The Edmonton Elks signed wide receiver Deontez Alexander and running back Khalan Laborn to the practice squad on Wednesday. To make room for them, the Elks released running back Mekhai Johnson and wide receiver Danny Vandervoort.
Deontez Alexander is six foot one and weighs 196 pounds. The 27-year-old from Indianapolis, Indiana, played for the Houston Gamblers (USFL) in 2023 with five catches for 26 yards in four games before he was released on May 19th.
Before Houston, Alexander attended training camp with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022 but was released. In 2021, he played for the Alphas (TSL) with one catch for 15 yards before and later attended training camp for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Alexander signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and was placed on the practice squad before he was released in 2019. In 2020, he tried out for the Houston Roughnecks (XFL).
Collegiately, Alexander played two seasons at Anderson College in Indiana (2014-15) with 49 catches for 933 yards, and 14 touchdowns in 19 games for the Ravens. Then, Alexander transferred to Franklin College in Indiana (2016-17) with 106 catches for 1,914 yards, and 29 touchdowns in 19 games for the Grizzlies. He was named First Team All-HCAC and First Team All-North Region by D3Football.com.
Khalan Laborn is five foot nine and weighs 204 pounds. The 24-year-old from Virginia Beach, Virginia, played one season at Marshall University in 2022 with 302 carries for 1,513 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 16 catches for 116 yards in 13 games for the Thundering Herd.
Before Marshall, Laborn played three seasons at Florida State (2018-20) with 63 carries for 297 yards, four touchdowns, and 11 catches for 103 yards in 12 games for the Seminoles.
Mekhai Johnson is five foot eleven and weighs 201 pounds. The 25-year-old from Dorchester, Massachusetts, was on the Elks practice squad after rejoining the team on August 13th following attending training camp earlier this year and played one preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders with five carries for 15 yards, and one catch for eight yards.
Collegiately, Johnson played four seasons at Marist College (2017-19, 2021) with 159 carries for 863 yards, eight touchdowns, 26 catches for 184 yards, two touchdowns, 75 kick returns for 1,786 yards, and two touchdowns in 33 games for the Red Foxes.
In 2022, Johnson transferred to Tusculum University with 100 carries for 635 yards, eight touchdowns, ten catches for 172 yards, one touchdown, and six kick returns for 163 yards in 11 games for the Pioneers.
Danny Vandervoort is six foot two and weighs 204 pounds. The 29-year-old from Barrie, Ontario, had eight catches for 75 yards, and one touchdown in 18 games for the Elks in 2022. In three seasons in Edmonton, Vandervoort has 16 catches for 129 yards and three touchdowns in 31 games.
Vandervoort was drafted in the first round (3rd pick) in the 2017 CFL Draft by the BC Lions. He had one catch for 25 yards in 26 games for the Lions. In four seasons, Vandervoort has 12 catches for 154 yards and three touchdowns in 57 games.
Collegiately, Vandervoort played four seasons at McMaster University (2013-16) with 148 catches for 2,572 yards, and 29 touchdowns in 32 games for the Marauders. His 29 receiving TDs are the third most in U SPORTS history and was named CIS Rookie of the Year in 2013.
