The Edmonton Elks signed running back Justin Rankin, wide receiver Tony Tate, and linebacker Reynard Ellis on Thursday.
Justin Rankin is five foot ten and weighs 215 pounds. The 26-year-old from Oberlin, Ohio, helped the Bay Area Panthers (IFL) win their first United Bowl title with 200 carries for 872 yards, 44 touchdowns, 25 catches for 253 yards, three touchdowns, and kick returns for 20 yards in 16 games.
Before Bay Area, Rankin played for the Frisco Fighters (IFL) in 2022 with 153 carries for 740 yards, 27 touchdowns, 21 catches for 221 yards, four touchdowns, and five kick returns for 80 yards in 16 games. In 2021, Rankin played for the Bismarck Bucks (IFL) with 117 carries for 454 yards, 15 touchdowns, 43 catches for 306 yards, and eight touchdowns in 15 games.
Collegiately, Rankin played three seasons at Kent State (2016-18) with 348 carries for 1,575 yards, 10 touchdowns, 84 catches for 773 yards, four touchdowns, and 19 kick returns for 381 yards in 35 games for the Golden Flashes.
Then, Rankin transferred to Northwest Missouri State in 2019 with 191 carries for 1,050 yards, 13 touchdowns, 34 catches for 371 yards, four touchdowns, and one kick return for 12 yards in 14 games for the Bearcats.
Tony Tate is five foot nine and weighs 180 pounds. The 25-year-old from DeKalb, Illinois, played for the Wroclaw Panthers (ELF) in 2023 with 39 catches for 895 yards, 16 touchdowns, 24 carries for 136 yards, two touchdowns, six punt returns for 100 yards, and two kick returns for 34 yards in 10 games.
Collegiately, Tate played four seasons at Western Illinois University (2018-21) with 157 catches for 1,755 yards, 10 touchdowns, 76 carries for 410 yards, four touchdowns, 50 kick returns for 1,091 yards, one touchdown, and 20 punt returns for 40 yards in 37 games for the Leathernecks.
He was a First Team All-MVFC in 2021, a Second Team All-MVFC in 2020, and a two-time First Team MVFC All-Academic.
Reynard Ellis is six foot and weighs 240 pounds. The 24-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama, played one season at Furman University in 2017 with 92 tackles (46 solo, 46 assists), five tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, and two pass breakups in 12 games for the Paladins.
Next, Ellis transferred to Georgia Southern (2018-19) with 145 tackles (81 solo, 64 assists), 17 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, six pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked punt in 22 games for the Eagles. He was a First Team All-Sun Belt by Pro Football Focus in 2020.
Then, he transferred to the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 2022 with 39 tackles (21 solo, 18 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in six games for the Blazers.
