The Edmonton Elks signed running back Jean-Paul Cimankinda, defensive lineman Jordan Fletcher, and defensive back TJ Newell II on Monday.
Jean-Paul Cimankinda, a 23-year-old from Ottawa, Ontario, was drafted by the Elks in the seventh round (57th pick) in the 2022 CFL Draft. However, he returned to the University of Ottawa for his final season with 159 carries for 976 yards, eight touchdowns, 11 catches for 132 yards, and one touchdown in eight games.
Cimankinda played one season at the University of Guelph in 2018 with 107 carries for 819 yards, and eight touchdowns in nine games. Then, Cimankinda transferred to the University of Ottawa (2021-22) with 235 carries for 1,402 yards, eight touchdowns, 14 catches for 169 yards, and one touchdown in 14 games. He was named to the OUA All-Rookie Team in 2018 and OUA Second Team All-Star in 2021.
Jordan Fletcher, a 24-year-old from Manchester, Connecticut, played four seasons at Western Connecticut State (2016-19) with 109 tackles, 13 sacks, two pass breakups, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick.
He was named MASAC (Massachusetts State Athletic Conference) Second Team All-Star in 2019. In 2021, Fletcher played for the London Beefeaters (CJFL) with 31 tackles and 11 sacks in ten games.
TJ Newell II, a 22-year-old from Clinton, Mississippi, had 37 tackles, one sack, five pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 11 games at West Alabama during the 2022 season.
Newell played two seasons at East Mississippi Community College (2018-19) as a defensive back and wide receiver with four catches for 25 yards, 35 tackles, one forced fumble, and eight pass breakups in 19 games. Then, Newell transferred to West Alabama (2020-21) with 63 tackles, one sack, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 23 games.
