EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks are set to wrap up their preseason on Friday night at Play Alberta Field at Commonwealth Stadium against the B.C. Lions.
The 7:30 pm kickoff is the final tune up for the team, as well as last minute audition for those who hope to make the squad in 2025. After going with a rookie-laden lineup in Calgary, the Elks will go with a much more veteran crew tomorrow against the Lions.
Here are three things for Elks fans to keep their eyes on for Friday night’s affair.
TRE’S TURN
One of the biggest offseason moves by the Elks was the pairing of quarterback Tre Ford with outstanding Offensive Coordinator Jordan Maksymic. Friday will be Ford’s first opportunity to truly take the wheel of the long-time coach’s offence.
The 26-year-old pivot has shown tantalizing glimpses of how special he can be at the CFL level, and Maksymic was brought on as the man to unlock Ford’s full potential. The matchup against the Lions is a perfect opportunity to show how much work Ford has done in the offseason to learn the new system, but importantly, it’s a chance to give Elks fans a taste of what is to come.
“We want to bring a really big performance for our fans coming to our home game,” Ford said. “Our guys are itching to get out there because we haven’t even really stepped on the field yet this year (as a unit). We’re all excited and ready to go.”
The majority of the Elks first team offence will get their time to shine, after having watched from the sideline or from home last weekend in Calgary. Over the course of training camp, they’ve been sharpening their skills against what should be one of the top defensive units in the CFL. On Friday night, Ford can begin to stake his claim as the Double E’s go-to guy for years to come.
LOOK AT THE LBS
One area of strength for the Elks that largely remains untouched from last season is the team’s linebacker core. The CFL’s top tacklers in Nyles Morgan and Nick Anderson — who both finished the 2024 season with 111 defensive stops — form the core of the unit and will suit up for the start of Friday’s contest.
They will be joined by newly minted SAM backer Kordell Jackson, who spent the majority of last season at defensive half back — but his quick twitch and willingness to get attack the ball carrier made him a perfect fit for the hybrid LB/DB role. With 51 tackles and four interceptions last year, the Austin Peay grad is an emerging talent in Canadian Football.
Adding just a bit more depth to a star-studded unit is 2024 first-overall pick CFL Draft pick Joel Dublanko. He was one of the few veterans the Elks dressed down in Calgary on Saturday, and it certainly showed. Dublanko was at the center of the action on and off the field. The 27-year-old was the man rallying the troops pregame in the locker room and leading the breakdown. Once he hit the field, it was much of the same.
Dublanko finished the game with three tackles and an interception, and was a noticeable factor among an inexperienced Elks defence. The performance was all part of a progression expected out of a top draft pick.
“The game’s definitely slowing down,” Dublanko said post-game. “The field feels smaller out there. I feel like I’m in a really good place just with my body and the feel of the defense. So, yeah, I feel a lot better compared to last year, that’s for sure.”
Last year, Dublanko was forced to bide his time and showcase his ability on special teams. The emergence of 2024 CFL Most Outstanding Rookie Nick Anderson, alongside tackling machine Nyles Morgan made starting reps few and far between. Another performance like last Saturday’s could see the young National carve a bigger role for himself in 2025.
WHO IS THE #1?
There were certainly some questions about the Elks receiving core right as free agency started. The Elks had allowed Geno Lewis to walk, Dillion Mitchell had already been released, and Tevin Jones contract was set to expire. Now, with the preseason about to conclude, the only question is which of the Double E’s talented receivers will emerge as the go-to guy for quarterback Tre Ford.
The unit features three former 1,000-yard wideouts in Alexander Hollins, Steven Dunbar Jr., and Kurleigh Gittens Jr. – all who have finished inside the CFL’s top six receiving yard leaders in a season. With big-play receiver Kaion Julien-Grant and Tre Ford roommates Arkell Smith and Zach Mathis joining the fray, it looks like it will be a season long guessing game to see who comes out on top in the receiver race.
“I think we have a lot of dynamic skill players,” Ford said about his weapons. “Our receivers are what they are. We’ve talked about them before. We have great receivers, and I think they’re going to go make plays and I think we’re going to have a good year.”