The Edmonton Elks re-signed defensive lineman Sam Acheampong and released defensive lineman J-Min Pelley on Wednesday.
Samuel Acheampong is six foot five and weighs 265 pounds. The 29-year-old from Brampton, Ontario, made eight tackles in six games for the Elks in 2024. He missed most of the season with a groin injury.
The Toronto Argonauts drafted Acheampong in the second round (20th pick) in the 2020 CFL Draft. Acheampong played three seasons in Toronto making 49 tackles, one tackle on special teams, and four sacks in 41 games. He is a member of the Toronto Argonauts 109th Grey Cup Championship team.
In 2023, Acheampong played one game before the Argonauts traded him to the Edmonton Elks on July 8, 2023, for a 2024 fifth-round draft pick. In Edmonton, he made 14 tackles and one sack in 12 games.
Collegiately, Acheampong played five seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University (2015-19) making 50 tackles (40 solos, 22 assists), 16.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one blocked kick in 30 games for the Golden Hawks.
He is a member of the 2016 Yates Cup Championship team. In addition, he was named 2019 First Team OUA All-Star, and a two-time Glenn Caroll Team of the Year winner.
J-Min Pelley is six foot five and weighs 350 pounds. The 27-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, made six tackles in 11 games for the Edmonton Elks in 2024.
The Edmonton Elks drafted Pelley in the 2022 CFL Supplemental Draft. In 2022, he made 11 games in nine games. In 2023, he made eight tackles in nine games.
Pelley played four seasons for the Okanagan Sun (CJFL) (2015-18) making 80 tackles (63 solos, 17 assists), two tackles on special teams, 10.5 sacks, four pass breakups, one forced fumble, and four fumble recoveries in 35 games.
Collegiately, Pelley played one season at the University of Calgary in 2019 making 18 tackles (13 solos, 5 assists), six tackles for loss, 4.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, two carries for three yards, and one touchdown in 11 games for the Dinos.
