s starting quarterback. He completed 768 passes for 10,392 yards and 74 touchdowns and rushed for 4,361 yards and 65 touchdowns. He led the Mountaineers to four consecutive Southern Conference championships and consecutive NCAA Division 1 (FCS) titles in 2006 and 2007. He was the first back-to-back winner of the Walter Payton Award as the FCS Most Outstanding Offensive Player in 2008 and 2009. Edwards was selected in the 3rd round of the 2010 NFL Draft (pick 89 overall) by the Carolina Panthers, where he’d spend 3 seasons before signing with the Cleveland Browns. He appeared in 41 NFL games mainly as a return specialist but found touches on offense in both the air and ground game. He had a short stint with the Chicago Bears but was waived on August 29th, 2014. Edwards signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in February of 2016 and was traded to the Argonauts in May of 2017. He’d play the next 3 seasons with the Argos, where he was a part of the 2017 Grey Cup win over the Calgary Stampeders. He became a free agent in 2020 and signed with the XFL’s Team 9 in February of 2020, and found his way onto the Dallas Renegades roster a few days later. His contract was terminated when the league suspended operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Edwards signed with the Edmonton Elks in April of 2020.

Kenny Stafford – Stafford played 4 seasons at the University of Toledo, where he played in 59 games for the team. Stafford hauled in 59 receptions for 906 yards and 8 touchdowns for the Rockets. He’s spent time with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins before signing with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders in 2013. Stafford signed with the Montreal Alouettes for the 2014 season and had a break-out year with Edmonton during their 2015 Grey Cup-winning season. He’d return to Montreal in 2016 and sign with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2017. He was cut from the Bombers on the league’s final roster cut-down day and signed to the Edmonton practice squad. He’d play the 2018 season with Edmonton and sign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2019. He did not play a game for Saskatchewan but was not released until January of 2021. He re-signed with Edmonton for the 2021 season.

Greg Ellingson – Ellingson attended Florida International University from 2007 to 2010, where he played in 48 total games, hauling in 131 receptions for 2,018 yards and 14 touchdowns. From 2011 to 2013, he spent time with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Arena Leagues’ New Orleans VooDoo and Tampa Bay Storm. Ellingson signed with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. He’d sign with the Redblacks for 2015 and would play the next 4 seasons with Ottawa. Edmonton signed him in February of 2019, and he appeared in 16 games and hauled in a team-leading 86 receptions for 1,170 yards and 5 touchdowns, finishing 6th in the league in receiving yards. Ellingson was also named a West Division All-Star.

Rodney Smith – Smith played college ball at Florida State University from 2009 to 2012 and appeared in 48 games, recording 106 receptions for 1,540 yards and 10 touchdowns. He spent 2013 and part of 2014 with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and finished the 2014 season on the Cleveland Browns. He’d spend 2015 with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with the Seattle Seahawks for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Smith would play the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, where in 23 total games, he accumulated 74 receptions for 903 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’d sign with Edmonton as a free agent in March of 2020.

Anthony Parker – Parker attended Calgary University from 2008 to 2010 and played in 20 games for the team, recording 42 carries for 372 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’d also haul in 103 receptions for 1,683 yards and 9 touchdowns. Parker was selected 3rd overall (1st round) of the 2011 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders, where he played 6 seasons for Calgary before signing with the B.C. Lions in 2018. He signed with Edmonton in February of 2019 and finished the season on the 6-game injured list after a season-ending injury. He’d receive a contract extension in February of 2020.

Diego Jair Viamontes Cotera – Viamontes was taken 1st overall in the 1st ever LFA/CFL Draft by Edmonton, which took place in January of 2019. Viamontes played his first CFL game in Week 18 of the 2019 season against the BC Lions, recording 3 kickoff returns for 44 yards and 1 field goal return for 25 yards in 2 games.

Danny Vandervoort – Vandervoort played college ball at McMaster University from 2013 to 2016, playing in 32 total games and earning First-Team All-Canadian U Sports honors. He was selected 3rd overall by the B.C. Lions in the 2017 CFL Draft, spending 2 seasons with the team before signing with Edmonton in December of 2019.

Jalen Tolliver – Tolliver played college ball at the University of Arkansas-Monticello from 2014-2017, where he earned First Team All-Great American Conference Selection in 2016. During his junior season, Tolliver recorded 1,090 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He spent time in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and Kansas City Chiefs. Most recently, Tolliver spent time with recently hired Elks head coach Jaime Elizondo with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers and was 4th in the league in receiving yards with 297 before the league suspended operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tevaun Smith – Smith attended Iowa from 2012 to 2015 and played in 43 games. He hauled in 102 passes for 1,500 yards and 7 touchdowns. He spent the 2016 to 2018 NFL seasons playing for the Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars. He signed as a free agent with Edmonton in February of 2019 and, in 17 games, finished with 55 receptions for 632 yards and 6 touchdowns and 3 kickoff returns for 56 yards. He signed a contract extension with Edmonton in December of 2020.

Kenny Shaw – Shaw attended Florida State University from 2010 to 2013. In 52 games, he caught 124 passes for 1,919 yards and 14 touchdowns. In 2013, he won the BCS championship and was named Third Team All-ACC. He’d spend time with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oakland Raiders in 2014 but would sign with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in 2015 and play for them for 2 seasons. Shaw signed with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2017 and played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2018. He’d sign with Edmonton in late January of 2020.

Shakeir Ryan – Ryan went to Northwestern State University, appearing in 46 games for the team. He recorded 140 catches for 1,193 yards and 8 touchdowns. In 2017, he had stints with the NFL’s LA Rams and Washington Redskins, and signed with the CFL’s B.C. Lions in 2018. He’d spend 2019 with the Montreal Alouettes, where he was primarily a return specialist. He signed with Edmonton in February of 2020.

Shai Ross – Ross went to the University of Manitoba after spending time with the Okanagan Sun of the CJFL. He was selected in the 5th round of the 2019 CFL Draft (40th overall)and appeared in 5 games as a special teamer/kick return specialist. He finished the season on the 6-game injured list.

Malik Richards – Richards attended Mount Allison University from 2015 to 2019, where he appeared in 24 total games. In his time with the team, he recorded 104 receptions for 1,387 yards and 8 touchdowns. He signed with Edmonton as a free agent in December of 2019 and finished the season on the team’s suspended list.

Jimmy Ralph – Ralph played 2 seasons at the University of Alberta after transferring from Weber State, where he played for 1 year. He totaled 84 catches for 1,454 yards and 5 touchdowns and was named a Second Team U Sports All-Canadian in 2015. He played for the Toronto Argonauts from 2017 to 2019 and signed with Edmonton in January of 2020.

Harry McMaster – McMaster played college ball at Western University from 2014 to 2018. He appeared in 31 games, recording 111 receptions for 1,984 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was selected in the 7th round of the 2018 CFL Draft (53rd overall) by Edmonton and would finish the 2018 season on the team’s suspended list as he returned to Western University. In 2019, he’d play in 10 games (1 start) for Edmonton.

Jerry Louis-McGee – Louis-McGee attended the University of Montana from 2016 to 2019. In 45 total games, he accumulated 230 receptions for 227 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also added 2 rushing touchdowns and 3 punt return touchdowns. Louis-McGee signed with Edmonton in late December of 2020.

Hunter Karl – Karl attended the University of Calgary from 2015 to 2019. He played in 35 games and accumulated 172 catches for 2,827 yards and 16 touchdowns in his college career. He was selected by Edmonton in the seventh round of the 2019 CFL Draft (59th overall) but spent the season on the team’s suspended list. He officially signed with Edmonton in January of 2020.

Mike Jones – Jones played college ball at Southern University from 2012 to 2015, where he recorded 49 receptions for 919 yards and 6 touchdowns and was part of the Jaguars NCAA conference championship-winning team in 2013. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats selected him in the 3rd round of the 2016 CFL Draft (18th overall), where he played with the team through the 2019 season. In 58 total regular-season games, he recorded 101 receptions for 1,472 yards and 4 touchdowns. Jones signed with Edmonton in early January of 2021.

JaNardrean Jones – Jones attended the University of West Georgia from 2015 to 2017, where he appeared in 26 total games. He accumulated 35 receptions for 428 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’d also return 8 kickoffs for 260 yards and 28 punts for 293 yards, and 1 touchdown. He spent time with the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets during the 2018 season, where he appeared in 4 games. The Edmonton Elks signed Jones as a free agent in February of 2020.

Earnest Edwards – Edwards played college ball at the University of Maine from 2016 to 2019. In 40 career games, Edwards accumulated 125 receptions, 2370 receiving yards, and 23 receiving touchdowns. He added another 2 rushing touchdowns and 4 return touchdowns for a total of 29 touchdowns in his college career. He signed with the Edmonton Elks in January of 2021.

Bryce Bobo – Bobo attended the University of Colorado from 2014 to 2017, where he played in 43 total games, hauling in 153 passes for 1,663 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2016, Bobo earned All-Pac 12 honorable mention. He spent time in 2018 with the NFL’s Denver Broncos but would sign with Edmonton in November of 2019.

Offensive Lineman

Kwabena Asare – Asare attended Carleton College in Minnesota and was a member of Team East in the 2016 East-West Bowl. Edmonton drafted him in the 6th round of the 2017 CFL Draft (49th overall). Asare spent 2017 and 2018 on the team’s practice roster but appeared in 5 games in 2019.

David Beard – Beard played college ball at the University of Alberta from 2010 to 2014. He was drafted by Edmonton in the 2nd round of the 2015 CFL Draft (16th overall) and played in 9 games that season. Beard played the next 4 seasons with Edmonton and signed a contract extension with the team in late December of 2020.

Chris Gangarossa – Gangarossa attended Wagner College from 2016 to 2019 and was drafted to Edmonton in the 6th round of the 2020 CFL Draft (50th overall).

Tomas Jack-Kurdyla – Jack-Kurdyla started as a true freshman at the University at Buffalo, and from 2016 to 2019, he appeared in 47 games (40 starts) at guard. In 2019, Buffalo’s offensive line earned an honorable mention for the Joe Moore Award (top-15 offensive lines in the NCAA). He was selected 4th overall in the 1st round of the 2020 CFL Draft by Edmonton.

Colin Kelly – Kelly played college ball at Oregon State University from 2008 to 2012. He was redshirted for the 2008 season, but Kelly played in 48 games for the Beavers, including starting 25 straight games at right tackle. He began his CFL career in Ottawa during the 2014 and 2015 seasons and would sign with Edmonton in May of 2017. Kelly played the next 3 seasons with Edmonton and signed a contract extension in February of 2019.

Peter Kourtis – Kourtis attended Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, where he appeared in 24 games for the Huskies. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 CFL Draft (41st overall) by Edmonton.

Eric Lofton – Lofton attended Temple from 2011 to 2015 and played 37 total games for the Owls. He started 25 games over his final two seasons with the school and was named a First-Team All-American Athletic Conference player in 2015. Lofton spent 2017 and 2018 with the Ottawa Redblacks and signed with the B.C. Lions for the 2019 season. He signed with Edmonton in December of 2019 and signed an extension in December of 2020.

Steven Nielsen – Nielsen was drafted by Edmonton in the 2021 CFL Global Draft and is originally from Dragoer, Denmark. He played his University Football for Eastern Michigan and started 49 games for the Eagles between 2016 and 2019, playing both tackle and guard. He’ll join the Elks with a bit of professional experience, spending time with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2020 season.

Matthew O’Donnell – O’Donnell played his college ball at Queen’s University and collected several awards throughout his collegiate career, including the Orrin Carson Memorial Trophy for Best Offensive Lineman in 2009 and 2010 and first-team All-Canadian in 2009 and 2010. He was drafted by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the second round of the 2011 CFL Draft (15th overall) but signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent the season on the team’s practice roster. O’Donnell was traded to Edmonton in 2012 and played with the team through the 2019 season. He was named a CFL West Division All-Star in 2019.

Randy Richards – Richards attended the College of the Sequoias, a junior college, and transferred to Missouri State for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He started all 22 games played for the Bears and was named Third Team All-American by the Associated Press as a senior. Richards was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in April of 2013 and would also spend time with the Tempa Bay Buccaneers that season. He’d spend the 2014 season with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers but would not make his CFL debut until 2015 when he signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He’d finish the 2015 season with the Calgary Stampeders, and he’d remain with the team through the 2018 season. He’d spend 2019 with the Toronto Argonauts and was signed by Edmonton in January of 2021.

SirVincent Rogers – Rogers attended the University of Houston from 2004 to 2009. He spent time with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins from 2009 to 2010 and was with the Arena League’s Hartford Colonials, Arizona Rattlers, Las Vegas Locomotives, and Jacksonville Sharks from 2010 through 2013. He’d win the Arena Bowl championship in 2012 with the Rattlers. He spent the 2013 and 2014 CFL seasons with the Toronto Argonauts and signed with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2015. He’d remain with the Redblacks through the 2018 season. Rogers signed with Edmonton in February of 2019, but an injury in training camp ended his season.

Jean-Simon Roy – Roy attended Laval University from 2014 to 2016 and was named to the USports First Offensive All-Star Team and the RSEQ Offensive All-Star Team in 2016. Edmonton originally selected him in the 2nd round of the 2017 CFL Draft (14th overall). He’d remain in Edmonton for the 2018 season and appeared in 1 game. Roy signed with the B.C. Lions off of Edmonton’s practice roster and played in 7 games. He returned to Edmonton in February of 2020.

Jacob Ruby – Ruby played college ball at the University of Richmond from 2010 to 2014, where he appeared in 48 games and was named Third Team All-Conference as an offensive lineman in 2014. He was drafted 8th overall by the Montreal Alouettes in the 2015 CFL Draft and played 2 seasons with them. Ruby signed with Edmonton in July of 2017 and appeared in 8 games as a guard. He played 32 more games for Edmonton in 2018 and 2019 and signed a contract extension in December of 2020.

Kyle Saxelid – Saxelid attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from 2014 to 2017 and started in 36 games from 2014 to 2017. In 2016, Saxelid helped UNLV’s rushing attack to 241.5 yards per game, which was ranked 16th in the nation and was the program’s highest average since 1979. He was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2019 CFL Draft (12th overall) and appeared in 18 games (5 starts) at right guard and left tackle.

De’Ondre Wesley – Wesley attended Brigham Young University (BYU) in 2013 and 2014, appearing in 22 games for the Cougars. The BYU offense averaged 37.1 points per game during his senior year. He spent the last few years on NFL rosters and practice squads, including the Baltimore Ravens from 2015 to 2017, the Buffalo Bills in 2018 and 2019, and the Indianapolis Colts for the end of the 2019 season. Wesley was drafted by the XFL’s DC Defenders in 2020 and played for the team until the league suspended operations due to Covid-19. He signed with the Edmonton Elks in early April of 2021.

Chad Rempel (Long Snapper) – Rempel spent 5 years at the University of Saskatchewan (1999-2003) and was a Canada West All-Star in 2001 and 2002. He was drafted by Edmonton in the 5th round of the 2004 CFL Draft (35th overall) as a receiver but did not see any playing time. He joined the Blue Bombers in 2005 and dressed for 9 games. He’d relocate to Toronto in 2006 and played in 16 games over the next 2 years, catching five passes for 70 yards in 2007. Rempel spent 2008 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, catching three passes for 48 yards in 11 games. He returned to Toronto in 2009 and began working on extending his career as a long-snapper. In 2014, he had a short stint with the Chicago Bears and joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the final 6 games of the 2014 season. He’d sign with the Blue Bombers in 2015 and remain with the team through 2020. In June of 2021, Rempel signed with the Edmonton Elks.