The Edmonton Elks released quarterback Michael Beaudry, wide receiver Raphael Leonard, linebacker Matthew Thomas, and defense backs Christian Campbell and CJ Jones.
Michael Beaudry is six foot five and weighs 248 pounds. The 25-year-old from Regina, Saskatchewan, signed with the Elks in April 2022. Before Edmonton, he played two seasons at Idaho (2020-21) completing 188 of 302 passes (62%) for 2,093 yards, seven touchdowns, nine interceptions, 52 carries for 165 yards, and one touchdown in 11 games for the Vandals.
In his final season, Beaudry completed 115 of 179 passes (64%) for 1,299 yards, four touchdowns, six interceptions, and 27 carries for 68 yards in seven games.
Beaudry started his collegiate career at West Florida (2017-18), completing 268 of 489 (55%) for 3,224 yards, 29 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 97 for 83 yards, and two touchdowns in 15 games for the Argonauts. In 2017, he led West Florida to the D2 National Championship after going 10-4 for the season. He was named Second Team All-America honors.
After West Florida, Beaudry played one season (2019) at UConn, completing 53 of 83 passes (64%) for 503 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, 21 carries for -73 yards, and one touchdown in five games for the Huskies before suffering an injury.
Raphael Leonard is six foot two and weighs 190 pounds. The 25-year-old from Starkville, Mississippi, was released by the Elks on May 17th before returning to the team just three days later. In 2022, Leonard played five games for Edmonton this year as a wide receiver and two games as a defensive back.
Collegiately, Leonard played two seasons at Southern Illinois (2017-18) with 91 catches for 1,377 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2016, caught 23 passes for 360 yards and seven touchdowns at East Mississippi Community College and caught one pass for eight yards for Florida Atlantic in 2015.
Matthew Thomas is six foot three and weighs 230 pounds. The 27-year-old from Miami, Florida, made 56 tackles (51 DT, 5 ST), four sacks, and one interception in 18 games for the Elks in 2022. Before Edmonton, Thomas spent part of the 2021 season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, playing one game with two special teams tackles.
Before the CFL, Thomas signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent from Florida State. He played ten games with the Steelers and had a tryout with the Baltimore Ravens but was cut during training camp. In 2020, he tried out for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL but was cut during training camp.
Collegiately, Thomas played four seasons at Florida State (2013-17) with 192 tackles (118 solo, 74 assists), 25.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception for 29 yards in 37 games for the Seminoles.
Christian Campbell is six foot one and weighs 194 pounds. The 27-year-old from Phenix City, Alabama, signed with the Elks on May 18th. Before Edmonton, he played for the Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) in 2022 with 12 tackles (10 solo, 2 assists). The Bandits relocated to Memphis and Campbell was released in January.
Campbell was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round (182nd pick) of the 2018 NFL Draft. After being released by the Cardinals, he had stints with the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers. In 2020, Campbell signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders but the season was canceled. He opted back into his contract in 2021 and played five games with eight tackles.
Collegiately, Campbell played four seasons at Penn State (2014-17) with 102 tackles (61 solo, 41 assists), five tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions for 16 yards, 24 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 44 games for the Nittany Lions.
CJ Jones is six foot two and weighs 185 pounds. The 25-year-old from North Las Vegas, Nevada, played four games for the Vegas Knight Hawks (IFL) with 15 tackles, one interception, and six pass breakups.
Collegiately, Jones played two seasons at Southern Oregon (2015-17) with 66 tackles, one sack, and eight pass breakups in 22 games for the Raiders. He is a member of the Academic All-Frontier Conference team.
Then, Jones transferred to Henderson University (2018-19) playing two seasons with 97 tackles, one interception, 14 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 22 games for the Reddies.
