Elks sign top draft pick, release 8 from training camp

Rutgers Dariel Djabome (8) in action against Miami (OH) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)

The Edmonton Elks’ top pick in this year’s draft of Canadian players has signed with the team.

Dariel Djabome, a linebacker selected third overall in April’s Canadian Football League National draft, joins the Elks after a four-year collegiate football career at Rutgers University.

The six-foot-two, 235 lb. Montreal native appeared in every Scarlet Knights game in his time at the New Jersey school and started the final 25 of them. Last season as a team captain, he recorded 71 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 12 games.

Djabome joined the Elks as the Canadian Football League team began its fourth day of main training camp at Clarke Stadium on Wednesday. He recently attended a rookie mini-camp of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

Djabome was a finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy in 2024, which is awarded to the top Canadian playing NCAA football. His older brother, Rossini Sandjong-Djabome, played the 2021 season for the Elks after being drafted by them the year before.

Elks cut eight from camp

Eight players left Elks training camp Tuesday night, the team having to reduce its roster due to league guidelines.

The cuts included five receivers – Canadians Kolby Hurford and Jackson Tachinski, and Americans Ketron Jackson Jr., Ayir Asante and J.J. Jones – along with Canadian defensive back Jerrell Cummings, American running back Antario Brown and American offensive lineman Jason Laliberte Jr.

CFL training camps run until the end of the month. The Elks are scheduled to play two pre-season games during it: on May 23 in suburban Victoria against the B.C. Lions and on May 29 at Clarke Stadium vs. the Calgary Stampeders. Edmonton opens their regular-season on the road June 6 in Ottawa and play their first home game June 20 against Montreal.