The Edmonton Elks released wide receiver CJ Simms, offensive linemen Theren Churchill, Andrew Garnett, and Toby Lettman, and defensive linemen Eli Mencer and Adam Raine on Friday.
CJ Sims is five foot eight and weighs 160 pounds. The 28-year-old from Covington, Louisiana, played 14 games for the Elks in 2023 on special teams returning 44 kickoffs for 931 yards.
Collegiately, Sims played two seasons at Butler Community College (2016-17) with 82 catches for 1,100 yards, seven touchdowns, 27 carries for 105 yards, one touchdown, 32 kick returns for 757 yards, and one touchdown in 23 games for the Grizzlies.
Then, he transferred to New Mexico Highlands (2021-22) with 117 catches for 1,876 yards, 16 touchdowns, 17 carries for 65 yards, one touchdown, 36 kick returns for 889 yards, three touchdowns, and 28 punt returns for 207 yards in 21 games for the Cowboys. He was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.
In his senior season, Sims had 53 catches for 831 yards, four touchdowns, seven carries for nine yards, 16 kick returns for 442 yards, one touchdown, and 15 punt returns for 138 yards in ten games.
Theren Churchill is six foot six and weighs 295 pounds. The 29-year-old from Stettler, Alberta, was on the Elks practice squad. Before Edmonton, Churchill played 11 games for the Argonauts in 2022, helping them win the Grey Cup.
The Argonauts drafted Churchill in the first round (9th pick) in the 2020 CFL Draft. After the cancellation of the 2020 season, Churchill played ten games in his rookie season in 2021.
Churchill played 24 games in four seasons with the Edmonton Huskies (CJFL) playing right tackle. He earned a Prairie Football Conference All-Star Honors in 2016. Collegiately, Churchill played 25 games in three seasons at the University of Regina (2017-19) playing right tackle.
Andrew Garnett is six foot five and weighs 325 pounds. The 26-year-old from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, played three games for the Elks in 2023. The Elks signed Garnett as a free agent on August 3, 2022. He played eight games for the Elks in 2022. Before Edmonton, Garnett earned a rookie mini-camp invite from the Arizona Cardinals in 2022.
Collegiately, Garnett played four seasons at Towson University (2017-19, 2021) playing 35 of 46 career games at the left tackle position for the Tigers. In 2018, Garnett was part of an offensive line that helped the Tigers’ offense rank first in the CAA for points scored per game. They helped quarterback Tom Flacco win the CAA Offensive Player of the Year.
Toby Lettman is six foot six and weighs 306 pounds. The 28-year-old from Surrey, England, was on the Elks practice squad in 2023. Before Edmonton, Lettman played for the Tirol Raiders of the European League of Football this year before he was released on August 1st. Last season, he played left tackle and left guard for the Vienna Vikings and helped them win the ELF Championship over the Hamburg Sea Devils 27-15.
In addition, he was named All-Pro First Team Offense in 2022. In the same year, Lettman played for the Frisco Fighters (IFL). Lettman went undrafted in the 2021 CFL Global Draft and later played for the Potsdam Royals of the German Football League.
Collegiately, Lettman played two seasons at Saddleback College in California playing three games in 2016 for the Bobcats. Then, he transferred to TCU in 2017 but did not see any action for the Horned Frogs. In 2018, he transferred to Missouri Southern State University to finish his collegiate career with the Lions.
Eli Mencer is six foot one and weighs 229 pounds. The 26-year-old from Altoona, Pennsylvania, played four games for the Elks in 2023 with one tackle and four tackles on special teams.
Before Edmonton, Mencer made seven tackles in six games for the Toronto Argonauts. In two seasons with Toronto, Mencer has 17 tackles and one interception in 12 games. This will be Mencer’s third season in the CFL and first in Edmonton.
Collegiately, Mencer played five seasons at the University of Albany (2015-19) with 198 tackles (106 solo, 92 assists), 41.5 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, two interceptions for 58 yards, nine pass breakups, 12 forced fumbles, and eight fumble recoveries in 45 games for the Great Danes.
He was named All-CAA Third Team in 2017. In 2019, he was named Phil Steel Postseason FCS All-America Second Team, All-ECAC First Team Defense, and Phil Steele Postseason All-CAA First Team Defense.
Adam Raine is six foot four and weighs 306 pounds. The 24-year-old from Basingstoke, England, was on the Elks practice squad in 2023. Before Edmonton, Raine attended rookie mini-camp with the Washington Commanders.
Adam Raine played four seasons at Yale (2018-19, 2021-22) with 71 tackles (27 solo, 44 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, three pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick in 32 games for the Bulldogs.
In 2022, Raine made 27 tackles (11 solo, 16 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and one blocked kick in ten games for the Bulldogs in 2022.
