The Edmonton Elks released quarterbacks Kaleb Eleby and Obadiah Jones, running back Brian Herrien, wide receivers Hunter Brown, Tony Tate, and Charles Headen III, offensive lineman Lyndell Hudson II, defensive linemen Azur Kamara and Trevon Mason, linebackers Markail Benton and Chris Whittaker, and defensive backs Cail Jackson Jr. and Jalen Green on Saturday.
Kaleb Eleby is six foot one and weighs 210 pounds. The 24-year-old from Maryland Heights, Missouri, completed 4 of 7 passes (57.1%) for 28 yards, and one carry for six yards in one game for the Houston Roughnecks (XFL) against the Arlington Renegades in 2023. The Roughnecks drafted Eleby in Phase 0 of the 2023 XFL Draft. The Elks signed Eleby as a free agent on February 5, 2024.
Collegiately, Eleby played four seasons at Western Michigan (2018-22) completing 421 of 664 passes (63%) for 6,084 yards, 45 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 150 carries for 75 yards, and 13 touchdowns in 24 games for the Broncos.
He was named Third Team All-MAC in 2020, and Second Team All-MAC in 2021. In the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl, Eleby completed 8 of 14 passes (57.1%) for 162 yards, two touchdowns, five carries for 23 yards, and one touchdown leading the Broncos to a 52-24 win over the Nevada Wolf Pack.
Obadiah Jones is six foot two and weighs 220 pounds. The 23-year-old from Tatum, Texas, signed with the Edmonton Elks on May 7, 2024.
Collegiately, Jones played four seasons at Southern Arkansas University (2019, 2021-23) completing 331 of 518 passes (64%) for 3,963 yards, 29 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 348 carries for 1,955 yards, 30 touchdowns, one punt for 16 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 40 games for the Muleriders.
In 2023, Jones completed 176 of 277 passes (64%) for 1,903 yards, 13 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 165 carries for 1,025 yards, 17 touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 12 games. Jones was named an All-GAC Honorable Mention in 2019.
Brian Herrien is six foot and weighs 210 pounds. The 26-year-old from Douglasville, Georgia, signed with the Edmonton Elks on January 25, 2024. Before Edmonton, Herrien signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2020. In 2023, Herrien was with the D.C. Defenders and Arlington Renegades.
In Arlington, Herrien played two games with seven carries for 31 yards, five catches for 47 yards, and one kick return for 25 yards helping the Renegades win the XFL Championship over the D.C. Defenders. The Renegades signed Herrien as a free agent on March 22, 2023.
Collegiately, Herrien played four seasons at Georgia (2016-19) with 277 carries for 1,413 yards, 13 touchdowns, 28 catches for 167 yards, two touchdowns, and ten kick returns for 213 yards in 52 games for the Bulldogs. He helped Georgia win three straight SEC Eastern Division titles.
Hunter Brown is six foot one and weighs 211 pounds. The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ontario, signed with the Edmonton Elks on May 7, 2024.
Collegiately, Brown played four seasons at Carleton University (2020-23) making 32 catches for 556 yards, six touchdowns, one carry for seven yards, and one tackle (1 assist) in 15 games for the Ravens. In 2023, Brown made 30 catches for 497 yards, six touchdowns, one carry for seven yards, and one tackle (1 assist) in eight games.
Tony Tate is five foot nine and weighs 180 pounds. The 26-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. The Elks signed Tate as a free agent on November 23, 2023.
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.
Charles Headen III is five foot nine and weighs 198 pounds. The 26-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, signed with the B.C. Lions on December 7, 2023, but was released on January 4, 2024, and later signed with the Edmonton Elks on January 15, 2024.
Before Edmonton, Headen III returned 52 kickoffs for 1,143 yards, six touchdowns, two punt returns for 83 yards, and one touchdown in 15 games for the Frisco Fighters (IFL) in 2023. He was named Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023. Before Frisco, Headen signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022.
Collegiately, Headen played three seasons at Shippensburg University (2017-19) with 80 catches for 909 yards, 14 touchdowns, three carries for seven yards, and 15 kick returns for 273 yards in 34 games for the Raiders. Then, Headen transferred to SMU in 2021 and appeared in two games recording no stats.
Lyndell Hudson II is six foot five and weighs 325 pounds. The 24-year-old from Brooksville, Florida, signed with the Edmonton Elks on May 7, 2024.
Collegiately, Hudson II played four seasons at Florida International (2018-21) playing right tackle in 36 games for the Panthers. In 2020, FIU’s offense helped pave the way for running back D’vonte Price, who led C-USA and ranked 11th in the nation for his 6.84 yards average yards per carry. Then, Hudson transferred to Florida in 2023 playing right tackle in seven games for the Gators.
Azur Kamara is six foot four and weighs 235 pounds. The 25-year-old from Glendale, Arizona, signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2020. He played one season for the Cowboys in 2021 with three tackles (2 solo, 1 assist) in nine games.
After Dallas, Kamara spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs. In the 2022 preseason, Kamara made four tackles (2 solo, 2 assists) and half a sack in three games for the Chiefs. Then, Kamara signed with the Edmonton Elks on April 11, 2024.
Collegiately, Kamara played two seasons at Arizona Western Community College (2016-17) with 75 tackles (30 solo, 45 assists), 29 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one pass breakup, and one blocked punt in 22 games for the Matadors.
In 2017, he helped the Matadors reach the NJCAA national title game with 30 tackles (19 solo, 11 assists), 15.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one pass breakup, and one blocked punt in 10 games.
Then, Kamara transferred to Kansas (2018-19) with 66 tackles (41 solo, 25 assists), 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and one pass breakup in 19 games for the Jayhawks. He was named an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2019.
Trevon Mason is six foot five and weighs 290 pounds. The 25-year-old from Arlington, Texas, attended the New York Jets rookie minicamp and later signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022. Then, Mason was drafted by the Orlando Guardians (XFL) in the fifth round (36th pick) of the 2023 XFL Draft.
However, Orlando released him and he was claimed off waivers by the Houston Roughnecks. In 2023, Mason made 16 tackles (9 solo, 7 assists), 2.5 sacks, and one interception in ten games. The Elks signed Mason as a free agent on January 18, 2024.
Collegiately, Mason played two seasons at Navarro College (2017-18) with 49 tackles (33 solo, 16 assists), 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, one fumble recovery, and six pass breakups in 20 games for the Bulldogs.
Markail Benton is six foot two and weighs 230 pounds. The 25-year-old from Phenix City, Alabama, signed with the Edmonton Elks on November 15, 2023.
Collegiately, Benton began at Alabama (2018-19) with 33 tackles (15 solo, 18 assists), one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup in 23 games for the Crimson Tide. He was part of the 2018 SEC Championship team.
Then, Benton transferred to Jacksonville State (2020-22) with 195 tackles (83 solo, 112 assists), 13.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two interceptions for 52 yards, one touchdown, five pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 33 games for the Gamecocks. He was named Second Team All-OVC in the 2020-21 season.
Chris Whittaker is six foot three and weighs 230 pounds. The 24-year-old from Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, attended the Denver Broncos rookie minicamp in 2023 and was drafted by the Arlington Renegades (XFL) in the 2023 XFL Rookie Draft. Then, Whittaker signed with the Edmonton Elks on December 21, 2023.
Collegiately, Whittaker started at Kentucky (2017-18) but did not see any action for the Wildcats. Next, he transferred to Florida International (2019-20) with 27 tackles (17 solo, 10 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery in 15 games for the Panthers.
Then, Whittaker transferred to Incarnate World in 2022 with 36 tackles (21 solo, 15 assists), ten tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one pass breakup, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 14 games for the Cardinals.
Cail Jackson Jr. is five foot eleven and weighs 192 pounds. The 24-year-old from Midville, Georgia, signed with the Edmonton Elks on January 11, 2024. Collegiately, Jackson Jr. played one season at Ventura College in 2021 with 22 tackles (19 solo, 3 assists), two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and three pass breakups in six games for the Pirates.
Then, Jackson Jr. transferred to Alabama State (2022-23) with 63 tackles (39 solo, 24 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, five interceptions for 89 yards, seven pass breakups, and three forced fumbles in 22 games for the Hornets.
In 2023, Jackson Jr. made 37 tackles (27 solo, 10 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions for 58 yards, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 11 games. He was named Second Team All-SWAC in 2023 and played in the 3rd annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Pigskin Showdown.
Jalen Green is six foot one and weighs 200 pounds. The 25-year-old from Houston, Texas, signed with the Houston Gamblers (USFL) in June 2023 but did not see any action. Then, Green signed with the Edmonton Elks on January 17, 2024.
Collegiately, Green played three seasons at Texas (2018-20) with 46 tackles (33 solo, 13 assists), three tackles for loss, one interception for 41 yards, and eight pass breakups in 30 games for the Longhorns. Then, he transferred to Mississippi State (2021-22) with 91 tackles (45 solo, 46 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions for 29 yards, 15 pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries in 25 games for the Bulldogs. After the 2022 season, Green played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January 2023.
