Elks extend contract of defensive lineman, sign 7 other players

Edmonton Elks defensive lineman Francis Bemiy (No. 93) in CFL action on Oct. 24, 2025, against the visiting Calgary Stampeders.

A defensive lineman will be back with the Edmonton Elks for another year.

Francis Bemiy has signed a contract extension for the upcoming 2026 season, the Canadian Football League club said Friday in a media release.

The 26-year-old from Montreal joined the Elks last year and served mostly as a rotational defender, recording six defensive tackles in 15 games played.

The six-foot-three, 253-lb. product of Southern Utah was the ninth overall pick of the 2023 CFL Draft by the B.C. Lions. He made his CFL debut that year against the Elks.

The Elks also announced the signings of several other players on Friday, including American defensive backs JaVaughn Byrd, Travian Blaylock, and Ian Kennelly; American wide receivers Ayir Asante and Ketron Jackson Jr; American running back Antario Brown, and American defensive lineman Gavin Meyer.

The CFL’s free-agency period begins Feb. 10 at 10 a.m. MT.

Several Elks players are pending free agents, including defensive end Jake Ceresna, receivers Steven Dunbar Jr., Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and Arkell Smith, punter Cody Grace, defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo and fullback Jacob Plamondon.

Elks general manager Ed Hervey has already re-signed others who were pending free agents, including defensive linemen Noah Taylor and Brandon Barlow, and quarterback Cody Fajardo.