The Edmonton Elks signed quarterback Dakota Prukop, running back Jermaine Brown Jr., wide receiver Arkell Smith, linebacker Reynard Ellis, and kicker Dean Faithfull to the practice squad on Sunday.
Dakota Prukop is six foot one and weighs 208 pounds. The 30-year-old from Newport, California, signed with the B.C. Lions on February 13, 2024. He played one preseason game completing 4 of 9 passes (44%) for 56 yards, and two carries for nine yards against the Calgary Stampeders before the Lions released him on May 27, 2024.
Before B.C., Prukop went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft and signed with the Toronto Argonauts. He played three seasons (2017-19) in Toronto with 18 of 30 completions (60%) for 284 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions, and 11 carries for 39 yards in 41 games for the Argonauts. He is a member of the 2017 Argonauts Grey Cup Championship team.
After Toronto, Prukop signed with the Calgary Stampeders in 2020, but the season was canceled. He re-signed with the Stampeders in 2021 but was released at the end of training camp.
On July 30, 2021, he signed with the Edmonton Elks. Prukop played one season in Edmonton in 2021 with 18 of 26 completions (69.2%) for 183 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, 27 carries for 134 yards, and two touchdowns in eight games for the Eskimos.
In 2022, Prukop signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He completed 7 of 14 passes (50%) for 181 yards, two touchdowns, 53 carries for 209 yards, and six touchdowns in 12 games.
Then, Prukop signed with the Jersey Generals as a free agent on March 14, 2023. In 2023, Prukop completed 31 of 50 passes (62%) for 312 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, 11 carries for 97 yards, and one touchdown in four games. The Generals released Prukop on June 24, 2023. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed Prukop as a free agent on June 27, 2023. completed 4 of 8 passes (50%) for 28 yards, 58 carries for 188 yards, and seven touchdowns in 15 games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2023.
Collegiately, Prukop played in three seasons at Montana State (2013-15) completing 387 of 607 completions (63.8%) for 5,584 yards, 46 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 328 carries for 1,763 yards, and 24 touchdowns in 23 games for the Bobcats. He was named Second Team All-Big Sky Conference and First Team FCS All-American in 2015.
Then, Prukop transferred to Oregon in 2016, completing 94 of 143 passes (65.7%) for 1,214 yards, eight touchdowns, two interceptions, 54 carries for 171 yards, and two touchdowns in six games for the Ducks.
Jermaine Brown Jr. is five foot eight and weighs 195 pounds. The 23-year-old from Prichard, Alabama, signed with the Edmonton Elks on May 21, 2024. He played one preseason game against the B.C. Lions with six carries for nine yards and one catch for nine yards before the Elks released him on June 1, 2024.
Collegiately, Brown Jr. played five seasons at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (2019-23) with 568 carries for 2,880 yards, 28 touchdowns, 95 catches for 789 yards, one touchdown, 47 kick returns for 1,087 yards, and three tackles (3 solo) in 54 games for the Blazers.
In 2023, Brown Jr. had 158 carries for 803 yards, 12 touchdowns, 41 catches for 416 yards, one touchdown, 15 kick returns for 331 yards, and two tackles (2 solo) in 12 games for the UAB Blazers in 2023. Brown Jr. led the ACC in all-purpose yards per game (129.5). He was on the Doak Walker Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, and Hornung Award Watch List.
Brown Jr. was named a Conference USA Honorable Mention in 2021 and Second Team All-Conference USA in 2022. He ended his collegiate career as the UAB’s all-time leader in purpose yards (5,026), one of three players in school history to rush over 3,000 yards and 30 career touchdowns.
Arkell Smith is six foot one and weighs 194 pounds. The 24-year-old from Carthage, Missouri, signed with the Edmonton Elks on April 2, 2024, but was released on May 17, 2024.
Collegiately, Smith played six seasons at Central Missouri (2018-23) making 196 catches (14.4 AVG) for 2,816 yards (68.7 AVG), 34 touchdowns, nine carries for 65 yards, one kick return for 20 yards, and three tackles (3 solo) in 41 games for the Mules. He was named an All-MIAA Honorable Mention in 2021 and Second Team All-MIAA in 2022.
In 2023, Smith made 98 catches for 1,425 yards, 18 touchdowns, and one tackle (1 solo) in 13 games for the Central Missouri Mules on his way to being named First Team All-MIAA and First Team Division II All-American by the Associated Press.
Smith finished his collegiate career ranked second in receiving yards (2,816) while setting the school record for receiving touchdowns (34), and receptions (196).
Reynard Ellis is six foot and weighs 240 pounds. The 24-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama, signed with the Edmonton Elks on November 23, 2023. He played in two preseason games making five tackles before the Elks released him on June 1, 2024.
Collegiately, Ellis 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.
Dean Faithfull is six foot two and weighs 207 pounds. The 37-year-old from Fareham, England, was drafted by the Elks in the first round (2nd pick) of the 2023 CFL Global Draft.
In 2023, Faithfull had 61 kickoffs for 3,534 yards, made 23 of 28 field goals (82.1%) with a long of 46 yards, and converted 35 of 37 extra points in 18 games. In the 2024 preseason, Faithfull made four field goals with a long of 48 yards and made one extra point.
Collegiately, Faithfull played soccer at Tauntons College in Southampton, England. Next, Faithfull went to Florida Tech (2007-10) playing 63 games as a defender with 17 points (4 goals, 9 assists). In 2010, he recorded a team-high 1,626 minutes played. After Florida Tech, Faithfull played two years in the second tier of the Australian soccer league system, followed by one year in the Liga FPD.
Then, Faithfull played one season at Colorado State University-Pueblo in 2021 with 44 kickoffs for 2,576 yards (58.5 AVG), 24 touchbacks, made 7 of 9 field goals (58.3%) with a long of 42 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in nine games for the Thunderwolves.
