August 18, 2022

Positivity pays off as Saulsberry gets second shot with EE

It’s been a couple months since Christian Saulsberry was last in Green and Gold on The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium.

Since being released by the Elks as part of the final round of cuts following the CFL pre-season, Saulsberry has been back home in Mississippi, running miles around his neighbourhood, putting in work at the field where he played on the gridiron as a kid, studying film, watching games.

The football stuff, that’s the easy part. Staying mentally healthy and keeping positive is what’s more challenging for the 24-year-old wide receiver, who has working to make it into pro ranks since going undrafted out of the University of West Alabama in 2020.

“With me coming out (of college) during covid and a lot of stuff being canceled, it was tough at first, but as you go on life goes on and at the end of the day you’ve got to keep pushing, keep a positive mindset and keep going.”

Positivity has paid off for the Southaven, Miss., native, who was in practice on Wednesday after being signed by Edmonton. While he is not on the Elks’ roster for their game against the Ottawa RedBlacks on Friday, the five-foot-eight speedster hopes to get an opportunity before long.

”I’m just trying to come in and help in as many ways as possible,” Saulsberry says. “Wherever coach needs me to be at, I’ll do it. I’m a guy that’s willing to help others before I help myself and I like to win, that’s the most important thing … what matters to me is the score at the end of the game and if we got a W or not, so whatever way I can contribute, that’s what I’ll do.”

Saulsberry was a two-time All Gulf South Conference selection at West Alabama, where he led the Tigers with 1,223 all-purpose yards during his senior season, 2019. He suited up for both Elks pre-season games this spring, totalling 199 all-purpose yards, including 172 on kick returns.

“Coming over here … the first time getting cut, I went home and wasn’t upset or anything; I kept supporting, kept watching, just seeing how the game flowed and how everything goes,” he says.

“I’m glad to be back.”