In a recent announcement from Edmonton, the Elks have shared news of their latest team addition, with defensive lineman Romeo McKnight joining the ranks for the upcoming season. McKnight, an Illinois native, is making his return to the Canadian Football League (CFL) following his time with the Calgary Stampeders in the 2022 season. During his stint with the Stampeders, McKnight took part in four regular-season games, accumulating seven tackles and securing one sack.
After his time in Calgary, McKnight became a free agent when he was released post-training camp in 2023. The move to bring in McKnight is part of the Elks’ strategy to bolster their defense as they prepare to mark their 75th CFL season in 2024.
Before his CFL career, McKnight made a run at the NFL, initially signing as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns in 2021. Despite the NFL attempt, his career trajectory took him back to the CFL where he appears set to contribute to the Elks.
During his college football tenure, McKnight had a notable senior year at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2020. His performance netted him recognition as an All-Conference USA Honourable Mention. His stats from the six games at UNC Charlotte included 24 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.
McKnight’s collegiate career had a strong foundation with two seasons at Illinois State (2018-2019), where he tallied 111 total tackles, 15 sacks, five pass deflections, and two forced fumbles across 26 games. Notably, in 2019, he earned a First Team selection All-Missouri Valley Football Conference, after a season with 12 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss, leading his team in both categories.
The Edmonton Elks are gearing up for what they hope will be a memorable 2024 season. With the addition of McKnight on defense and other recent signings, the team is strategically positioning itself to be a competitor in the league. The Elks, and their fans, eagerly await seeing McKnight translate his collegiate and brief NFL experiences to success on the Canadian gridiron.
