The Edmonton Elks released quarterback Kai Locksley and signed fullback Mario Villamizar and linebacker Josiah Schakel on Monday.
Kai Locksley is six foot four and weighs 210 pounds. The 26-year-old from Ft. Washington, Maryland, played three games for the Elks in 2023 with nine carries for three yards.
In his rookie season, Locksley played quarterback and wide receiver completing 5 of 8 passes (62.5%) for 50 yards, 48 carries for 117 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 17 catches for 247 yards in 16 games, of which 12 were starts for the Elks in 2022.
Before Edmonton, Locksley signed with the Miami Dolphins in March of 2021 and played wide receiver. He was cut during training camp. Collegiately, Locksley began at Texas before transferring to Arizona Western College but did not play.
Next, he transferred to Iowa Western Community College in 2017, completing 176 of 265 passes (66.4%) for 2,238 yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 112 carries for 705 yards, and 20 touchdowns in 12 games for the Reivers.
He led the Reivers to an 11-1 season and won The Graphic Edge Bowl. He was named the 2017 Spalding NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year and earned First Team All-America honors.
Then, he transferred to UTEP (2018-19) with 186 of 350 passes (53%) for 2,266 yards, 9 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 237 carries for 875 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 20 games for the Miners.
Mario Villamizar is six foot three and weighs 237 pounds. The 28-year-old from St. Catherines, Ontario, signed with the Toronto Argonauts in February before he was released on June 3rd.
In 2022, he had one kick return for 17 yards in 17 games for the B.C. Lions. Villamizar played three seasons for the Lions with two catches for 13 yards and one kick return for 17 yards in 40 games. The Lions drafted Villamizar in the sixth round (49th pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft.
Collegiately, Villamizar played four seasons at Wilfred Laurier (2015-18) with 16 catches for 191 yards, five touchdowns, and three kick returns for eight yards in 41 games for the Golden Hawks. He is part of the 2016 Golden Hawks Men’s Football OUA Champions and was named OUA Men’s Football Second Team All-Star in 2018.
Josiah Schakel is six foot one and weighs 223 pounds, The 28-year-old from St. Catherines, Ontario, was released by the Calgary Stampeders on June 3rd. The Stampeders drafted Schakel in the second round (14th round) in the 2022 CFL Draft. He played seven games for Calgary with one tackle.
Collegiately, Schakel played four seasons at the University of Alberta (2018-21) with 142 tackles (118 solo, 50 assists), 19.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception for 71 yards, one touchdown, and five pass breakups in 22 games for the Golden Bears. He was named U Sports Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.
