The Edmonton Elks signed offensive lineman David Beard, defensive linemen Jake Ceresna, Robbie Smith, Jared Brinkman, and defensive back Tyrell Ford on Wednesday.
David Beard is six foot five and weighs 320 pounds. The 31-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alberta, started 18 games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2024. In 2024, Hamilton averaged 27.5 points per game, 406.1 net offense per game, 86.6 rushing yards per game, 332.1 passing yards per game, and allowed 30 sacks finishing 7-11 for the season.
The Edmonton Eskimos drafted Beard in the second round (16th pick) in the 2015 CFL Draft from Alberta. In his rookie year, he played nine games, helping Edmonton win the 2015 Grey Cup title over the Ottawa Redblacks 26-20.
Beard spent his entire seven-year career with the Eskimos/Elks playing 94 games. He was unanimously voted the Eskimos’ most outstanding offensive lineman in 2019.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats acquired Beard in a trade along with a 2023 second-round pick from the Edmonton Elks on September 2, 2022, for Jesse Gibbon. Beard played seven games for the Ticats in 2022. He re-signed with the Ticats on May 17, 2023.
In 2023, Hamilton’s offense finished seventh in points per game (22.7), fifth in offensive points per game (20.9), fifth in offensive touchdowns (35), fourth in net offense per game (352.0), seventh in rushing yards per game (96.7), and four in sacks allowed (46).
Collegiately, Beard played four seasons at the University of Alberta (2011-14) playing two seasons as a defensive lineman before moving to offensive lineman. He made 39 tackles (30 solos, 9 assists), one tackle for loss, one sack, two pass breakups, two catches for 31 yards, and one touchdown in 28 games for the Pandas. In 2014, Alberta averaged 28.67 points per game, 158.8 rushing yards per game, 295.67 passing yards per game, 441.2 total yards per game, 30 touchdowns, and allowed 18 sacks finishing 3-6 for the season.
Jake Ceresna is six foot five and weighs 295 pounds. The 30-year-old from New Fairfield, Connecticut, made 29 tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble in 17 games. In the 111th Grey Cup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Ceresna made one tackle as Toronto beat Winnipeg 41-24 to win its second Grey Cup in three seasons.
The Ottawa Redblacks signed Ceresna on May 25, 2016, and was released on June 4, 2016. The New York Jets signed Ceresna as an undrafted free agent on August 14, 2016. He made two tackles (2 solos) in one preseason game for the Jets making two tackles (2 solo). The Jets released him on September 22, 2016.
The Redblacks re-signed Ceresna a short time later. In 2017, he made 18 tackles and two sacks in 14 games for the Redblacks. After the season, Ottawa traded him to the Edmonton Elks (then Eskimos) on February 8, 2018.
In 2018, Ceresna made 32 tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble in 18 games. Edmonton released him on January 2, 2019, and he signed with the New York Giants on the same day. In 2019, he made four tackles (3 solos, 1 assist) and one sack in four preseason games.
The Giants released him on August 31, 2019. The D.C. Defenders drafted Ceresna in the 2020 XFL Open Draft but he re-signed with the Edmonton Eskimos on November 5, 2019. In 2021, he made 34 tackles and five sacks in 12 games.
In 2022, he made 31 tackles, ten sacks, and four forced fumbles in 12 games for the Elks in 2022. He was named to his first CFL All-Star and CFL West All-Star in 2022. In 2023, he made 48 tackles, 12 sacks, and one forced fumble in 18 games.
The Elks traded Ceresna to the Toronto Argonauts on January 15, 2024, along with the rights to running back Khalan Laborn for wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick. Ceresna played four seasons in Edmonton making 145 tackles, 35 sacks, and six forced fumbles in 56 games.
Collegiately, Ceresna played one season at Southern Connecticut State in 2012 making 19 tackles (9 solos, 10 assists) and one sack in 11 games for the Owls. Then, Ceresna transferred to Cortland State (2013-15) making 142 tackles (81 solos, 61 assists), 39.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, ten pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 33 games for the Red Dragons.
Robbie Smith is six foot one and weighs 245 pounds. The 27-year-old from Brampton, Ontario, made 31 tackles, five tackles on special teams, and six sacks in 17 games for the Argonauts in 2024. In the 111th Grey Cup, Smith made two tackles and one sack helping Toronto beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 41-24 to win their second Grey Cup title in three seasons.
The Toronto Argonauts drafted Smith in the second round (9th pick) in the 2019 CFL Draft. Smith played five seasons making 126 tackles, 30 tackles on special teams, 20 sacks, one interception, and three forced fumbles in 72 games. He is a two-time Grey Cup champion.
Collegiately, Smith played four seasons at Wilfrid Laurier University (2015-18) with 98 tackles (62 solos, 36 assists), 26.5 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, six pass breakups, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 37 games for the Golden Hawks.
In his final season, Smith had 26 tackles (23 solos, 3 assists), seven tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups, and one forced fumble in eight games. He was named a two-time Second Team OUA All-Star and helped the Golden Hawks win the 2016 Yates Cup.
Jared Brinkman is six foot one and weighs 290 pounds. The 25-year-old from Iowa City, Iowa, made 17 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble in 11 games for the Toronto Argonauts in 2024. He missed most of the season with foot and ankle injuries.
In the 111th Grey Cup, Brinkman made two tackles in a Toronto 41-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It was Toronto’s second title in three seasons. He is a two-time Grey Cup champion.
Brinkman went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. He attended the New York Jets rookie minicamp. Next, the Toronto Argonauts signed Brinkman on September 29, 2022.
In 2022, he made two tackles in one game when Toronto beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 109th Grey Cup 24-23. In the Grey Cup, Brinkman made two tackles. In 2023, he made 12 tackles, and one sack in 12 games.
Collegiately, Brinkman played five seasons at Northern Iowa (2017-21) making 209 tackles (85 solos, 124 assists), 39.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 55 games for the Panthers. Brinkman was named a two-time Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year, Second Team All-MVFC, and multiple All-American awards.
Tyrell Ford is six foot and weighs 200 pounds. The 26-year-old from Niagara Falls, Ontario, made 51 tackles, four tackles on special teams, and seven interceptions in 18 games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2024. He was named a CFL West All-Star and to the All-CFL Team.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers drafted Ford in the second round (13th pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft. In 2022, Ford made three tackles, ten tackles on special teams, and one punt return for 17 yards in 18 games. The Blue Bombers released him on January 12, 2023, and he signed with the Green Packers on the same day. In 2023, he made three tackles (3 solos) in two preseason games. The Packers released him on August 29, 2023.
Collegiately, Ford played four seasons at the University of Waterloo (2017-19, 2021) making 94 tackles (72 solos, 22 assists), half a tackle for loss, six interceptions for 111 yards, one touchdown, 20 pass breakups, 82 punt returns for 1,139 yards, three touchdowns, and 40 kick returns for 733 yards in 30 games for the Warriors.
In his senior season, Ford had 18 tackles (14 solos, 4 assists), half a tackle for loss, one interception for 30 yards, three pass breakups, 24 punt returns for 318 yards, and three kick returns for 69 yards in six games. He was named a three-time OUA All-Star and two-time Second Team All-Canadian.
