Elks Sign Three Former First-Round Picks
April 9, 2024 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Edmonton Elks News Release
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Elks have signed Canadians Hergy Mayala (WR), Shane Richards (OL), and Hunter Steward (OL), the club announced Tuesday.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 CFL Draft, Richards has played 42 career CFL regular season games over four seasons (2019, 2021-23) with the Toronto Argonauts, winning a Grey Cup in 2022. The six-foot-eight lineman joins the Green and Gold after appearing in only four games with the Double Blue in 2023.
Collegiately, Richards spent three seasons at Oklahoma State University from 2016 to 2018.
Steward joins the Green and Gold for his 10th CFL season in 2024. The 32-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks, suiting up in 35 games. Prior to heading to the nation's capital, the Liberty product played seven seasons with the BC Lions after being selected sixth overall by the Lions in 2013. Through nine CFL seasons, Steward has appeared in 124 career CFL games - including 99 as a starter.
Mayala was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the first round (8th overall) of the 2019 CFL Draft. The Montreal native played two seasons with the Stampeders (2019-2021), where he had five touchdowns as a rookie before heading out east to join the Montreal Alouettes for parts of two seasons (2022-23). Mayala would sign with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in October of 2023, following his release from Montreal in late August. He appeared in two games for the Ti-Cats.
In 59 career CFL games, the UConn product has recorded 107 receptions for 1,373 yards and seven touchdowns
In addition, the Elks have placed American defensive lineman Chauncey Manac on the retired list. Manac signed with Edmonton in January of 2024.
2024 marks the 75th season of pro football in Edmonton, as the Elks open a new CFL campaign on Saturday, June 8 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium. Season tickets are available now, with all youth season tickets $75 (17 and under) and adult tickets starting at $175.
TRANSACTIONS
SIGNED
Hergy Mayala (Her-GEE MY-alla) | WR | NAT | 6'1 | 208 LBS | 1995-10-21 | Montreal, QC | University of Connecticut
Shane Richards | OL | NAT | 6'8 | 325 LBS | 1995-06-04 | Kingston, Jamaica | Oklahoma State
Hunter Steward | OL | NAT | 6'6 | 315 LBS | 1991-12-23 | Calgary, AB | Liberty
PLACED ON RETIRED LIST
Chauncey Manac | AMER | DL | 6'3 | 246 LBS | 1997-11-23 | Homerville, GA | Louisiana
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Canadian Football League Stories from April 9, 2024
- Coors Light Roughriders Training Camp Is Less Than One Month Away - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Stamps Add Receiver Josh Vann - Calgary Stampeders
- Elks Sign Three Former First-Round Picks - Edmonton Elks
- RedBlacks Announce Transactions - Ottawa RedBlacks
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