The Edmonton Elks signed wide receivers Kaion Julien-Grant and Tyson Middlemost to one-year contracts through the 2025 season, offensive lineman Gregor MacKellar to a one-year contract through the 2025 season, defensive back Emmanuel Rugamba to a one-year contract through the 2025 season, defensive back Kobe Williams to a one-year contract through the 2025 season, and defensive back Royce Metchie to a two-year contract through the 2026 season on Tuesday.
Kaion Julien-Grant is six foot two and weighs 212 pounds. The 28-year-old from Toronto, Ontario, made 46 catches for 486 yards, one touchdown, one kick return for no yards, and one tackle in 12 games for the Alouettes in 2024. He missed most of the season with a shoulder injury.
The Montreal Alouettes drafted Julien-Grant in the second round (13th pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft. In 2023, Julien-Grant made 37 catches for 512 yards, and one carry for seven yards in 9 games helping the Alouettes win the 110th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Julien-Grant played five seasons in Montreal. He made 128 catches for 1,656 yards, four touchdowns, one carry for seven yards, one punt return for seven yards, nine kick returns for 127 yards, and one tackle in 55 games.
Collegiately, Julien-Grant played four seasons at St. Francis Xavier University (2015-18) making 118 catches for 2,032 yards, 22 touchdowns, 12 carries for 73 yards, and 31 kick returns for 672 yards, two touchdowns, 119 punt returns for 1,786 yards, and two touchdowns in 31 games for the X-Men.
In his senior year, Julien-Grant made 49 catches for 638 yards, five touchdowns, three carries for 25 yards, eight kick returns for 209 yards, one touchdown, 35 punt returns for 566 yards, and one touchdown in eight games.
Tyson Middlemost is six foot one and weighs 200 pounds. The 27-year-old from Dundas, Ontario, re-signed with the Calgary Stampeders on January 16, 2024. In 2024, he made three catches for 43 yards, four kick returns for 65 yards, and 10 tackles on special teams in 17 games.
The Calgary Stampeders drafted Middlemost in the fourth round (34th pick) of the 2020 CFL Draft. In 2023, he made four tackles on special teams in 12 games. In four seasons in Calgary, Middlemost made eight catches for 87 yards, 30 tackles on special teams, one forced fumble, and four kick returns for 65 yards in 46 games.
Collegiately, Middlemost played four seasons at McMaster University (2016-19) making 83 catches for 1,032 yards, seven touchdowns, seven kick returns for 215 yards, and one punt return for ten yards in 26 games for the Marauders.
Gregor MacKellar is six foot four and weighs 311 pounds. The 26-year-old from Timberlea, Nova Scotia, started nine games for the Toronto Argonauts in 2024. He missed most of the season with a toe injury. The Argonauts released him on February 10, 2025.
In 2024, Toronto’s offense averaged 28.6 points per game (1st), 368.7 net offense (3rd), 121.3 rushing yards (2nd), 265.2 passing yards (6th), 49 touchdowns (3rd), and allowed 40 sacks (8th).
The Toronto Argonauts drafted MacKellar in the first round (6th pick) of the 2022 CFL Draft. In 2022, he played three games and in 2023 started 18 games. In 2023, Toronto’s offense ranked second in offensive average points (29.3), second in offensive touchdowns (56), second in average net offense (377.8), fourth in average rushing yards (113.7), fourth in average passing yards (272.2), and first the least number of sacks allowed (19).
Collegiately, MacKellar played four seasons at St. Francis Xavier (2018-21) playing 21 games for the X-Men. In 2021, St. Francis Xavier averaged 32.2 points per game, 407.8 total yards per game, 237.2 passing yards per game, 170.7 rushing yards per game, and 16 touchdowns finishing 6-0 for the season.
Emmanuel Rugamba is five foot eleven and weighs 194 pounds. The 26-year-old from Zambia, made 73 tackles, one tackle on special teams, one sack, and one interception in 16 games for the B.C. Lions in 2024.
The Cleveland Browns signed Rugamba as an undrafted free agent on May 14, 2021. In 2021, he made three tackles (3 solos) in three preseason games. The Browns released him on August 31, 2021. The B.C. Lions signed Rugamba on January 21, 2022.
In 2022, he made 38 tackles, five tackles on special teams, one sack, and one interception in 11 games. In 2023, he made 58 tackles, four tackles on special teams, and two sacks in 17 games. He was named a CFL West All-Star after the season.
Collegiately, Rugamba played two seasons at Iowa (2016-17) making 55 tackles (44 solos, 11 assists), half tackle for a loss, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and 10 pass breakups in 22 games for the Hawkeyes.
Then, he transferred to Miami (OH) (2019-20) making 96 tackles (65 solos, 31 assists), four tackles for loss, two interceptions for 62 yards, one touchdown, 11 pass breakups, one forced fumble, one blocked kick, and one punt return for 10 yards in 16 games for the Redhawks.
He was named a two-time Third Team All-MAC and was named the MAC Championship Defensive Player of the Game in 2019.
Kobe Williams is five foot ten and weighs 180 pounds. The 26-year-old from Long Beach, California, re-signed with the Calgary Stampeders on February 7, 2024. In 2024, he made 60 tackles, one interception, and one forced fumble in 18 games.
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Williams as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2020. There were no preseason games in 2020 due to COVID-19 and was released on August 10, 2020.
The Calgary Stampeders signed Williams as a free agent on June 11, 2021. In 2023, he made 45 tackles, four tackles on special teams, one sack, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles in 18 games. In four seasons, Williams made 136 tackles, four tackles on special teams, one sack, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles in 48 games.
Collegiately, Williams played one season at Long Beach Community College in 2016 making 21 tackles (18 solos, 3 assists), two tackles for loss, one interception, and five pass breakups in 11 games for the Vikings. Then, he transferred to Arizona State (2017-19) making 143 tackles (115 solos, 28 assists), 6.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions for 49 yards, one touchdown, 25 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 38 games for the Sun Devils.
Royce Metchie is five foot eleven and weighs 197 pounds. The 28-year-old from Lagos, Nigeria, made 87 tackles, one interception, and two forced fumbles in 18 games for the Toronto Argonauts in 2024. In the 111th Grey Cup, Metchie made three tackles helping the Argonauts beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-24.
The Calgary Stampeders drafted Metchie in the third round (25th pick) of the 2018 CFL Draft. Metchie played three seasons in Calgary making 79 tackles, 12 tackles on special teams, four interceptions, and one forced fumble in 31 games. Toronto acquired Metchie on February 4, 2022, from the Calgary Stampeders for linebacker Cameron Judge.
In 2023, he made 72 tackles, one interception, one touchdown, and two forced fumbles in 18 games. In three seasons in Toronto, Metchie has made 231 tackles, one tackle on special teams, four interceptions, one touchdown, and four forced fumbles in 53 games.
Collegiately, Metchie played four seasons at the University of Guelph (2014-17) making 108 tackles (82 solos, 52 assists), six tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, and nine pass breakups in 28 games for the Gryphons.
