Elks sign Joel Dublanko, Eteva Mauga-Clements; seven more draft picks and seven others

CFL.ca Staff

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Elks have inked two of their 2024 first overall draft picks, CFL Draft pick Joel Dublanko and Global Draft pick Eteva Mauga-Clements, the team announced on Monday.

Dublanko debuted in the spring edition of the CFL’s Scouting Bureau rankings at No. 6 after his draft eligibility was certified earlier this year and was selected first overall in the CFL Draft on April 30 by the Elks.

The former Cincinnati Bearcat had 113 tackles, 5.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble in his final season with the Bearcats in 2021 and was named to the All-AAC First Team. Since going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Dublanko has spent time with the New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and played with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL in 2023. In 2021, Dublanko was the leading tackler for a Cincinnati team that made the College Football Playoff.

One of the standouts in the 2024 CFL Combine presented by New Era, the six-foot-one linebacker registered a blazing 4.59-second 40-yard dash, with a 3.84-second 3-cone split and a 4.27-second short shuttle.

Mauga-Clements, an American-Samoan who played at Nebraska, set himself apart from the other Global prospects with a strong showing at the CFL Combine presented by New Era and was selected first overall in the 2024 Global Draft on April 30 by the Elks.

The six-foot, 218-pounder ran a 4.73-second 40-yard dash, posted a 35-inch vertical leap, ran a 4.14-second shuttle and a 6.90-second 3 cone drill at the CFL Combine. Clements played at Diablo Valley Community College before making the move to Nebraska in 2020. He dressed for every game of his senior year in 2022, starting two games at linebacker. He had 39 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Mauga-Clements was an academic All-Big 10 in 2021 and 2022 and he graduated with a degree in criminology and criminal justice.

Edmonton also announced they have signed seven more of their 2024 CFL Draft class. Here is the full list of players signed:

Evan Anseeuw | OL | NAT | 6’4 | 284 LBS | 2000-07-27 | Walsingham, ON | York
D.K. Bonhomme | LB | NAT | 6’0 | 225 LBS | 1999-09-08 | Ottawa, ON | South Alabama
Joel Dublanko | LB | NAT | 6’3 | 240 LBS | 1998-01-12 | Aberdeen, WA | University of Cincinnati
Bradley Hladik | FB | NAT | 6’3 | 245 LBS | 2000-11-10 | Vernon, BC | UBC
Patrick Lavoie | OL | NAT | 6’4 | 294 LBS | 1999-07-20 | Gatineau, QC | Carleton
Eteva Mauga-Clements | LB | GLB | 6’1 | 220 LBS | 1999-05-16 | American Samoa | Nebraska
Olivier Muembi | LB | NAT | 6’0 | 226 LBS | 1999-10-21 | Stoney Creek, ON | Queens
Jaxon Morkin | OL | NAT | 6’3 | 306 LBS | 2001-03-04 | Windsor, ON | Windsor
Jacob Spencer | DL | NAT | 6’6 | 285 LBS | 1999-06-30 | Brantford, ON | Saginaw Valley State

The Elks rounded out a busy Monday by announcing the signing of five American players and two more Nationals.

Joining the roster are offensive linemen Desmond Bessent and Lyndell Hudson II, defensive back Kyle Cass, quarterback Obadiah Jones and wide receiver Travis Rudolph. The team also signed Nationals Hunter Brown (WR) and Alexander Hall (OL).

Bessent attended training camp with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2023 but was released following the preseason. Collegiately, Bessent played at the University at Buffalo in 2022, where he started 13 games and was named All-MAC Third Team. Prior to joining the Bulls, he spent four seasons at San Diego State (2018-2021).

Brown played four seasons at Carleton University (2020-2023). In his last season with the Ravens, the six-foot-one receiver had 30 receptions for 497 yards and six touchdowns.

Cass appeared in nine games at Valdosta State University in 2023, racking up 21 total tackles, two interceptions and 11 pass deflections for the Blazers. Prior to attending Valdosta State, the native of New Orleans, LA played one season at Troy University (2022), and two seasons at Mississippi State (2020- 2021).

Hall, an Ottawa native, spent four years with the Concordia Stingers (2019-2020, 2022-2023), where he was an important part of the Stingers’ rushing offence that ranked first in the RSEQ with an average of 6.4 yards per carry. The six-foot-three lineman also took part in the U SPORTS East-West Bowl in 2022.

Hudson, a six-foot-five, 325-pound lineman, most recently attended the University of Florida (2023) where he suited up in seven games, including two starts for the Gators. Prior to joining to the Gators, Hudson spent four years at Florida International University (2019-2022), appearing in 36 career games for the Panthers.

Jones played four seasons at Southern Arkansas University (2019, 2021-2023), passing for 3,963 yards and 29 touchdowns in 40 career games for the Muleriders. In his senior year, the Texas native rushed for 1,025 yards and 17 touchdowns in 12 games, while being named All-Great American Conference Honourable Mention in 2019.

Rudolph, 28, returns to the CFL after a brief stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2020. The West Palm Beach, FL native signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2017 after three seasons at Florida State (2014-2016). In his rookie season in the NFL, he registered eight receptions for 101 yards before being released the following season. Rudolph would go on to spend time with the Miami Dolphins in 2018 and most recently signed with the Orlando Guardians of the XFL in 2023.

Additionally, the Elks placed American quarterback Steven Montez on the retired list and released American offensive lineman Antonio Garcia.

Follow CFL