The Edmonton Elks signed running back Justin Rankin and released running back Jermaine Brown Jr., defensive lineman Eric Black, linebacker Aubrey Miller Jr., and long snapper Simon Chaves on Sunday.
Justin Rankin is five foot ten and weighs 215 pounds. The 27-year-old from Oberlin, Ohio, signed with the Edmonton Elks on November 23, 2023. The Elks released Rankin on May 19, 2024. In 2024, Rankin played four games for the Frisco Fighters (IFL) with 33 carries for 162 yards, four touchdowns, and two catches for 15 yards.
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.
In 2023, Rankin helped the Bay Area Panthers (IFL) win their first IFL Championship with 200 carries for 872 yards, 44 touchdowns, 25 catches for 253 yards, three touchdowns, and kick returns for 20 yards in 16 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.
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. He later re-signed with the Elks on June 2, 2024, and was placed on the practice squad.
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.
Eric Black is six foot and weighs 247 pounds. The 25-year-old from Rochester, New York, attended the New York Giants rookie minicamp in 2023. Black signed with the Edmonton Elks on January 25, 2024. He played two games for the Elks in 2024 making five tackles and one tackle on special teams.
Collegiately, Black played four seasons at Buffalo (2018-21) with 36 tackles (18 solo, 18 assists), eight tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 29 games for the Bulls. He recorded a pair of sacks in the 2021 Camellia Bowl.
Then, he transferred to Stony Brook in 2022 with 19 tackles (11 solo, 8 assists), seven tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, and one forced fumble in ten games for the Seawolves.
Aubrey Miller Jr. is six foot and weighs 229 pounds. The 25-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. He made three tackles (2 solo, 1 assist) in three preseason games before he was released on August 28, 2023.
The Edmonton Elks signed Miller Jr. on April 24, 2024. Miller Jr. played two preseason games making six tackles and one tackle on special teams earning a spot on the active roster. He played in five games making four tackles on special teams.
Collegiately, Miller Jr. played four seasons at Missouri (2017-20) with seven tackles (5 solo, 2 assists) in 22 games for the Tigers. Then, Miller Jr. transferred to Jackson State University (2021-22) with 226 tackles (117 solo, 109 assists), 23.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, nine pass breakups, six forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 26 games for the Tigers.
In 2021, Miller Jr. led the SWAC Conference with 109 tackles (53 solo, 56 assists), 11.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 13 games. He was named First Team All-SWAC in 2021. In 2022, he was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year with 117 tackles (64 solo, 53 assists), 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, six pass breakups, five forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 13 games.
Simon Chaves is five foot eleven and weighs 200 pounds. The 25-year-old from Guelph, Ontario, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He returned to the University of Guelph for his final two seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Then, Chaves signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on December 6, 2023. Chaves appeared in two preseason games for the Redblacks in 2024 making one tackle on special teams. The Edmonton Elks signed Chaves on July 16, 2024, and was placed on the practice squad.
Collegiately, Chaves played seven seasons at the University of Guelph (2017-23) with 12.5 tackles (10 solo, 5 assists) in 27 games for the Gryphons.
