EE Football Team Day One Free Agency Recap
February 9, 2021 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Edmonton Elks News Release
(Edmonton) - The EE Football Team announces today they have running back James Wilder Jr, linebacker Kevin Brown, and quarterback Taylor Cornelius.
James Wilder Jr began his CFL career as a member of the Toronto Argonauts. In his first season, the running back recorded 872 rushing yards and five touchdowns, while adding 467 yards receiving on his way to CFL Most Outstanding Rookie honours. In his CFL career, Wilder has accumulated 3,514 all purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns.
Kevin Brown is a three-year veteran having played in 42 games, all with the Ottawa RedBlacks. The linebacker has accumulated 112 defensive tackles, 37 special teams tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions in his CFL career. Brown's most productive seasons (2018, 2019) came under current EE Football Team defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe. The 27-year-old attended the University of Cincinnati and was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Taylor Cornelius spent four seasons at Oklahoma State University, backing up current NFL quarterback Mason Rudolph until his senior season. As OSU's starter, Cornelius completed 59.4 per cent of his passes for 3,978 yards and 32 touchdowns. The 6-5 quarterback was also threat on the ground with 406 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Cornelius's 42 total touchdowns in a single season rank him tied for second in school history with Heisman trophy winner and NFL hall-of-famer Barry Sanders. He ranks inside the top 10 in several OSU football records including: single game passing yards (501) and touchdowns (5), single season passing yards (3,978) and touchdowns (32), and career passing yards (4,198) and touchdowns (32).
Following his college career Cornelius attended Green Bay Packers rookie camp before signing with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL. Under new EE head coach and offensive coordinator Jaime Elizondo, Cornelius completed 63% of his passes, for 858 yards and four touchdowns in five starts. He also added 114 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Canadian Football League Stories from February 9, 2021
- Lions Re-Sign Return Specialist Chris Rainey - B.C. Lions
- EE Football Team Day One Free Agency Recap - Edmonton Elks
- Double Blue Add Signal-Caller Kelly Bryant - Toronto Argonauts
- Blue Bombers Agree to Terms with Winnipeg-Born Long Snapper Mike Benson - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Linebacker Larry Dean Joins the Green and White - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Lions Salute Solomon Elimimian on Brilliant Career - B.C. Lions
- Alouettes Solidify Defence - Montreal Alouettes
- All-Star Defensive Back Evans Signs with Tiger-Cats - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Disruptive Defensive Lineman Micah Johnson Returns to the Green and White - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Riders Ink Defensive Backs Jerome and Onyeka - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Boatmen Ink American QB Antonio Pipkin - Toronto Argonauts
- Riders Reunite Herdman-Reed Brothers in Green and White - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Stampeders Sign O'Connor - Calgary Stampeders
- Feelin' Lucky: Lions Add Free Agent Playmaker Whitehead - B.C. Lions
- RedBlacks Bring Back Linebacker Don Unamba - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Riders Bring Offensive Lineman Evan Johnson Home - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Lions Land Free Agent Running Back Shaquille Cooper - B.C. Lions
- Argos Sign 1,000-Yard Rusher John White - Toronto Argonauts
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