The Edmonton Elks announced on Wednesday they signed former Tampa Bay Bandits defensive back Rashard Causey Jr., kicker Rafael Gaglianone, and wide receiver CJ Sims.
Rashard Causey Jr., a 26-year-old from Miami, Florida, played seven games for the Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) in 2022 with 12 tackles. The Bandits drafted Causey in the eleventh round of the 2022 USFL Draft.
Collegiately, Causey played four seasons at UCF (2015-18) with 64 tackles and two sacks in 43 games, of which five were starts. After UCF, Causey was with the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos.
Rafael Gaglianone, a 28-year-old from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was on the Elks practice squad in 2022. Edmonton drafted Gaglianone in the second round (17th pick) in the 2022 CFL Global Draft.
Collegiately, Gaglianone played five seasons at Wisconsin (2014-18) making 70 of 92 field goals (76%). His longest field goal went for 52 yards in 2017 and had two kickoffs for 120 yards. He was named Second-team All-Big Ten in 2017 and is a two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention (2016, 2018).
C.J. Sims, a 23-year-old from Covington, Louisiana, played two seasons at New Mexico Highlands (2021-22) with 117 catches for 1,876 yards, 16 touchdowns, 17 carries for 65 yards, one touchdown, 36 kick returns for 889 yards, three touchdowns, and 28 punt returns for 207 yards in 21 games. He was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2021.
In his senior season, Sims had 53 catches for 831 yards, four touchdowns, seven carries for nine yards, 16 kick returns for 442 yards, one touchdown, and 15 punt returns for 138 yards in ten games.
Before New Mexico Highlands, Sims played two seasons at Butler Community College (2016-17) with 82 catches for 1,100 yards, seven touchdowns, 27 carries for 105 yards, one touchdown, 32 kick returns for 757 yards, and one touchdown in 23 games.
